A Mystical Waterfall with a 133-Meter Drop Located in Nachikatsuura Town in Wakayama Prefecture, Nachi Falls is one of Japan’s most famous waterfalls and one of the country’s most impressive natural landmarks. The waterfall plunges approximately 133 meters from a sheer cliff, making it the highest ...»
A Unique Spiritual Sanctuary Surrounded by Nature Hiro Shrine is a sacred Shinto shrine located in Nachisan, Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture. The shrine has been revered for centuries as an important place of worship connected with the natural landscape of the Kumano region. What makes Hir...»
A Sacred Path Preserving the Atmosphere of Japan’s Ancient Pilgrimage Routes Daimon-zaka Slope is one of the most famous sections of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture. For centuries, pilgrims have walked this historic path on their way to the sacred sites ...»
Kumano Hongu Taisha is one of Japan's most important sacred sites, located in Hongu Town, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture. Together with Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha, it forms the Kumano Sanzan, or Three Grand Shrines of Kumano. It is also regarded as the head shrine of the many K...»
Seiganto-ji Temple is a historic Tendai Buddhist temple located on Mount Nachi in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. The temple's mountain name is Nachisan, and its principal Buddhist image is Nyoirin Kannon (Cintamani-cakra Avalokiteshvara), a form of Kannon, the Buddhist bodhisattva of com...»
Kawayu Onsen is a unique hot spring destination in Hongu Town, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture. Located along the Oto River, a tributary of the Kumano River, this peaceful hot spring town is famous for an extraordinary natural phenomenon: hot spring water rises directly from the riverbed. Kawayu O...»
A Sacred Sanctuary Where Myth and Nature Meet Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine is one of the three major shrines of Kumano, located in the Nachisan area of Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Together with Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha, it forms the Kumano Sanzan, or Three Gra...»
Taiji Whale Museum is one of Japan’s leading museums dedicated to whales and is located within Whale Beach Park in Taiji Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. Opened in 1969, the museum was established to preserve and pass on the history of whaling culture in Taiji, the ecology of whales ...»
A Mysterious Sacred Site Among the Rocks Kamikura Shrine, located in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the most sacred and historically significant sites associated with the Kumano faith. The shrine is a subsidiary shrine of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, one of the three major Kumano shrines, b...»
Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. It is one of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, together with Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha. For centuries, these sacred sites have attracted pilgrims from throughout Japan and ...»
Tsuboyu is a historic hot spring located in Yunomine Onsen in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” What makes Tsuboyu particularly remarkable is that it is widely known as the only World Heritag...»
A Sacred Hot Spring with 1,800 Years of History Nestled quietly in the mountains of Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Yunomine Onsen is one of Japan's oldest hot spring destinations, with a history believed to stretch back approximately 1,800 years. Surrounded by the forests and mountains of the Ku...»
Kitayamagawa River Rafting is a unique adventure experience in Kitayama Village, Wakayama Prefecture, where visitors can ride a traditional log raft down the Kitayama River. It is considered the only traditional log-raft river trip of its kind in Japan. The experience revives the traditional techni...»
Asuka Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, near the mouth of the Kumano River. Situated at the southern foot of Mount Horai, the shrine is closely connected with the ancient religious traditions of the Kumano region. Asuka Shrine is considered one of the i...»
Oyunohara, located in Hongu Town in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the most sacred places associated with the ancient Kumano faith. Situated a short distance from the present-day Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine, Oyunohara is the former site where the shrine once stood. The sacred area lies...»
Kuwanoki Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in the Kuwanoki Gorge, a quiet mountain valley along a tributary of the Takada River in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. With a height of approximately 21 meters, it is recognized as one of Japan’s most beautiful waterfalls and was selected as one of ...»
Shingu Castle, also known as Tanzaku Castle or Okimi Castle, was once a major castle in what is now Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. Built on Tanzaku Hill near the mouth of the Kumano River, the castle was a hilltop fortress strategically positioned to overlook both the river and the Pacific Ocean....»
Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is one of the most famous hot spring destinations in the Nanki region of Wakayama Prefecture, located in Nachikatsuura Town on the southeastern coast of the Kii Peninsula. Historically known simply as Katsuura Onsen, it is now widely recognized as Nanki-Katsuura Onsen, one of th...»
Kujirahama Park is a seaside park in Taiji Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. Located within the beautiful natural surroundings of Yoshino-Kumano National Park, the park offers visitors an opportunity to experience the region's ocean scenery as well as Taiji's long history and culture ...»
Located in Miwasaki, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, Kushima Island (also written as Kushima or Kushima Island) and Suzushima Island are scenic coastal destinations where the magnificent waters of the Kumano-nada Sea meet dramatic rock formations and lush vegetation. Located just beyond Miwasaki F...»
The Kumano River Boat Ride, available in Kumano River Town in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, is a rare opportunity to experience one of the waterways that form part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” Known as the “River Pilgrimage Route,” ...»
Marinarium Marine Aquarium, located in Taiji Town, Wakayama Prefecture, is a popular attraction attached to the Taiji Whale Museum. The aquarium recreates the rich marine environment of the nearby Kumano Sea, offering visitors an immersive opportunity to observe dolphins and small whales at close ra...»
Whale cuisine is one of the distinctive traditional foods of Taiji Town in Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. Located on the Pacific coast of the Kumano-nada Sea, Taiji is widely known as one of Japan’s historic centers of whaling and as a place where traditional whaling culture has been pas...»
Kishu-Katsuura fresh tuna is wild-caught tuna landed at Katsuura Fishing Port in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. The port has long been known as one of Japan’s leading destinations for tuna fishing, particularly for tuna caught using the traditional longline fishing method. Thanks to its deep-ro...»
Ukishima-no-Mori, or the Floating Forest, is a remarkably rare wetland ecosystem located in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. Officially known as the Shingu Inosawa Ukishima Plant Community, this unique natural site was designated a National Natural Monument of Japan in 1927. The most fascinating f...»
Taiji Town, located in Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, is widely known as the “Town of Whales.” Facing the beautiful waters of the Kumano Sea, Taiji has a long history and cultural connection with whales and dolphins. Today, visitors can not only learn about the town's maritime tradition...»
Okutoro, also known as Kitayama Gorge, is a spectacular mountain valley stretching across Kumano City in Mie Prefecture and Kitayama Village in Wakayama Prefecture. It forms the uppermost section of Doro Gorge, a scenic area designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty within Yoshino-Kumano National Park....»
Fudarakusanji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple of the Tendai school located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. Situated close to the coast of Kumano, the temple has been deeply connected with the region's distinctive tradition of Kumano faith for centuries. The name “Fudaraku” comes from th...»
Kino Matsushima is a breathtaking coastal landscape located around the entrance to Katsuura Bay in Nachikatsuura Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. More than 130 islands, rocky islets, and unusual rock formations are scattered across an approximately 17-kilometer stretch of sea, creati...»
Watarase Onsen, located in Hongu Town, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the three major hot spring areas of the Kumano Hongu Onsenkyo. Surrounded by the mountains and forests of southern Wakayama, it offers visitors a peaceful place to relax while exploring the sacred landscapes of the Ku...»
Kumano Sanzan refers to the three grand shrines of the Kumano region in southern Wakayama Prefecture: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha. The sacred complex also has a close historical connection with Seiganto-ji Temple at Nachisan. For centuries, Kumano has been o...»
Ubuta Shrine is a small but deeply revered Shinto shrine located in Hongu, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture. It is traditionally regarded as an auxiliary shrine of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine and has been an important place of worship for centuries. The shrine is located approximately 10 minut...»
Kandorizaki Cape, located in Taiji Town in eastern Wakayama Prefecture, is a beautiful headland extending into the vast waters of the Kumano Sea. The area is part of Yoshino-Kumano National Park and is also designated as a geosite within the Nanki-Kumano Geopark. It is a popular destination where vi...»
