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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.

Wakayama
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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

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...

Wakayama
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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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Wakayama

Kumano Kodo Kohechi Route

"Kohechi" is a rugged yet beautiful route of about 70km connecting the Buddhist sacred site Mt. Koya and Kumano Hongu Taisha via the shortest north-south distance. Crossing the Kii Mountain Range requires traversing three mountain passes of the 1,000-meter class, making it known as the most difficult "expert-level" road among the Kumano Kodo. In return, the journey features spectacular views like the Hatenashi Settlement, known as the "Village in the Sky," and untouched deep forests where you can feel overwhelming silence and natural vitality. By walking over several days, you can face yourself and taste both the harshness and blessings...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kumano Kodo Iseji Route

The "Iseji" route of the Kumano Kodo is a historic pilgrimage road running from Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture to the Kumano Sanzan in Wakayama, famously said as "Seven times to Ise, three times to Kumano." A characteristic of this route is that you can enjoy open views while walking along the beautiful coastline, not just crossing mountains. Especially, the exquisite cobblestones of "Magose Pass" and the panoramic views overlooking the sea are highly rated by international travelers. Footprints of travelers who overcame numerous difficulties to deepen their faith still remain, and you can feel the unique atmosphere where...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Katsuragi Town

Katsuragi Town, spreading along the rich flow of the Kinokawa River, is a peaceful town where fruit cultivation flourishes, known as the home of "Persimmons" as sung in the Manyoshu. Especially, the scenery of "Kushigaki" (skewered dried persimmons) is famous as a seasonal poetic charm of autumn in Japan, with the mountain slopes dyed orange being an overwhelming sight. Additionally, it houses "Niukawakami Shrine," part of the World Heritage site, and holds historical importance as a base for visiting Mt. Koya. You can enjoy beautiful terraced rice fields, clear streams, and seasonal fruit picking, making it popular with travelers wanting...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Kumano Area

The "Kumano Area" located in southern Wakayama Prefecture is known since ancient times as the "Land of Rebirth" and is the spiritual home of the Japanese people. It is a vast sanctuary centered on the World Heritage "Kumano Sanzan" (Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha, Nachi Taisha), with the "Kumano Kodo" pilgrimage roads weaving through the mountains. Embraced by deep mountains, this land retains untouched nature, Japan's oldest hot springs, and mystical megalithic worship. It is said that by walking while holding awe for nature, visitors purify their minds and bodies and gain vitality for rebirth. It promises the best experience for...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Mt. Koya (Koyasan)

Spreading across a mountain top at an altitude of about 800 meters, "Mt. Koya" is the sacred site of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism opened 1,200 years ago by the monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi). The entire town is a massive religious city centered around the "Sohonzan Kongobu-ji Temple," and even today, over 100 temples are dotted throughout. The biggest highlight is "Okunoin," where Kukai is believed to still be in continuous meditation; the approach, with its 2km of cedar trees and tens of thousands of tombstones, carries an indescribably mystical and solemn air. Accommodation is possible at many temples as "Shukubo," where...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Nanki-Shirahama

Nanki Shirahama is a representative beach resort of the Kansai region, boasting one of Japan's oldest hot springs with over 1,300 years of history and beautiful, shining white sand beaches. "Shirarahama," which has a sister beach affiliation with Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, is crowded with many people in summer due to the beautiful contrast between the emerald green sea and white sand. Furthermore, sightseeing spots that showcase natural formative beauty are concentrated here, such as "Adventure World" (globally famous for panda breeding), the seaside cliffs of "Sandanbeki," and "Engetsu Island," famous for its sunset. With good access from the airport,...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Nachi-Katsuura

Nachi-Katsuura is a port town known as the temple town of the World Heritage "Kumano Nachi Taisha" and as one of Japan's leading tuna hubs. The city's symbol, "Nachi Falls," is an overwhelming sight as it cascades vertically from the primeval forest, and its contrast with the adjacent Seiganto-ji Temple's three-storied pagoda is a representative spectacular view of Japan. In the early morning at Katsuura Fishing Port, you can observe auctions where giant tuna are lined up, and savoring fresh seafood dishes is a highlight of the trip. Hot springs are also abundant, and unique bathing facilities such as cave...

Wakayama
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Wakayama

Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of the Kii Peninsula, Japan's largest peninsula, and is an area characterized by overwhelming nature woven by the sea and mountains, along with deep history. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," it has been revered since ancient times as a land where gods reside. In the north lies Mt. Koya, the sacred site of Buddhism opened by Kobo Daishi Kukai, and in the south are the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage roads and Nachi Falls, which boasts the highest drop in Japan, attracting...

Wakayama
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Nara

Oyagyu Town

Located next to Yagyu Town, Oyagyu Town is a historical village known to those in the know, preserving even quieter satoyama scenes. Dotted throughout are Yamaguchi Shrine, once the tutelary deity of the Yagyu clan, and temples conveying historical depth despite their simplicity. Here exists the "authentic Japanese farming village" precisely because it hasn't been commercialized for tourism; the surrounding mountains and farm landscapes create an illusion that time stopped hundreds of years ago. For hikers on the Yagyu Highway, it is a precious area to escape bustle and listen only to their footsteps and natural sounds. It is a...

Nara
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Nara

Yagyu Town

Yagyu Town in eastern Nara City, known as the "Village of Swordsmen," is a land where Bushido and Zen spirits live on, having served as the base for the "Yagyu Clan," sword instructors to the Edo-period Shoguns. The legendary "Itto-seki" (split-in-two rock), said to have been sliced by Yagyu Sekishusai while fighting a Tengu, has recently become a holy site for fans worldwide as a model for a famous anime. The town retains a calm atmosphere conveying samurai culture, with Hotoku-ji (the Yagyu family temple) and the former Yagyu Domain Chief Retainer's Residence. Walking through quiet bamboo groves and mountain...

Nara
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Nara

Niu Kawakami Shrine Kamisha

"Niu Kawakami Shrine Kamisha," enshrined in Kawakami Village, is an extremely prestigious shrine (one of the 22 Shrines) dedicated to Japan's oldest water deity. Due to the construction of the Otaki Dam, the former precincts were submerged, and the shrine was relocated to high ground overlooking the lake. The panoramic view of "Lake Otaki Ryujin" from there is spectacular, radiating a divineness like a shrine in the sky. Symbolizing the great power to control water—bringing or stopping rain—this site remains cherished today as an important place protecting Japan's agriculture and the source of life. Enveloped in pure winds and water...

Nara
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Nara

Oku-Yamato Area

Consisting of 19 municipalities in southern and eastern Nara, the "Oku-Yamato Area" is a vast region called the frontier of Japan's rebirth, where untouched nature and deep history sleep despite being in the heart of Japan. From the World Heritage Kumano Kodo and Mt. Yoshino to mystical Tenkawa and Totsukawa villages, the whole area is packed with the origins of Japanese spirituality. There are no flashy theme parks, but there is the wisdom of people living with nature, traditional crafts backed by history, and "food" that reflects the power of the land. By traveling through this vast area, you can...

Nara
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