Shingu Shrine Okunomiya is the inner sanctuary of Shingu Shrine located in Kochi Prefecture. As an 'okunomiya' or inner shrine, it serves as a sacred retreat positioned deeper in the mountains or forest, away from the main shrine grounds. This shrine is connected to the Kumano faith tradition that spread throughout Japan from the Kumano region of the Kii Peninsula.
- Denomination
- Kumano
- Religion
- shinto
- Enshrined kami
- Kumano Gongen
- Kami enshrined
- Kumano Gongen
- Founding
- Heian period
- Coordinates
- 33.6002249, 133.4852125
Visitor tip
The okunomiya location typically requires a longer walk or hike from the main shrine, so wear appropriate footwear and allow extra time.
Cultural notes
The Kumano faith combines Shinto and Buddhist elements, with Kumano Gongen representing the syncretic deities of the Kumano mountains that became centers of pilgrimage and ascetic practice.
Historical note
The shrine represents the extension of Kumano worship to Shikoku island, part of the broader diffusion of Kumano Gongen veneration that occurred during the Heian and Kamakura periods. Inner shrines like this okunomiya were established to provide more secluded spaces for intensive spiritual practice and communion with the kami.