Takijiriōji-gū Tōgō Shrine

The first shrine I saw on the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo hike. I also got my first stamp on the booklet here.

One of Japan's most powerful 5 Oji shrines - shrines to protect and guide pilgrims which serve of both worship and rest - and the starting point to the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Walk, the passage into the sacred mountains. Since one thousand years, people are on this pilgrimage walk which is in its power comparable to the one in Santiago de Compostela. Was there with a cruise ship and we took a taxi to the shrine. The energy is unbelievably high, you feel the constant worshipping energy since people practiced here severe cold-water rites to purify body and soul before doing the walk. There is a holy waterfall there which is said to separate the land of the living from the land of the dead. Still today, 2019, I was there last time, you can see people coming on knees as a sign of worship to Buddhist deities. If you ever mange to go there, ferry should also be possible. Recommended 💯 per cent. It's one of the places of this planet where I would like to come back anytime soon.

Gorgeous starting point for the hike. A simple tea house & a beautiful visitor centre with lots of English display & information

Start point of Kumanokodo Nakahechi Route. Kumano sacred area starts here, There’s Kumanokodo-kan information center across a small river. You can get pilgrim stamp card in the information center.

This is the usual starting point for walking the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo. It’s a quiet spot, but it has deep historical significance. The information center across the road is very interesting with lots of pictures and maps.

熊野古道でもっともポピュラーな中辺路（なかへち）コースのスタート地点にあたる。本格的に歩く準備はないものの、せっかくそばに寄ったので熊野古道の雰囲気だけでも味わいたいのなら、この神社の裏から熊野古道の入り口付近を軽く散策することができる。近所に駐車場、トイレあり。

熊野古道でもっともポピュラーなコース、中辺路（中なかへち）のスタートと地点と利用される滝尻王子です。 ここから急な登りをゆくと、有名な胎内くぐり、乳岩を見ることができます。 登りきればとても歩きやすい道を気持ちよく歩けます。

滝尻王子神社，屬於熊野古道朝聖之路中邊路的起點，神社有朝聖之路的印章，而御朱印則是要到對面的熊野古道館找工作人員索取，在出發熊野古道中邊路時，可以和神社前的熊野古道石碑合照，因為到熊野本宮時也有一個完成熊野古道朝聖之路的石碑，讓自己開始與結束都具有紀念價值。