This shrine in Kumano City is near the Kumano Sanzan Shrines. It Hananoiwaya-jinja Shrine, which sits by Japan’s longest beach in the Kumano region of Mie prefecture, is dedicated to a towering rock on the beach. The rock is 45 meters high, and has been shaped over eons by wind and waves. The shrine is one of the country'oldest.

The shrine is now included among the World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. Lots of visitors come to see the sacred rope hanging ceremony conducted at the shrine's bi-annual Reitaisai Festival.

The approach to the shrine is paved and there are no steps, you can easy to accesses with your wheelchair.

"Otunacyaya" is the roadside station which has the atmosphere of the Edo period (1603-1868) along National Route 42 is in front of the Hananoiwaya-jinja Shrine. This is that stands as a tea house conveys the wonders of Kumano and has shops and a material exhibition corner that surround a rest space.
And the wheelchair-accessible toilet is right in front of the parking lot of this roadside station.
In addition, they rent out bicycles and the facility is convenient as a sightseeing information base for world heritage sites such as Kumano Kodo (ancient pilgrimage routes) and Hana no Iwaya.
(Published on February 5, 2021)