An Ancient Sacred Site of Kumano
A History Said to Date Back More Than 2,000 Years
The traditional history of Asuka Shrine is extremely old. According to shrine tradition, its origins date back to 423 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Kosho.
This date includes elements of mythology and cannot be regarded as a precisely documented historical date. Nevertheless, the tradition reflects the extraordinary antiquity of the sacred landscape around Asuka Shrine and Mount Horai.
Mount Horai is a relatively small hill, approximately 100 meters from north to south and 50 meters from east to west, rising to around 48 meters above sea level. Its rounded shape resembles an overturned bowl.
In ancient Japan, distinctive mountains and hills were often regarded as Kannabi, sacred natural places where divine spirits were believed to reside. Mount Horai is thought to represent this ancient form of nature worship particularly well.
A Place Closely Connected with the Origins of Kumano Faith
According to the traditions of Kumano worship, the deities known as the Kumano Gongen first descended at nearby Kamikura Shrine before being enshrined at Asuka.
This tradition makes Asuka Shrine particularly important for understanding how the religious culture of Kumano developed. Rather than separating nature, Shinto deities, and Buddhist beliefs, Kumano faith historically brought these traditions together into a distinctive spiritual culture.
Asuka-oji and the Kumano Pilgrimage
An Important Stop on the Ancient Pilgrimage Route
During the Heian period, pilgrimage to the three major Kumano shrines became increasingly popular. Emperors, retired emperors, aristocrats, and other pilgrims traveled from Kyoto to the remote Kumano region, crossing difficult mountain routes along the way.
Along these pilgrimage routes were numerous subsidiary shrines known collectively as the Kujuku-oji, or the “Ninety-Nine Prince Shrines.” These sacred sites provided places for pilgrims to pray and perform religious rituals during their journey.
Asuka Shrine was revered as Asuka-oji, one of these important pilgrimage sites. Historical records from the Heian period mention pilgrims visiting Asuka-oji and making offerings there.
The famous medieval epic The Tale of the Heike also contains a reference to Taira no Koremori visiting Asuka Shrine. These literary and historical references demonstrate the shrine’s importance within the traditional Kumano pilgrimage.
The Mysterious Legend of Xu Fu
The Chinese Explorer in Search of the Elixir of Immortality
Another fascinating tradition associated with Asuka Shrine is the legend of Xu Fu, known as Jofuku in Japanese.
Xu Fu is said to have lived approximately 2,200 years ago in China and served Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China. According to legend, the emperor ordered Xu Fu to travel across the sea in search of an elixir of immortality.
Xu Fu and his followers are traditionally said to have reached the area around the mouth of the Kumano River. According to local legend, they were attracted by the mysterious appearance of Mount Horai and landed in the region.
Although the historical accuracy of this story remains uncertain, the Xu Fu tradition has become an important part of the cultural heritage of Shingu.
The Shrine Dedicated to Xu Fu
Within the grounds of Asuka Shrine is a small sanctuary known as the Xu Fu Shrine. It commemorates the legendary visitor and his connection with the region.
Local tradition credits Xu Fu and his followers with introducing various technologies and skills, including agriculture, whaling, shipbuilding, and papermaking. For this reason, Xu Fu continues to be an important cultural figure in Shingu.
The Legendary Herb Ten-dai Uyaku
According to another part of the legend, the elixir Xu Fu was searching for may have been associated with Ten-dai Uyaku, an evergreen shrub belonging to the genus Lindera.
The plant has traditionally been valued as a medicinal herb. Its leaves and roots have been associated with various traditional uses, particularly for digestive and other health-related purposes.
Ten-dai Uyaku is still used locally in Shingu, including as an ingredient for tea and bath products. A mature specimen grows within the grounds of Asuka Shrine and has been designated as a Natural Monument of Shingu City.
Near the southern side of the shrine, visitors can also find a monument commemorating the legendary landing place of Xu Fu.
Ancient Archaeological Discoveries
Evidence of Yayoi and Kofun Period Settlements
The area around Asuka Shrine and Mount Horai contains important archaeological remains dating from the Yayoi period to the Kofun period.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered numerous remains, including pit dwellings, pottery, and stone artifacts. The area around the mouth of the Kumano River once contained extensive wetlands, while the slightly elevated land around Mount Horai would have provided a safer and more suitable place for settlement.
