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Tsuboyu Bath (Yunomine Onsen)

"Tsuboyu," the symbol of Yunomine Onsen, is the only hot spring facility registered as a World Heritage site that can actually be bathed in. This small hot spring, gushing from a crack in a natural rock, is a mystical spot said to change its color seven times a day. It's just large enough for two or three people at a time and is used on a 30-minute private rotation system. Legends remain of historical figures curing incurable diseases here, and it has been revered as a water of rebirth since ancient times. The luxurious experience of immersing yourself in a...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Yunomine Onsen

"Yunomine Onsen" is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts, discovered about 1,800 years ago, and still strongly retains the atmosphere of a good old spa. It has flourished since ancient times as a place for "Yugori" (purification) before worshipping at Kumano. Steam rises along the river flowing through the center of the town, and the "Yutsutsu," where you can boil hot spring eggs and vegetables, is popular with tourists. The quiet mountain landscape lined with simple wooden inns is truly a primal Japanese scene. It is an exceptional healing spot where you can immerse yourself in historic warm waters...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

World Heritage Kumano Hongu Museum

Located near Kumano Hongu Taisha, the "World Heritage Kumano Hongu Museum" is a comprehensive information facility where you can deeply learn about Kumano's history, culture, and nature. The building, using plenty of high-quality local Kishu timber, harmonizes beautifully with the surrounding landscape. Inside, the value of the World Heritage site and the history of pilgrimage are introduced in detail through high-definition videos and panel displays, with extensive explanations in English. It is ideal for checking routes before hiking or reflecting on the deep meaning after walking. The attached library space and rest area also serve as a peaceful base for...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Takijiri-oji / Jugo-jinja Shrine

"Takijiri-oji" is an important base for the full-scale start of the "Nakahechi," the main route of the Kumano Kodo. This is considered the entrance to the sanctuary, and in the past, pilgrims purified themselves in the nearby river before entering the mountains. The "Jugo Shrine" within the precincts is wrapped in a quiet forest with old shrine buildings, creating a dignified air. In the mountain behind, there are giant rocks like the "Tainai-kuguri" used for training, allowing you to feel the breath of nature worship. It is a place where many hikers pray for travel safety, and a special spot...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kii-Tanabe Station

"Kii-Tanabe Station," the western gateway to the Kumano Kodo, is the first base for many travelers entering south-central Wakayama. In front of the station is the "Tanabe City Tourist Center," where support for international tourists, such as English maps and bus guides, is very extensive. The restaurant district called "Ajikoji" near the station is one of Wakayama's leading gourmet spots, wrapped in a warm atmosphere where locals and travelers mingle at night. The traditional wooden architecture of the townscape is also beautiful, making it an important landmark where you can feel this city's unique "spirit of hospitality" before boarding a...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Okutoro Park

"Okutoro Park," located in "Kitayama Village," Japan's only enclave, is a leisure spot where you can fully enjoy grand nature surrounded by the clear streams of the Kitayama River and deep mountains. Within the park, there are bases for sightseeing log rafting (Ikada-kudari), campgrounds, and tennis courts. Especially, "log rafting," which navigates rapids using traditional techniques, is attracting attention from overseas as a thrill-filled activity that can only be experienced here. Additionally, products using the phantom citrus "Jabara," which only grows wild in this village, are popular; it is ideal for those wanting to enjoy an active holiday and rare...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Tokei-jinja Shrine

"Tokei Shrine" in Tanabe City is a historic shrine also registered as a World Heritage site. Its name originates from a legend during the Genpei War in the Heian period, where a cockfight was used to divine which side to support. Because it enshrines all the deities of the "Kumano Sanzan" (Hongu, Hayatama, Nachi), it is an important place in the pilgrimage where it is said that worshipping here yields the same merit as visiting all three shrines. The precincts are quiet and imbued with local faith, making it a power spot suitable for praying for victory or travel safety...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Nanbu Bairin (Plum Grove)

Praised as "A million trees at a glance, the fragrance reaches ten ri," "Nanbu Bairin" is a vast plum grove in Minabe Town, known as Japan's top plum production area. From early February to early March, the entire mountain is covered in white plum blossoms, and a sweet scent gently envelops the surroundings. The premium "Nanko-ume" harvested from this grove allows you to learn the roots of Umeboshi (pickled plums), a representative of Japanese food culture. It is a great stopover spot where you can enjoy the beautiful flowers signaling the arrival of spring and peaceful satoyama scenery while savoring...

