Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野本宮大社) is a Shinto shrine located in the jurisdiction of Tanabe, Wakayama, deep in the rugged mountains of the southeast Kii Peninsula of Japan.

[1] Over 900 years ago a pilgrim wrote of a massive shrine grounds including five main pavilions enshrining 12 deities.

Over the centuries the pavilions were partially destroyed by periodic fires and flooding, but always faithfully rebuilt to their original state.

In the past, the pilgrims and ascetics would use this tiny refuge for meditation, prayer, sutra copying, austere rites and even sleeping quarters.

[1] On April 13 fathers and their young sons purify themselves in the sacred waters of Yunomine Onsen before walking over the Dainichi-goe section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route to Oyunohara wearing traditional costumes.

On April 15 the Kumano Deities are invoked to temporarily take up residence in a portable mikoshi shrine and return to their original site of descend, Oyunohara.

Yata-no-Hi Matsuri Fire Festival takes place on the last Saturday of August, in Oyunohara (Hongu-cho), in honour of Yatagarasu.