Kumano Nachi Taisha (Japanese: 熊野那智大社) is a Shinto shrine located in Nachikatsuura (那智勝浦町), Higashimuro (東牟婁郡) District, Wakayama (和歌山) Prefecture, Japan. Kumano Nachi Taisha has been designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2004.
The Sando (参道, visiting path) is only flanked by residences and relics, not as commercial as the other temples or shrines.
Kumano Nachi Taisha is very big and does not have many tourists, the atmosphere is peaceful.
Kumano Nachi Taisha is an example of Buddhist and Shinto syncretism (神仏習合) nestled in the Kii (紀伊) Mountains.
Kumano Nachi Taisha is one of the three sacred Kumano Sanzan (熊野三山) shrines, the other two shrines are Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野本宮大社) and Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野速玉大社).
There is a sacred tree next to the shrine. The tree is 850 years old and is said to have been planted by Taira-no-Shigemori (平重盛; 1138-1179), a famous military leader in ancient Japan.
Not too far from the shine is a relic named Sonsho-in (尊勝院), which was the garden of ancient nobles.
Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Hantō (紀伊半島), these trails were used by pilgrims to Kumano Sanzan.
