One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.50Kumano Junisha Shrine (popularly known as Juniso) at Tsunohazu

During the Edo period, it was popular to have faith in the twelve gods who were enshrined in three shrines at Kumano, located in steep wooded mountains at the tip of Kii Peninsula (Wakayama Prefecture). These gods were called gongen, incarnations of merciful Buddhas, and were considered to save all sentient beings.
Around the turn of the 15th century, a villager came from Kii Peninsula to Tsunohazu village, which was located between Koshukaido and Oumekaido, both of which parted from each other west of Naito Shinjuku station. He built a small shrine and enshrined his familiar gongen in it. Since then, every venture he undertook was a success and he became a man of fortune. He considered that the success was due to the protection of the gongen, and in 1403 he made up his mind to build a larger shrine which could accommodate all twelve gods. The new shrine was called Kumano Junisha (“twelve shrines”). In the wood surrounding the shrine grew thickly such trees as pine, cedar, fir and oak and, in the precinct of the shrine were planted cherry, peach, apricot and plum trees which produced their flowers in their respective seasons.
The district comprised a large pond, a stream, a waterfall and a variety of trees. On the shore of the pond stood many restaurants.
Unable to find comparable scenery in the city, Edo people often came here for viewing snow in winter, maple trees in autumn and cherry blossoms in spring. It was especially popular among men of letters and painters, who frequently visited the area.