Roadside Station Taiji, located in Taiji Town in eastern Wakayama Prefecture, is a popular tourist facility welcoming visitors to the "Town of Whales." Situated along National Route 42 near the Moriura intersection, it is an ideal place to take a break during a road trip while discovering the food, ...»
Roadside Station Okutoro is a roadside tourist facility located along National Route 169 in Shimooi, Kitayama Village, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. Surrounded by the magnificent natural landscapes of Yoshino-Kumano National Park, it serves as one of the main tourism hubs for Kitayama V...»
The Nachi Fan Festival (Nachi no Ogi Matsuri), also widely known as the Nachi Fire Festival, is an annual traditional ceremony held at Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. It takes place every year on July 14 as the shrine's main annual festival. The formal name o...»
Hotel Urashima, located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, is one of Japan's most distinctive hot spring resorts. Set on a large peninsula extending into Katsuura Bay within Yoshino-Kumano National Park, the resort combines spectacular Pacific Ocean scenery with an extraordinary variety of natur...»
Kumano Sansho Omiwayashiro Grand Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Nachikatsuura Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. It is also known locally as Hamanomiya Daijinja or Hamanomiya Oji, and has long been an important place of worship for pilgrims traveling to the sacred sites ...»
Kamidoro Bridge is a suspension bridge located in Kitayama Village, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, about a five-minute walk from Roadside Station Okutoro. Stretching approximately 170 meters across a reservoir on the Kitayama River, the bridge connects Kitayama Village in Wakayama Prefec...»
Ogumotori-goe is a historic pilgrimage route on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trail, connecting the sacred area of Nachisan, home to Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine and Seiganto-ji Temple, with the village of Koguchi in Kumano River Town, Shingu City. Known as one of the most challenging sections of t...»
Kogumotori-goe is a historic mountain pilgrimage route on the Kumano Kodo, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” It connects Koguchi in Kumano River Town, Shingu City, with Ukegawa in Hongu Town, Tanabe City. Kogumotori-goe forms the ...»
Oji-ga-hama Beach is a beautiful gravel and pebble beach stretching along the coast of Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. It forms part of the famous Shichiri Mihama, a long coastal stretch extending toward Kumano City in Mie Prefecture. The coastline extends for approximately 4 kilometers, with the...»
Kujirahama Beach, located in Taiji Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, is a unique seaside destination known as one of the very few beaches in Japan where visitors can experience being in the water with whales. Taiji has a long and distinctive connection with whale culture and the hist...»
Xu Fu Park is a historic park in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, dedicated to Xu Fu, a legendary Chinese figure who is said to have traveled from China to Japan more than 2,000 years ago. Located only about two minutes on foot from JR Shingu Station, the park is an especially convenient place to ...»
Katsuura Fishing Port Nigiwai Market is a popular sightseeing and food destination located beside Katsuura Fishing Port in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture. The port is one of Japan's leading bases for tuna fishing and is particularly famous for its large landings of fresh, never-frozen tuna....»
Kandorizaki Lighthouse is located in Taiji Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, and is known as one of the town’s most scenic destinations. The beautiful white lighthouse stands against the blue sky and the vast waters of the Kumano Sea, creating an impressive coastal landscape. Kandori...»
Tomyozaki is a historic cape located at the tip of Taiji Bay in Taiji Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. Overlooking the magnificent Kumano Sea, the cape is known not only for its beautiful coastal scenery but also for its important connection with the history of traditional Japanese w...»
Roadside Station Dorokyo Kaido Kumano-gawa is located along National Route 168 in Kumano-gawa Town, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. Situated roughly halfway between Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine and central Shingu, it is a convenient and popular stop for travelers exploring the Kumano region. ...»
Roadside Station Nachi is a popular roadside facility located in Hamanomiya, Nachikatsuura Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture. Situated along National Route 42 and directly connected to Nachi Station on the JR Kisei Main Line, it has the unusual distinction of being accessible both by c...»
Amidaji Temple is a temple of the Omuro School of Shingon Buddhism located in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. Together with Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine and Seigantoji Temple, it has long been regarded as an important sacred site associated with the spiritual traditions of Kumano. The templ...»