Kamikura Shrine: The Sacred Rock Climbed by Japan’s First Emperor

Kamikura Shrine

(Shingu City, Wakayama)

【Iwa (岩)】 refers to large rocks formed by natural forces, volcanic activity, crustal movements, and long-term weathering. The overwhelming presence of massive stones—far beyond human ability to move—has long inspired awe, and ancient people regarded such natural formations as places where deities dwell, making them objects of worship.

In the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture, in the city of Shingu, there is one such giant rock. It is the Gotobiki Rock, located halfway up Mount Kamikura at an elevation of 120 meters, and standing about 10 meters tall. It was formed when magma erupted in ancient times and later cooled and solidified. Gotobiki is a local word meaning “toad.” The rounded shape created by weathering, along with its brown upper surface and white lower portion resembling a toad’s swollen belly, may have inspired the name. Even the crack running across the top looks somewhat like a toad’s mouth.

This enormous rock at the southern tip of the deep mountains of the Kii Peninsula appears in Japan’s oldest historical texts, in the myths of the nation’s founding. It is said that Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan, landed here with his forces and climbed this rock on their way to conquer what is now Nara Prefecture, where he later established the capital and ascended the throne. The event is traditionally dated to around 663 BCE. The site is also believed to be the place where the deities of the three Kumano Sanzan shrines—now a UNESCO World Heritage Site—first descended, making it a sacred location.

Today, Kamikura Shrine stands in front of the rock. The building is a worship hall where visitors offer prayers to the deity and take part in rituals. However, there is no main sanctuary in the building, as the deity is believed to reside in the rock itself. A large sacred rope (shimenawa) is wrapped around the rock to mark the holy area. The mountain on which the rock stands has also been revered as a sacred site since ancient times. Evidence of this worship can be seen in the many ancient artifacts unearthed around the rock, including a fragment of bronze bells and cylindrical containers for Buddhist sutras.

To reach the shrine, visitors must climb 538 steep stone steps. These steps are said to have been donated in the 12th century by the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate. If you are not confident about climbing all the way up the steps to the stone, you can offer your prayers at the donation box located in front of the torii gate at the entrance.

Please visit the Kamikura Shrine website.