If you have heard about or have been to the Kumano Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, you might wonder if Naniwa Kuamno Shrine (なにわ熊野神社) is related to the renowned Kumano Shrine. And your guess is correct! So, if you don’t have time to complete the pilgrimage, stop by Naniwa Kumano Shrine and get blessings from the same gods. In addition, you can adore the plum blossoms here in early spring!
About Naniwa Kumano Shrine
In the mid-8th century, Emperor Shōmu ordered the restoration of several Kumano shrines in the Settsu province (most of north-central Osaka Prefecture and southeastern Hyōgo Prefecture). Naniwa Kumano Shrine was the first one to be rebuilt. These small shrines served as resting spots for pilgrims who embarked on the pilgrimage to the Kumano Shrine in Wakayama.
Because the Naniwa Kumano Shrine was destroyed in World War II, the current shrine was restored after the war. The stone torii gate completed in 1739 is one of the few things that survived the war and the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995.
The Gyōja-dō (行者堂) at Naniwa Kumano Shrine
The Gyōja-dō is where you can find the remains from World War II. Originally, there was a small worship hall here for En no Gyōja (役行者), the founder of founded the Kinpusenji Temple in Mt. Yoshino. But his statue was largely destroyed, and only the body remained. So, the previous chief priest put his body on top of a pile of stones and worshipped him with two cups of water each day.
If you have a life partner, don’t forget to pray for a happy marriage. While the statue wasn’t complete, it could still give us blessings.
The Plum Blossoms at Naniwa Kumano Shrine
Unlike the Tenmangū shrines in Japan, the gods enshrined at Naniwa Kumano Shrine have nothing to do with plum blossoms. But, the shrine has a plum-related legend.
Emperor Nintoku (仁徳天皇) was especially fond of the highly fragranced plum in Naniwa Kumano Shrine’s precinct. So, the villagers presented the plum blossoms from the tree to the emperor. Emperor Nintoku loved it so much that he ordered the tree to be transferred to the capital. But during the transferring process, the tree lost all the flowers except for the stick pointing towards the capital. Miraculously, flowers began to bloom all over the tree after it was returned to its original location.
Nowadays, there are around 70 plums of 24 varieties in Naniwa Kumano Shrine. The plum blossom season is usually from late February to early March. Each year, a plum blossom festival is held for the locals to not only admire the flowers but also enjoy the plum products. Usually, the festival is held on the first Sunday in March. However, the date may change
- In 2024, Naniwa Kumano Shrine’s Plum Blossom Festival was held between 10 am and 1 pm on the 25th of February.
- Casual tea ceremonies were held during the festival, costing 300 per person to join.
- Homemade plum juice, salted plums, and other plum-related products were also on sale.
Tip: The park 20 meters east of Naniwa Kumano Shrine is Plum Tree Park (梅の木公園). It has around 20 white and red plums planted.
Apart from the plum blossoms, the wisteria at Naniwa Kumano Shrine is also gorgeously bloom between late April and early May.
How to Get to Naniwa Kumano Shrine
- Naniwa Kumano Shrine is around a 20-minute walk from Hanshin’s Amagasaki Station (阪神 尼崎駅).
- You can also take a bus from Amagasaki Station and get off at Higashi Naniwa San-chōme (東難波3丁目), and walk for 6 minutes.
- If you take the JR line, get off at Tachibana Station (立花駅). From there, take the city bus route 15 or 31 and get off at Nishi Naniwa-naka (西難波中). The shrine is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
Discover the Plum Blossom Spots in Osaka
If you plan to base in Osaka during your time in the Kansai region, Osaka Prefecture, has many more plum groves you can enjoy. If you fly into Osaka, there are a few plum blossom spots close to the Kansai Airport!
So, refer to our article on the Plum Blossom Posts in Osaka to plan your trip!
