There are 158 steps from the parking lot to the main building, which takes about 10 minutes. "People who have trouble climbing the 158 steps should go to Oyunohara, which is about a 500-meter (10-minute) walk from the parking lot with their backs to the stairs." (The Oyunohara is said to be the site of the former Hongu Taisha Shrine.) From the parking lot, you can see Oyunohara's Otorii. Up the 158 steps, there were four main buildings. In addition, three-legged crows can be seen throughout the temple grounds. This is also famous as the symbol of the Japan Football Association, the Yatagarasu (竅��Raven).

It is the head temple of the 3,000 Kumano shrines across the country. The deity worshipped is Ketsumi Miko no Okami (another name for Susanoo no Mikoto), but eleven other deities are also enshrined, making it a place where an all-star cast of deities is enshrined. Within the grounds there is a magnificent shrine for each deity, and the order in which they are worshipped is also determined. It is no wonder that the saying goes, "Even if you don't visit all three Kumano shrines, if you visit Kumano Hongu Taisha, it counts as visiting them all."

This is the head temple of Kumano Shrine, where Susanoo-no-Mikoto is enshrined. The sight of flags lined up on both sides of the approach from the torii gate is overwhelming. The stone steps are long, but are all the same height and easy to walk up. There are signs informing visitors of the order of worship, which is helpful even for beginners. The four imposing and magnificent shrine buildings lined up are overwhelming.