Tamaki Shrine
The inner sanctuary said to be reached only by those who are called.
History and Divine Virtue
Called the innermost shrine of the three grand shrines of Kumano, this ancient sanctuary stands near the summit of Mount Tamaki at an elevation of about 1,000 meters. Shrine tradition dates its founding to the reign of Emperor Sujin, and it enshrines Kuninotokotachi no Kami among other deities. It flourished with Shugendo mountain asceticism as one of the practice sites along the Omine Okugake trail linking Kumano and Yoshino, and its grounds are lined with giant cedars, among them the Jindai-sugi, said to be three thousand years old. Deep in the mountains and barely served by public transport, it is spoken of as a place "reached only by those who are called," and in recent years worshippers have grown in number, drawn by its reputation as a sacred site of great spiritual power — yet it remains, at heart, a quiet place of prayer in the deep mountains. The shrine office, which preserves the atmosphere of the Edo period, and its resplendent sliding-door paintings by artists of the Kano school are designated Important Cultural Properties. The precincts, reached through an approach of cedar groves, are wrapped in a stillness hard to believe at such altitude.
Visiting Notes
- The giant cedars — the Jindai-sugi, the paired Meoto-sugi and others — are magnificent. Take time to walk the grounds and look up.
- The sliding-door paintings of the shrine office (Important Cultural Property) are Kano-school bird-and-flower scenes painted on single boards of cedar.
- Near the summit, the auxiliary Tamaishi-sha preserves an ancient form of worship: it has no shrine building, enshrining a sacred round stone.
- Drive the mountain roads with care. Check the road information on the official website, and allow ample margin for weather and time.
A shrine whose sacred precinct is the mountain itself, it is often named as a place to visit at the great turning points of one's fortune. Allow generous margin in schedule and weather, and offer your prayers in quiet.
Deities and Location
- Enshrined Deities
- Kuninotokotachi no Kami, Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, Amaterasu Ōmikami, Kamuyamato Iwarebiko no Mikoto
- Location
- 奈良県吉野郡十津川村玉置川 (Nara)
- Access
- About 20 minutes by car (taxi) from Totsukawa Onsen. Public transport is limited
- Lineage
- Moto-Ise & Mythology
Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.
