Visit Wakayama

As the gateway station to the Nakahechi route, which leads to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, this area is bustling with visitors from around the world who come to walk the Kumano Kodo.

Numerous accommodations and restaurants can be found nearby, making it an ideal place to stay the night before your journey. There is also a tourist information center next to the station, so why not stop by to gather information for your walk along the Nakahechi route?

This is the junction where the Nakahechi and Ohechi routes diverge. When approaching from the north, you will see the inscription “Left: Kumano Road,” indicating that turning left will take you onto the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route.

The name “Akitsu-oji” first appears in the Kumano Gokoki, a travel diary written by Fujiwara no Teika, a famous Japanese poet and court noble who visited Kumano. We know that Akitsu-oji was located somewhere in the Akitsu area. However, it was moved several times because of flooding, so the exact location of the original site is unknown.

In his travel diary, the Kumano Gokoki, Fujiwara no Teika—a famous Japanese poet and court noble who visited Kumano—wrote that, after visiting Akitsu-oji, he “crossed the mountains and visited Maru-oji.”

Today, however, the mountain mentioned in his diary can no longer be identified. It is said that the site of Maru-oji was once a small sacred grove. In 1877, Maru-oji was merged with Susa Shrine, meaning that it came to be enshrined together with Susa Shrine. The former site was later turned into a rice field, and almost no trace of Maru-oji remains today.

From the site of Manro-oji, cross the river and follow the path uphill behind the temple. Along the way, you will find a stone monument marking the former site of Misu-oji.

Today, Misu-oji is enshrined at Shuren Shrine, located along the route to Shiomi Pass.

Misu-oji was also known as Kagemi-oji. “Kagemi” can mean “seeing a shadow” or “seeing a reflection.” Because the shrine stood beside the river, its image could be seen reflected on the surface of the water.

Yakami-oji is believed to have existed for a long time. A record from 1109 mentions a “new oji shrine” located beyond the mountains from Tanabe. This shrine is believed to have been Yakami-oji.

Inabane-oji was located near the entrance to Oji-dani, just off National Route 311 in Kamitonda Town.

It was one of the five most important oji shrines along the Kumano Kodo. Its name appears in a record from 1109, showing that it has a long history. The shrine was also deeply respected by pilgrims. 

It stood near a place where travelers crossed the Tonda River. Before crossing the river, travelers left their horses at Inabane-oji and purified themselves in the water. They then crossed the river and continued their journey to Ichise-oji on the other side.

The name Ichinose-oji appears in the Kumano Gokoki, a travel diary about a pilgrimage to Kumano. The name comes from Ichinose, a river crossing where pilgrims purified themselves before entering the sacred Kumano area.

“ Ichinose” means the first river crossing on the route. Pilgrims performed a purification ritual there before continuing to Kumano.

By the early 1600s, the exact location of Ichinose-oji was no longer known. Later, an investigation ordered by the government identified the site, and the shrine was rebuilt in 1666.

In 1906, Ichinose-oji came to be enshrined together with Kasuga Shrine. Today, a small shrine stands beside a large camphor tree in the shrine grounds, and a stone monument marks Ichinose-oji.

The shrine of Ayukawa-oji came to be enshrined together with Sumiyoshi Shrine, across the river, in 1874. The main hall of Ayukawa-oji was also moved to Sumiyoshi Shrine.

The area changed after a major flood in 1889, making it difficult to identify the exact location of the original site. It is believed to have stood near the northern end of Ayukawa Shinbashi Bridge.

This oji shrine was one of the five special oji shrines along the Kumano Kodo and was highly respected.

In the past, people stayed here on their way to Kumano, and special ceremonies were held. It is said that this was the place where they first entered the sacred mountains of Kumano. This made the shrine an important gateway to the sacred area of the Kumano Sanzan.

Please see the accommodations around Takijiri-oji here. Some accommodations also offer shuttle services.