WakayamaTravel

Itakiso Shrine (伊太祁曽神社)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Walk the quiet approach from Kamayama Station to an ancient shrine wrapped in greenery

About 30 min from the previous stop

About 60 min here

About 30 min to the next stop

Next stop: Picnic time on a bench by the lake, and photograph the Tama Train crossing the red wooden bridge

About this spot

An ancient shrine dedicated to Itakeru no Mikoto (五十猛命), the god of trees said to be the origin of Kii Province's nickname, the Land of Trees, and, alongside Hinokuma-gu, one of Kii Province's Ichinomiya. The biggest highlight is the Ki no Mata Kuguri (木の俣くぐり), passing through the trunk of a great sacred cedar felled by lightning. Passing through the hollow trunk is said to bring the blessing of warding off misfortune, and children can take on the challenge with a sense of adventure. The deeply green grounds are filled with the scent of trees, and there is a wide variety of amulets and offerings related to the god of trees. There is also a playful touch of a large wood carving of each year's zodiac animal on display, making it a popular spot for family photos. A shrine wrapped in a calm, warm atmosphere, fitting as the finale of the three-shrine pilgrimage, leaving you with a real sense of accomplishment after your visit.

Tips

About a 5-minute walk from Itakiso Station. A fun bit of trivia for your trip: the station name (伊太祈曽) and the shrine name (伊太祁曽) are both read Itakiso but written with slightly different characters. The Ki no Mata Kuguri is located beside the worship hall, so watch your head as you pass through. There is parking on the grounds, and goshuin stamps and wooden amulets are available at the shrine office. It's reassuring to check the train time back toward Oike Yuen in advance.