Wakayama Attractions｜Over 1,300 Years Old Shrine on the Kishigawa River—Ichinomiya Itaiki-so Shrine in Kii Province

Attraction: Kii Province Ichinomiya Itaikiso Shrine
Address: 558 Itaikiso, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Itaikiso Shrine, located on the Kishigawa Line, boasts a 1,300-year history. Its deity, Goto Takegami, is a wood deity in Japanese mythology. The shrine is located in a forest and features numerous wood carvings.

Getting there: Get off at Wakayama Electric Railway Itaikiso Station and walk for about 10 minutes.

From Wakayama Electric Railway Itaikiso Station, walk about 5 minutes to the outermost torii gate of Itaikiso Shrine. A wooden tablet reads "Kii Province Itaikiso," signifying it as the highest shrine in ancient Kii Province, which now encompasses Wakayama Prefecture and part of Mie Prefecture.

After passing through the second torii gate, you'll walk across a red Taiko Bridge and cross the small pond within the shrine grounds. On the left, there's a hand-washing pavilion for washing hands and cleansing your mind. Further inside, Itaikiso Shrine features a walk-through "Warribaiden" (Warribaiden). Behind it is the "Warribaiden" (Warribaiden), where you can worship the Gogeta. Itaikiso Shrine was first mentioned in historical records in 702, over 1,300 years ago. The Gogeta are said to have brought trees to Kii Province. Inside the adjacent Warribaiden, tree trunks are placed on the left, where people can enter to pray for blessings and ward off evil, and wooden carvings of the twelve zodiac animals are placed on the right.

The shrine office also sells various amulets. Nearby, large trees, their upper halves cut off, are still enshrined and protected with knotted ropes. These are the shrine's "sacred trees," which caught fire in 1962 after a lightning strike. They later withered, leaving only the 3-meter-tall lower halves. The entire environment is quite tranquil, with few tourists and a peaceful atmosphere. It's a refreshing experience. Take the Kishigawa Line and take a stroll.
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Post by 大叔衝日本 | Sep 1, 2025