Hongu

Hongu is a Japanese place name most commonly associated with the area around Kumano Hongu Taisha in the Kumano region of Wakayama Prefecture. The kanji 本宮 literally mean “main shrine,” a designation used for major Shinto shrines, and in Kumano it identifies the central shrine of the Kumano Sanzan.

The Hongu area lies in southern Wakayama, within a mountainous landscape of cedar forests and rivers, and is linked to the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. Along with Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Hongu Taisha forms the Kumano Sanzan, a core component of the UNESCO-listed Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

Historically, the shrine and its precincts have held long-standing religious significance in Shinto practice and regional culture. The site has attracted pilgrims and travelers for generations and remains a focus of traditional ceremonies and rites in the Kumano region.

Today, tourism related to pilgrimage, nature, and cultural heritage is a major part of the local economy. Visitors come to explore the shrine complex, stay in traditional inns, and use the area as a base for walking the Kumano Kodo routes.

See also: Kumano Sanzan, Kumano Kodo, UNESCO World Heritage. Notes: Hongu can refer to multiple places in Japan, but this article describes the Hongu area associated with Kumano Hongu Taisha in Wakayama Prefecture.