Kumanokotai Shrine — Attraction in Karuizawa

A shrine on the prefectural border of Karuizawa🤣

Located at an altitude of 1200m at the top of Usui Pass, it is called "Kumano Kotaijinja" on the Nagano side😊 On the Gunma side, it is called "Kumano Shrine"

An ancient shrine said to have been built by Yamato Takeru.

It is designated as a special shrine in Shinano Province. As the prefectures are separated, there are also two offering boxes❤️

The Shinano tree, which is over 1000 years old, has long been worshiped as a sacred tree for good luck and matchmaking. Since it is at the top of Usui Pass, the view is...

標高1,200ｍの場所にあり、碓氷峠の頂上に鎮座する軽井沢の総氏神。社殿は群馬県安中市と長野県軽井沢町に跨っており、参道と本宮の中央を県境が通り、長野県側では『熊野皇大神社』、群馬県側では『熊野神社』と呼ばれ、県境跨いで参拝できる全国でも珍しい県境の神社です。

理由は第二次世界大戦後に宗教法人法が制定された際、都道府県ごとに宗教法人の登記が必要となり、このため一つの神社でありながら、県境を挟んで長野県側が熊野皇大神社、群馬県側が熊野神社という別々の宗教法人となったそうです。社殿は一つの神社ですが、宮司や社務所、賽銭箱、お守り、ご祈祷は別々で、本殿前には群馬県側と長野県側のそれぞれに本坪鈴と賽銭箱が置かれていますが投銭額に差はほとんどないそうです。

こうした立地を生かして、熊野皇大神社は2018年1月に“境界御守”を売り出しましたが、『自分の限界を乗り越えろ』という意味を込めて売り出したそうです。

石段を登り両脇に鎮座するのは室町時代中期...

Visited in oct 2018 and it was a quaint little shrine with a cool fact about it being in between two prefectures. Took the red tourist bus up the mountain. was planning to visit again in dec 2022 but sadly it turns out the red tourist bus that usually shuttles between karuizawa and the shrine is not in service during the winter season so please do take note when planning to travel to...