The honden (main shrine) of Kumomi Sengen-Jinja Shrine is located near the summit of a large rock called Mt. Eboshi (162 m / 531 ft). This large "rock" is actually just a volcanic neck, which refers to a large hill formed when magma in a volcanic vent has cooled and solidified.
Mt. Eboshi is such a volcanic neck that was once under the sea.
Over time, as the volcano was pushed above the water's surface, the walls and softer outer layers of the volcano eroded leaving behind the much harder magma column jutting high above the sea.
From the base of the rock, there are 130 stone steps that will take you to the worship hall of the shrine. The steps are wide and easy to climb even for children or the elderly. For practical reasons, I assume that the worship hall is where regular parishioners go to make an offering and pray, instead of going all the way to the top.
From the worship hall, there are two sets of very steep stone stairs for a total of 320 stone steps. The first set of stairs is slightly better maintained and not to difficult to climb compared with the second set of stairs.
When you reach the second set of stone stairs, you can see that the handrail is a bit older, a bit more wobbly and rudimentary. Also, the stone steps are much smaller with just enough space for the forefoot. The stone steps seem older and in some cases slanting downwards, which can be hazardous if you are climbing in inclement weather. Just one slip could be disastrous if you lost hold of the railing.
At the top of the second set of stairs, the trail widens up a bit and mostly consists of a rocky path, worn tree roots, and less arduous than the second set of stairs. No special gear is needed for this climb. Good walking shoes with non-slip tread on the soles should suffice if hiking during dry conditions.
Soon thereafter, you will reach the actual Kumomi-Sengen Shrine. At first glance, this shrine reminded me of Afuri-Jinja shrine on the peak of Oyama in Kanagawa Prefecture.
In both cases, most parishioners or visitors wanting to offer a prayer do not go all the way to the peak to visit the actual shrine, which would be impractical. Both this shrine and the one at Oyama have worship halls or a lower shrine that is much more easy to access, more photogenic, and definitely a better draw for tourists.
At Oyama and Eboshi, the honden or actual shrine structures that house the deity on the peak, seem to place a greater emphasis on spiritual value or purpose of the structure instead of what might draw new parishioners or tourists, which might explain why both shrines have very simple architectural designs and are free of any grandiose colors or overt ornamental elements. Or, maybe it's just too expensive and difficult to build and maintain eye-catching structures in such remote locations.
Once you reach Kumomi-Sengen Shrine, there is a small, but very steep set of concrete stairs to a platform that is just a a meter or so higher than the roofline of the shrine. From there, you have a 360-degree view of Suruga Bay and the entire Kumomi coastline.
Check out the Pix4Japan YouTube channel for a video of...
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