#attraction/shrine [Oyunohara (大斎原)](https://www.hongu.jp/kumanokodo/hongu-taisya/ooyunohara/) is a shrine and home of a large [torī (鳥居)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii) known as [Otorī (大斎原大鳥居)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xwdcwYepUtqKkPL3A). It is close to [[Attractions/Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)|Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)]]. > [!NOTE] World Heritage • Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range • Kumano Hongû Taisha • Kyûshachi Ôyunohara > Sacred sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is inscribed on the World Heritage List based on the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in July, 2004. The objective of the Convention is to protect and conserve the monuments, sites, and buildings of outstanding universal value as well as precious natural environments and to transmit them as the world heritage of mankind as a whole to future generations. > > Kumano Hongû Taisha and Ôyunohara are included in the sacred site "Kumano Sanzen." Hongû Taisha used to be located by the Kumano River at a place now known as Ôyunohara. However, after damaged in the river flooding of 1889 the surviving buildings where relocated to the present site. Ôyunohara is known as a place where deities descended to earth in the form of three moons into the branches of an oak tree. There is still a small stone shrine in the centre of this sacred clearing. > > There are three pilgrimage routes leading to Hongû. Ômine Okugakumichi leads to Yoshino via Omine and is used by Buddhist priests of the Shugen sect (Yamabushi) for ascetic practices. The Kumano Sankeimichi Kohechi leads to the sacred site of "Koyasan," and the Kumano Sankeimichi itself leads to the distant Iso Shrine passing through Mt. Nachi on the "Kumoto igoe." Along these various pilgrimage routes one can experience the beautiful, well preserved natural heritage of the area. We stopped here twice as part of the [[Kumano Kodo (熊野古道)]]--first when we completed the [[Nakahechi (中辺路)]] route, and then again when we completed the [[Dainichi-goe (大日越)]]. ![[? oyunohara IMG_6829.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_7028.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_7016.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_7968.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_7013.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_8049.png]] As mentioned above, there's a small stone shrine in the clearing. ![[oyunohara IMG_6993b.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_8045.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_8048.png]] While we were here, we also stumbled upon a friendly [frog (蛙)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog). ![[oyunohara IMG_7001b.png]] ![[oyunohara IMG_7006.png]]