Is Hirou Shrine's Goshuin a Good 'First Book'? A Mindset Notebook for Your Goshuincho Debut Day on Mount Nachi

Making Hirou Shrine's Goshuin the Gateway to Your 'First Book'

We're sometimes asked by people who don't yet own a goshuincho (seal stamp book), "Where's the best place to get my very first one?" At such times, one of the places our local editorial team thinks of is Mount Nachi.

Hirou Shrine's goshuin — received at a shrine where the waterfall itself is worshipped as the deity — conveys very honestly the meaning of a goshuin as "a record of hands joined in prayer, carried home." This article focuses less on detailed information about the destination, and more on the "mindset" that beginners often struggle with.

A Goshuin Is Not a 'Stamp' — It's a Record of Worship

A goshuin is received as proof that you have paid your respects. It differs a little from the feeling of collecting stamps at tourist spots: the basic order is worship first, then receive.

Hirou Shrine has no main hall; it is a shrine where you worship the waterfall itself. There is a quiet moment where you first face the falls and join your hands, and only afterwards do you think about the goshuin. The reason we recommend it for beginners is that this natural flow comes to you without effort.

Things to Decide Before Welcoming Your First Book

1. Prepare Your Goshuincho in Advance, or Meet It on Site?

You can either prepare a goshuincho before your trip or welcome one on site. If you decide to pick it up locally, keep in mind that availability and the variety of designs can differ day by day — so it's more relaxing not to fix your mind on anything in particular, and simply choose from what you happen to encounter.

2. Will You Put Shrines and Temples in the Same Book?

On Mount Nachi, Hirou Shrine, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Seiganto-ji Temple stand side by side — shrines and a temple together. Some people keep separate books for shrines and temples, while others gather everything into a single book as a record of the journey. There's no single right answer, so if you're torn, use "the form that feels good to look back on later" as your guide.

3. What Would You Like on the First Page?

The very first page becomes the opening scene of your journey. If you make the page you receive after worshipping at the falls your first page, then later, when you look back, even the atmosphere of the trip will come back to you more easily.

On the Day: 'Don't Get It Wet' and 'Don't Rush'

Near the waterfall, you'll feel the spray and the humidity. Since a goshuincho is made of paper, the following preparations help:

• A plastic bag or pouch to hold your goshuincho
• A small towel in case your hands get wet
• Small change for the offering fee (it's generally reassuring to have small denominations)
• A pen and sticky notes to use while waiting (for jotting things down)

Keep the book deep in your bag and only take it out when needed, and you'll feel at ease even on rainy days.

Check Reception Hours and the Format on the Day

Reception hours for goshuin, the location where they're issued, and the style in which they're written can change depending on the season and circumstances. This article doesn't list specific numbers. Before you set out or once you arrive, please check the official information or on-site notices. To avoid the disappointment of "I arrived in the evening and missed it," we recommend giving yourself plenty of time.

Including the Joy That Comes After You Return Home

A goshuin brings the journey back to you not only at the moment you receive it, but also when you suddenly open the book months later. The darkness of the ink and the slight bleed of the vermilion seal bring back the sound of the falls and the damp air. Please savor that kind of experience from your very first book.

Pay your respects to Nachi Falls, and carry home a single record. That alone will make your Kumano journey feel much more your own.

Image: 和歌山フォトライブラリー (via 和歌山フォトライブラリー)