The first time I visited Kumano, I felt something changing in my heart as the green deepened around me, and I thought to myself that it must be the power of a sacred place. Even as I became gradually more somber, I had the strange sensation that I was slowly returning to my natural self.
When I gave a concert on the sacred ground of Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, I felt that my singing voice was being absorbed by the holy forests around me and that my song was reaching the gods themselves. It was an experience completely unlike the outdoor festivals in which I had participated previously.
Kumano is also blessed with remarkable cuisine like mehari sushi, and that has become an essential part of my visits here. Experiencing these things for yourself offers soothing and healing, and I felt that through them I was returning to my original self.
I would encourage everyone to visit Kumano, both to gain the ability to live your life in a positive, forward-looking manner and to encounter delicious food and beautiful scenery.