Chubu Wide-area Tourism Portal Site -- Travel to Ten Thrilling Scenic Sites This showcases sightseeing destinations in Japan's Chubu region (the prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga).

Mie Prefecture Higashikishu Area

Hana-no-iwaya appears in "Nihon Shoki," sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan and is the first history book in Japan compiled in 720, as a "stage for the birth of the nation." This place has a significant meaning as a ancient sacred site "Iwaya-no-Kumano," which is the foremost sacred sites in the Kumano Sanzan Worships. Therefore the place can be called as the roots of the Japanese. It is written that the shrine treasures were moved to Hongu Taiha from Hana-no-iwaya in Nihon Shoki. As described in the book, the Reidai festival is held on Februrary 2nd and October 2nd every year. Many people visit here at those times.