2024/02/20

【KUMANO TRAVEL】#TanabeTuesday ~ Top Sumo Wrestler to Visit Kumano Hongu Taisha Feb 24: Limited Acces ~

横綱照ノ富士が熊野本宮大社で土俵入り！

第73代横綱照ノ富士の奉納土俵入り

To help commemorate the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage designation for the Kumano Kodo, Japanese sumo’s top-ranked wrestler Terunofuji will perform a ring-entering ceremony in the inner shrine of Kumano Hongu Taisha on Saturday, February 24.

Terunofuji’s story is the epitome of the Kumano Kodo theme of “rebirth.” After experiencing success early in his career, he suffered injury and demotion in the sumo ranks until he rebounded and is now sumo’s highest rank, “yokozuna.”

Sumo is considered a very sacred practice with its roots going back more than 1,000 years. Long ago, sumo was performed at key shrines along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage to entertain the deities.

SHRINE GROUNDS WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC:
Visitors will be unable to enter the main grounds of the shrine from the morning until 13:00 without an entrance ticket.

Kumano Kodo hikers arriving from the north of the grand shrine should follow the detour signs leading around the main shrine area to the stairs to the base.

The Dual Pilgrim stamp for Kumano Hongu Taisha will temporarily be offered at the Kumano Hongu Heritage Center until 13:00. After that, visitors will again be allowed to enter the grand shrine grounds.

LIMITED ENTRANCE TICKETS:

Entry tickets to watch the ceremony are available at a tent near the base of the stairs from 7:00. A total of 200 tickets will be distributed on a first-come-first-served, one-ticket-per-person basis. Tickets are for standing room area only.

No photography or videotaping will be allowed.