Kawagoe Kumano Jinja (川越熊野神社)

Kawagoe Kumano Jinja

Located in the historic area of Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, is Kawagoe Kumano Jinja (川越熊野神社), a Shinto shrine enshrining the kami (deities) Izanagi-no-Mikoto (伊弉諾命), Izanami-no-Mikoto (伊弉册命), Kotosaka-no-O-no-Mikoto (事解之男命), and Hayatama-no-O-no-Mikoto (速玉之男命), collectively referred to Kumano-no-Okami (熊野大神).

Second torii

According to a historical record called Meisaisho (明細帳), the shrine's origins date back to Tensho 18 (1590), when the second chief priest of Renkeiji, Nenyo Bun'o (然誉文応), enshrined the kami of Kumano from Kii Province (present-day Wakayama Prefecture).

After its founding, the shrine became the ujigami (local tutelary shrine) of the people of the Matsugo area.

In Shotoku 3 (1713), during the time of Renkeiji's sixteenth chief priest, Nenyo Ryokan (然誉了鑑), the shrine buildings were rebuilt. The existing second torii (shrine gate) was built during this time.