Wakayama
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Spring

Wakayama

Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine

One of the Kumano Sanzan, "Kumano Hayatama Taisha" in Shingu City is a very beautiful shrine with its brilliant vermilion shrine buildings reflecting against the blue sky. Within the precincts is a giant sacred "Nagi Tree" estimated to be over 1,000 years old, which has long been a spiritual pillar for pilgrims praying for safety during their journey. While Hongu Taisha has a calm atmosphere, this shrine is filled with bright and gorgeous energy. Nearby is "Kamikura Shrine," where gods are said to have first descended; visiting both together allows you to deeply understand that Kumano's faith is directed towards...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Tanabe City

Tanabe City, the second-largest city in Wakayama Prefecture, is the junction where the "Nakahechi" and "Ohechi" routes of the World Heritage Kumano Kodo split, serving as the "starting point for pilgrimage." Around the station, there is a lively restaurant district called "Ajikoji," where you can enjoy fresh local seafood and local sake, making it ideal for preparing for or healing from your journey. There are also information centers for the World Heritage site and historic shrines like Tokei Shrine. It is a city that serves as a base camp for deeply enjoying your Wakayama trip, where urban convenience coexists with...

Wakayama
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Oyunohara

"Oyunohara," located a few minutes' walk from Kumano Hongu Taisha, is the sacred former site where the Hongu Taisha once stood. The giant Torii gate soaring at the entrance is about 34 meters high, known as the largest in Japan, and its overwhelming presence surprises visitors even from a distance. Although many of the shrine buildings were washed away by a flood in 1889, it is said that this land is still filled with strong energy, and many pilgrims visit it as a power spot. The landscape woven by the silence of the vast grounds, rich greenery, and the massive...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Hossinmon-oji Shrine

"Hossinmon-oji" is an important Oji shrine known as the entrance to the sanctuary of the Kumano Kodo, the so-called "gate where the heart of enlightenment (Hossin) is born." The approximately 7km route from here to Kumano Hongu Taisha is particularly easy to walk among the ancient roads, and is a very popular hiking course through beautiful satoyama landscapes and tea plantations. Located at the boundary between a settlement where you can feel the local daily life and a mystical forest, it is the best place as a starting point for travelers who want to head to Hongu Taisha while casually...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kyukamura Nanki-Katsuura

"Kyukamura Nanki-Katsuura," located on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is a scenic resort hotel with a grand ocean view. The biggest attraction here is the open-air bath where you can gaze at the horizon while feeling the sea breeze. The Kaiseki cuisine using plenty of Katsuura's famous raw tuna and the buffet featuring seasonal local ingredients are also popular, allowing you to experience Wakayama's richness through food. It is very convenient as a base for sightseeing at the Kumano Kodo and Nachi Falls, and is chosen by travelers who want to spend high-quality relaxation time in a quiet environment...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Ota-no-Sato Exchange Center

Located in the mountains of Nachi-Katsuura Town, "Exchange Center Ota-no-sato" is a nostalgic and warm experiential lodging facility reusing a closed elementary school. Here, through agricultural experiences in rich nature and interaction with local people, you can directly experience Japanese "countryside living." Spending time in the nostalgic atmosphere of a wooden school building lets you forget modern busyness and reminds you of spiritual richness. For families or international travelers wanting to touch "authentic regional culture" that hasn't been commercialized, it is a unique base where you can make special memories.

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Wakayama

Umi-no-Hotel Ichinotaki

"Umi-no-Hotel Ichinotaki" is a scenic inn located on the beautiful coastline of Nachi-Katsuura, where you can enjoy magnificent ocean views from all guest rooms. In particular, the open-air bath where you can view the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean is a luxurious experience that makes you forget travel fatigue. It prides itself on seafood dishes including fresh raw tuna from Katsuura, allowing you to fully savor Wakayama's sea blessings. With good access to Kumano Nachi Taisha, it is an attractive hotel where travelers seeking a base for sacred site pilgrimage or quiet relaxation while listening to the waves can feel...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Blue Beach Nachi

"Blue Beach Nachi (Nachi Beach)" is a seaside resort spreading right in front of JR Nachi Station, boasting one of the largest scales in Wakayama Prefecture. As its name suggests, it features deep blue clear waters and a wide sandy beach, selected as a special choice in the "100 Best Beaches." Boasting excellent access just a 1-minute walk from the station, it is a luxurious environment where you can view World Heritage mountains behind you. With extensive facilities such as showers and changing rooms, it is an ideal summer activity base to enjoy the dynamic waves of the Pacific Ocean...