These discoveries suggest that communities engaged in agriculture and fishing lived here in ancient times. The settlement may have played an important role in the development of culture around the Kumano River.
A reconstructed pit dwelling can also be seen within the shrine grounds, allowing visitors to imagine what daily life may have looked like in ancient Japan.
Artifacts from the Mount Horai Sutra Mound
In 1960, fallen trees caused by a powerful typhoon led to the discovery of numerous important religious artifacts on Mount Horai. These included objects known as shinto-buddhist devotional mirrors and ritual artifacts associated with sutra mounds.
Among the discoveries were approximately 193 devotional objects, many of which are believed to date from the Heian through Muromachi periods.
The objects depict a variety of Buddhist figures closely connected with the religious traditions of Kumano, including Acalanatha, Amida Buddha, Yakushi Buddha, and Thousand-Armed Kannon.
These artifacts are particularly valuable because they provide physical evidence of Shinbutsu-shugo, the historic blending of Shinto and Buddhist beliefs in Japan. In 2019, the collection was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Highlights of Asuka Shrine
The Main Sanctuary and Worship Hall
The present main sanctuary is built in a traditional nagare-zukuri architectural style with a copper-sheet roof. Its appearance is relatively understated, but the calm and dignified atmosphere reflects the shrine’s long history.
The relationship between the shrine buildings and Mount Horai behind them is particularly significant. The sacred mountain rising immediately beyond the shrine provides a powerful reminder of the ancient belief that nature itself can be divine.
The Large Stone Purification Basin
One of the notable objects on the shrine grounds is a large stone purification basin donated in 1631 by Mizuno Shigeyoshi, the second lord of Shingu Castle.
The basin was carved from a single large stone and is an impressive example of early Edo-period craftsmanship. It is designated as a cultural property of Shingu City.
Its substantial form also reflects the strong devotion that the local ruling family had toward Asuka Shrine.
The Miyaido Archaeological Site
To the southeast of the shrine is the Miyaido Archaeological Site. Excavations here have uncovered Yayoi-period pottery and Buddhist religious artifacts, including one-character-per-stone sutra stones.
Characters from Buddhist scriptures were carved onto individual stones and buried as acts of religious devotion. Inscriptions written in Siddham characters can also be found on rocks in the area.
These remains provide a fascinating glimpse into the period when Shinto and Buddhist practices were closely intertwined.
Shingu City Museum of History and Folklore
Located within the grounds of Asuka Shrine is the Shingu City Museum of History and Folklore. The museum introduces the history and culture of Shingu and the wider Kumano region through a diverse collection of exhibits.
Visitors can learn about the artifacts discovered from the Mount Horai sutra mound, the history of Kumano faith, Shingu Castle, and the traditional forestry culture that developed in the region.
The collection of devotional objects from Mount Horai is particularly valuable. Seeing these artifacts in person helps visitors understand how Shinto and Buddhist beliefs became intertwined in the spiritual landscape of Kumano.
Where Nature, History, and Faith Meet
The greatest attraction of Asuka Shrine is not simply its buildings or individual cultural properties. It is the way that nature, spirituality, archaeology, and history exist together in one landscape.
The evergreen forest covering Mount Horai creates a peaceful atmosphere even though the shrine is located close to the urban center of Shingu. The quiet surroundings make it easy to imagine how people in ancient times may have viewed mountains, forests, rivers, and rocks as manifestations of the divine.
This respect for nature is one of the defining characteristics of Kumano’s spiritual culture. Long before modern concepts of environmental conservation existed, people in this region regarded the natural landscape as something sacred and worthy of reverence.
A Gateway to the Spiritual Heritage of Kumano
For travelers exploring the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes and the UNESCO World Heritage landscapes of the Kii Peninsula, Asuka Shrine offers a valuable opportunity to look beyond the famous pilgrimage trails and discover the deeper origins of Kumano spirituality.
The shrine brings together ancient nature worship, the history of the Kumano pilgrimage, the blending of Shinto and Buddhism, archaeological discoveries, and the fascinating legend of Xu Fu.
Asuka Shrine is a place where more than two thousand years of legends, faith, and cultural traditions can still be experienced within a single landscape. When visiting Shingu, take time to walk quietly through the shrine grounds, look toward sacred Mount Horai, and explore the surrounding historical sites. It is an ideal destination for travelers who want to understand the spiritual and cultural roots of the Kumano region.