Kamikura Shrine

Kamikura Shrine is one of the most ancient and dramatic sacred sites in Japan, believed to mark the spot where the gods first descended to the Japanese islands. The shrine sits atop the 80-meter-high Gotobiki Rock on Kamikura Mountain in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture. Archaeological findings suggest the site has been used for worship since prehistoric times, making it potentially one of the oldest places of worship in Japan.

The shrine is part of the sacred Kumano region and is considered the original site of Kumano worship before the Kumano Sanzan shrines were formally established. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site component in 2004 as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

The approach to the shrine is a steep, 538-step natural stone staircase that climbs dramatically up the mountainside. The steps are made of rough, irregularly shaped natural stones, making the ascent challenging but deeply rewarding. At the summit, the small shrine sits beneath the massive Gotobiki Rock, a towering natural boulder that appears to defy gravity as it perches on the cliff edge.

From the top, visitors are rewarded with a panoramic view of Shingu City and the Pacific Ocean. The raw, primitive atmosphere of the site—with its ancient stones and windswept trees—creates a palpable sense of the sacred that is quite different from more ornate shrine complexes.

The Oto Matsuri, held on February 6th, is one of Japan's most spectacular fire festivals. Approximately 2,000 men dressed in white ceremonial robes carry flaming torches down the steep stone staircase at nightfall, creating a breathtaking cascade of fire flowing down the mountainside. This festival, designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is restricted to male participants only and dates back over 1,400 years.