Kumano Nachi Taisha: Where the Legendary Three-Legged Crow Came to Rest

Kumano Nachi Taisha

(Higashimuro District, Wakayama)

【Karasu (烏)】 means “crow” in Japanese, lives throughout Japan—from forests to urban areas—and are birds we often see in our daily lives. They are known for their intelligence, using tools to obtain food, understanding numbers, and even recognizing human faces. Although their black appearance and harsh calls sometimes give them an ominous image, crows have also been revered as messengers of the gods at certain Shinto shrines.

One symbolic example is the “Yata-garasu”, the three‑legged crow. According to Japanese mythology, this sacred bird guided Emperor Jimmu in 662 BCE when he entered Kumano (present‑day southern Wakayama Prefecture) and led him to Yamato (modern Nara Prefecture), where he established the first imperial rule. The word yata means “extremely large” in classical Japanese, indicating that “Yata-garasu” was regarded not as an ordinary crow but as a divine being with special spiritual power. After fulfilling its role, “Yata-garasu” is said to have returned to Kumano and transformed into a stone to rest. This stone, known as the Crow Stone, is quietly enshrined behind the worship hall of Kumano Nachi Taisha, where it is hidden from public view.

Today, “Yata-garasu” is widely known as the symbol of Japan’s national soccer team. It appears at the center of the Japan Football Association (JFA) emblem, standing on two legs while grasping a soccer ball with its third leg. The mythological idea of a “guide” has carried over into modern times, representing the hope that the team will be guided to victory.

Kumano Nachi Taisha is said to have been founded about 1,700 years ago during the reign of Emperor Nintoku, the 16th emperor of Japan. The shrine enshrines Kumano Fusumi no Ōkami, the deity of harmony and union, along with thirteen other deities.

Within the shrine grounds stands an enormous tree estimated to be 800–850 years old. Its trunk, measuring over 8.5 meters around, contains a hollow large enough for a person to enter. Worshippers can enter through an opening near the roots and climb a three-meter ladder inside the trunk, eventually emerging from an opening partway up the trunk. People pass through the interior one by one while making wishes. They often enter with a mix of anticipation and nervousness, but they emerge smiling.

Near Kumano Nachi Taisha is the famous Nachi Waterfall. Together with Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”

Please visit the Kumano Nachi Taisha website.