Kumano Hayatama-taisha

C'est à Shingu (sur la côte), le 3ème grand temple de la trilogie. Sur une pancarte à l'entrée, l'histoire du  Kumano-Hayatama Grand Shrine :

In ancient times the three gods ( Kumano-Hayatama-no-omikami, Kumano-Musubi-no-omikami, Ketsumi-Miko-omikami) came down from the heavens to the sacred rock named Gotobiki at Mt.Kamikura. This rock is the object of worship and the origin of Kumano faith. Later, our ancestors built a new shrine at Shingu in the beauteous land named Kumano. They moved the three gods from Kamikura to enshrine them here at Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine. Now visitors can greet the gods here. People in this region have been praying with reverence and gratitude while offering blessings of nature to the gods ever since. Ceremonies of purification continue to be held, for these rituals are the most striking feature of Shinto

The Kumano-Hayatama Grand Shrine's history is steeped in the principles of pure nature worsnip.

The name of our city " Shingu " means " new shrine," which includes the profound meaning whose primitive belief had changed into Shintoism.

During the medieval period. successive emperors and nobles came to worship here over 140 times. The 46th Emperor Koken offered a tablet which proclaimed, "Hayatama is the most sacred shrine in Japan." A stone monument in the inner shrine honors these ancient emperors.

 

Ensuite, on remonte la rivière jusqu'à Hongu, pour une nuit au Blue Sky Guesthouse : https://www.kumano-guesthouse.com/ dans le secteur du Hongu-taisha. Le matin, on prend un bus pour rejoindre le trail et faire à pied les 8 derniers km du Kumano Kodo et arriver à pied au Kumano Hongu taisha.