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Wakayama

Tama-no-ura Beach

"Tama-no-ura Beach" in Nachi-Katsuura Town is a beautiful white sand beach facing a calm inner sea. Because the waves are very quiet and the water transparency is high, it is ideal for families and travelers wanting to enjoy the sea slowly. With terrain like a cove surrounded by lush green mountains, a calm atmosphere like a private beach drifts here. Many hot spring inns are nearby, making it an excellent location to heal a body tired from Kumano Kodo hiking while feeling the sea breeze. It is a hidden healing spot where you can feel the gentleness and brightness of...

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Wakayama

Daimon-zaka Slope

"Daimon-zaka" is a highlight spot where you can most easily yet deeply experience the Kumano Kodo atmosphere. The approximately 600-meter cobblestone staircase leading to Nachi Falls is surrounded by giant cedar trees hundreds of years old, and the sight of sunlight filtering through the trees is mystical, like a scene from a movie. At the teahouse near the entrance, you can rent Heian-period noble costumes and enjoy commemorative photos as an ancient pilgrim. Despite the short distance, it is an immensely popular place for international tourists to fully experience the excitement of entering Kumano's divine realm and the beauty of...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine

"Kumano Hongu Taisha" is the center of the Kumano Sanzan and the destination for all Kumano Kodo routes. The shrine buildings, relocated from the former site "Oyunohara," feature heavy cedar bark roofs and a clean beauty rejecting flashy decorations. As a "land of salvation," it has the inclusiveness to accept all people, and pilgrims still gather from all over the world. As you pass through the torii gate and climb the stone steps, you will feel a solemn atmosphere as if the surrounding air changes. Guided by the three-legged crow "Yatagarasu," this sacred site makes you feel both the end...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine

One of the Kumano Sanzan, "Kumano Nachi Taisha" is a magnificent shrine located at about 500 meters altitude, enshrining Nachi Falls as a deity. The vermilion shrine buildings standing out against green mountains are divine, and the spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean overlooking from here overwhelms visitors. The faith of "Shinbutsu-shugo" (syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto) remains strong since ancient times, and along with the adjacent Nachisan Seiganto-ji Temple, it symbolizes the depth of Japanese spiritual culture. This sanctuary, where reverence for Nachi Falls took shape, is a place you should visit at least once in a lifetime to...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kimino Town

Kimino Town features relaxing satoyama landscapes, fitting its name which means "the field where you reside." The high-altitude areas have extremely clear air, making it known as one of Kansai's leading "starlit towns," and an observatory is established there. During the day, you can enjoy visiting herb gardens, specialty bakeries, and hideaway cafes amidst rich greenery, and at night, you can gaze at the starry sky. A slow life utilizing the rich natural environment is alive here, and it is highly recommended for travelers wishing to undergo a digital detox and immerse themselves in Japan's beautiful countryside scenery and quiet...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kainan City

Kainan City, located south of Wakayama City, is a city where you can feel traditional crafts, beautiful gardens, and "the beauty of Japanese gardens." In particular, "Yosuien," a nationally designated scenic spot, is a daimyo garden with a rare pond fed by seawater, where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the four seasons. Additionally, this place is famous as the production area of "Kishu Lacquerware," and in the historic streetscapes of the Kuroe district, you can touch the handiwork of craftsmen or enjoy lacquerware-making experiences. With many historical temples and shrines, it is an ideal place for those wanting to...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route

"Nakahechi" is the most popular route of the Kumano Kodo, an "official pilgrimage road" once walked by imperial families and nobles. This route from Tanabe to Kumano Hongu Taisha features well-maintained cobblestones, beautiful cedar forests, and remains of historic "Oji" (rest areas and shrines), allowing you to feel Kumano's stories most vividly. There are plenty of options, from few-hour courses for beginners to multi-day authentic courses, and staying at guesthouses along the way is also a delight. For all travelers wishing to touch the core of Japanese pilgrimage culture, this is the royal hiking course to choose first.

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kumano Kodo Ohechi Route

The "Ohechi" route of the Kumano Kodo is a grand route around the coastline of the Kii Peninsula, leading from Tanabe through Kushimoto to Nachi-Katsuura. Unlike other routes weaving through mountains, its greatest charm is walking while looking at the dynamic sea views of the Karekinada coast and the Pacific Ocean. It is also known as a "scenic" road once loved by literati and artists for its beauty and elegant journeys. Experiencing the stroll through historical temples and cobblestones built on seaside cliffs while feeling the sea breeze teaches you the diverse expressions of the Kumano Kodo. It is a...

Wakayama
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