There are countless shrines in Japan. Of the popular shrine routes, my two favorites are the Oku no Hosomichi and the Kumano Kodo, which are also two must-visit trails for anyone hiking in Japan. Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, which I’m reviewing this time, is a shrine located along the Kumano Kodo. Everyone knows that most shrines in Japan are in remote places, such as in lakes, by the sea, or in secluded forests, and Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine is located in just such a remote forest. As you walk in, you can really feel that otherworldly atmosphere, especially in fall and winter. Japan is also in the higher latitudes of Northeast Asia, so it often snows, and the shrine’s winter snowscapes seen on TV look even more dreamlike as they come into view. On cloudy or rainy days, this hidden place in the forest feels even more eerie under the forest canopy. Since Japan is at a high latitude, the trees in the forest look especially tall. At the shrine’s torii gates in the forest, you can also hear the birds calling all at once and in quick succession. On sunny days, 2; when the sunlight falls on the shrine in the forest, it especially feels as if a miracle is taking place. As I walked along the weathered approach with its hundreds of steps, perhaps because it is located in this secluded forest, my mind became peaceful and I felt a sense of emotional release. Step by step, the shrine drew closer before my eyes. After stopping here for a while and lingering around the shrine for a long time, the sunlit shrine was nearing sunset. At that moment, I was reminded that it was time to quicken my pace and leave this tranquil place, returning to the city filled with modern light pollution.
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine | Review by 5765 nyu
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