Onigajo Center to open on August 1st

Onigajo is a large rock wall created by uplift from earthquakes, weathering, and wave erosion. In addition to being designated as a national scenic spot and natural monument, it is also registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes of the Kii Mountain Range." There is a promenade for about 1km along the rock wall, and you can enjoy the numerous caves large and small, as well as the strangely shaped rocks. At the top of the mountain, there are castle ruins from the Sengoku period, and there is a hiking course that connects it to Kumano Kodo and Matsumoto Pass. You can see the entire Kumano Sea from the observation deck called Oni-no-Miharashi. There are many cherry blossom trees planted along the hiking trail to the top of the mountain, and in spring, four types of cherry blossoms bloom one after another, pleasing the eyes of tourists who visit for a long time. View this post on Instagram [Official] Post shared by Mie Tourism (Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation) (@kankomie) - February 1, 2020, 3:55 a.m. PST

Hana-no-Iwaya is mentioned as a ``stage for domestic production'' in the first part of the Age of Gods of Japan's first history book, Nihon Shoki, which was written in 720 (Nara period). This place has an important meaning as the ancient sacred place ``Kumano of Kumano'', which predates the Kumano Sanzan faith, and is truly a place that can be called the roots of the Japanese people. History books mention that the sacred treasures were moved from Hana-no-Iwaya to Hongu Taisha. Just as written in the Nihon Shoki, the annual festival is still held on February 2nd and October 2nd every year, and many people come to worship.

Hana-no-Iwaya is registered as a World Heritage Site along with the Kumano Kodo. Said to be Japan's oldest shrine, it does not have a main building, but instead is a huge rock approximately 45 meters high that serves as its object of worship. Adjacent to Hana-no-Iwaya is Michi-no-eki Kumano Hana-no-Iwaya hospitality restaurant ``Otsuna Chaya''. This is a facility where visitors to Hana-no-Iwaya can stay in a relaxed manner and provide information about Hana-no-Iwaya through meals, merchandise sales, etc. The facility is full of charm, with plenty of resting spaces created with verandas, etc., creating a comfortable space with the atmosphere of a sacred Hana-no-Iwaya. [Contents of the main facilities] ○ Cafeteria: In addition to udon and rice balls made with ancient rice (Izanami rice), a regional specialty, we offer regional specialties such as Mehari-sushi. ○Souvenirs and products sales…We mainly stock regional specialties, such as ancient rice (Izanami rice) mitarashi dango and otsuna mochi. ○ Exhibition of materials: We will display materials related to Hana-no-Iwaya and convey the history and origins of Hana-no-Iwaya. We welcome all visitors with heartfelt and warm hospitality. Please stop by. This is a facility where visitors to Hana-no-Iwaya can stay in a relaxed manner and provide information about Hana-no-Iwaya through meals, merchandise sales, etc. The facility is full of charm, with plenty of resting spaces created with verandas, etc., creating a comfortable space with the atmosphere of a sacred Hana-no-Iwaya.