熊野西郵便局 (Kumano Nishi post office) Fukeiin - Kumano-cho, Hiroshima



Kumano Nishi Post Office

After I finished sending some postcards at the Kumano post office, we headed to our next and final post office of the day. On this day, my husband and I had already been to two post offices: Hachihonmatsu and Kumano. Since we've come all the way to Kumano-cho, it would be a waste not to visit another post office in the area that offers fukeiin. Next stop: Kumano Nishi post office! 

You can reach the Kumano Nishi post office by taking a bus from Yano Station (Kure Line) and getting off at the Kita-kenei Jutaku-mae (北県営住宅前) bus stop. From there, it's a 2-minute walk (around 140 m). The bus comes 1-2 times every hour. You can also take a bus from Hiroshima Station and change at the Shiritsu Kogyo Koko-mae (市立工業高校前) bus stop, but I don't recommend it since you might have to wait a long time during the transfer. 

From the Kumano post office, it's actually quite easy to reach the Kumano Nishi post office. You can either walk for around 1.1 km (around 17 minutes), drive for 3 minutes, or take the bus from Kumano Nakasuji to Kita Kenei Jutaku-mae bus stop. It's a good idea to visit both post offices in one go! 

I planned to send two postcards from this post office: one to Malaysia and one to Ukraine. As usual, I took a picture at the mailbox and bought a postcard to write my own address on before requesting the officer to put the fukeiin on and post them. I hope all of them reach their new homes safely!


Kumano Motomiya Jinja

Before leaving Kumano-cho, there was one more place we wanted to visit: the Kumano Motomiya Jinja. It's the Shinto shrine featured in the Kumano post office fukeiin, so I guess it must be quite important for the people of Kumano. It also has the same kanji (熊野本宮神社) as the Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社) in Wakayama Prefecture, so I'm assuming there must be a correlation between the two shrines. 

Kumano Motomiya Jinja
According to the official website of Kumano-cho, the Kumano Motomiya Jinja is said to have been established in 1181, around the time of the fall of the Taira Clan, by inviting the kami from Kumano Daigongen in Kishu (presently Wakayama Prefecture). The name of Kumano Village (which later became Kumano-cho) is also said to originate from the shrine. The shrine was burned down in the 1800s but rebuilt in 1914. Kumano Motomiya Jinja and Sakakiyama Jinja (which is located in the same complex) are important shrines for the Kumano people. Every year, around Higan (autumn equinox) in late September, Fude Matsuri (Fude Festival) is held at the shrine grounds. It started drizzling when we reached the shrine, so we just paid a quick visit and got the goshuin (shrine/temple seal) there.


Kumano Nishi Post Office Fukeiin

My postcard with the fukeiin arrived a few days later. It has the image of a stone monument, a brush, and a shrine, which I'm pretty sure is the Kumano Motomiya Jinja. 

From the Japan Post official website: "The fukeiin depicts Fudezuka, Kumano Fude, Kumano Motomiya Jinja, and Hachimanyama." The fukeiin was launched on April 11th, 1983.

Fudezuka (筆塚) is a stone monument erected in 1965 to commemorate the spirit of brushes and to show respect for Fude makers. Located in the grounds of Sakakiyama and Kumano Motomiya Jinja, every year, 'Fude kuyo' is held during Fude Matsuri. Fude Kuyo is a memorial service where used brushes that have reached the end of their lives are burned in a ceremony. 

I knew about omamori kuyo, but this is the first time I've heard of Fude Kuyo! I think it's a good way to pay respect and say goodbye to the brushes that have been used for a long time. The more I go out collecting fukeiin, the more I learn about places in Japan and its history and culture! 

I'll see you all on my next fukeiin adventure!


Cheers,

Mulic


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