Wakayama: Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji & Waterfall Tour

Kumano Nachi Taisha, one of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, stands on Mount Nachisan as a center of nature worship and spiritual renewal. Dedicated to Nachi Gongen — a deity that unites Shintō and Buddhist beliefs — the shrine embodies Japan’s ancient syncretic faith. The bright vermilion halls, built high above the sea, overlook the sacred Nachi Waterfall, long revered as the physical form of the god itself. Visitors purify their hands at the temizuya and learn from their guide how the Kumano faith sees divinity in natural forces such as waterfalls, trees, and mountains. Once a destination for imperial pilgrimages from Kyoto, Nachi remains a living sanctuary where devotion and nature meet in harmony.

Standing beside Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji Temple represents centuries of harmony between Buddhism and Shintō. Its name, meaning “Temple of Blue Shore,” reflects the Buddhist ideal of reaching enlightenment beyond the sea of suffering. The temple’s main hall, rebuilt in the 16th century, remains an active place of worship. Visitors can light candles or incense and learn about the mountain ascetic practices (Shugendō) that once flourished here. Your guide also explains how the Meiji government’s Shinbutsu Bunri (separation of Shintō and Buddhism) policy changed religious life at Nachisan, while the spiritual bond between the temple and the shrine endures.

Since ancient times, it has been worshiped as a living deity — the sacred body of the god of Nachi. At the base stands Hirou Shrine, where pilgrims have offered prayers for purification and renewal for more than a millennium. Your guide will explain how the continuous flow of the waterfall symbolizes both cleansing and the eternal cycle of life. The powerful sound and mist of the falls create a deeply spiritual atmosphere, allowing visitors to sense why Nachi has long been regarded as a place where nature itself is divine.