What Is the Nanki-Kumano Geopark?
A Geopark is an area where geological features and landscapes created by the Earth’s natural processes are protected and used for education, tourism, and sustainable regional development. The Nanki-Kumano Geopark covers a large area extending across southern Wakayama Prefecture and part of Totsukawa Village in Nara Prefecture.
The geopark encompasses 10 municipalities, including Kushimoto, Nachikatsuura, Taiji, Kozagawa, Shingu, Shirahama, Susami, Kamitonda, and Kitayama.
Three Different Types of Earth
One of the region’s greatest geological features is the presence of three different types of geological terrain created through the movement and subduction of tectonic plates.
These include accretionary complexes, formed when sediments deposited on the ocean floor were compressed and pushed upward; forearc basin sediments, deposited in a basin between the subduction zone and volcanic arc; and igneous rocks created by enormous volcanic activity approximately 15 to 14 million years ago.
The interaction of these geological formations produced the distinctive landscapes of Nanki-Kumano. Famous sites such as Hashigui-iwa Rocks, the One-Stone Wall of the Kozagawa River, Nachi Falls, and Senjojiki are all closely connected to these geological processes.
The region’s warm, humid climate has also created rich ecosystems, while traditions such as Kumano worship, traditional log rafting, and historic whaling culture developed in close relationship with the natural environment.
Spectacular Projection Mapping of the Kii Peninsula
One of the first exhibits to attract visitors is the enormous three-dimensional model of the Kii Peninsula. Projection mapping transforms the model into a dynamic visual display showing volcanic eruptions, tectonic movements, and the formation of geological layers.
Processes that took place over tens of millions of years are brought to life through moving images and sound. Even complex geological concepts become easier to understand as visitors watch the landscape change before their eyes.
The formation of the ancient Kumano Caldera and the enormous volcanic activity that shaped the region are particularly impressive. The display helps visitors realize that the beautiful scenery of Nanki-Kumano is the result of immense geological forces operating over extraordinarily long periods of time.
Hands-On Exhibits for All Ages
The center’s appeal goes far beyond conventional museum displays. Many exhibits are designed to be operated by visitors, allowing them to learn about geology through direct experience.
Earth Plate Puzzle
Visitors can fit tectonic plates onto a globe-shaped puzzle while learning how the Earth’s plates move. The game-like format encourages children to explore the basics of plate tectonics in an enjoyable way.
How an Accretionary Complex Forms
By turning a handle, visitors can simulate the process in which sediments on the ocean floor are compressed and pushed together to form land. This interactive display provides an easy-to-understand introduction to one of the most important geological processes behind the formation of the Kii Peninsula.
Fossil-Hunting Game
A fossil-hunting activity allows visitors to brush away sand with a small brush and search for fossils. Designed to resemble a real archaeological or paleontological excavation, it is particularly popular with children, although adults can easily become absorbed in the experience as well.
Tsunami and River Experiments
The Kii Peninsula has long been affected by earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and heavy rainfall. The center uses river models and tsunami simulation equipment to demonstrate how flooding and tsunami waves occur.
These exhibits are not only designed to communicate the dangers of natural disasters but also to promote a better understanding of disaster prevention and risk reduction.
Learn from Geopark Guides
Specialist guides at the center provide clear explanations of the exhibits and answer questions about the region’s geology, natural environment, history, and culture.
Visitors can ask questions such as “What is the Phoenix Fold?”, “How were the Hashigui-iwa Rocks formed?” or “How is the landscape connected to Kumano worship?” Even subjects that may initially seem highly technical can be explained in an accessible and engaging way.
The center also introduces 107 geosites throughout the Nanki-Kumano region. Information about sightseeing routes, individual attractions, and transportation is available, making the center an excellent place to visit before exploring the wider geopark.
Highlights of the Nanki-Kumano Geopark
Hashigui-iwa Rocks
Located in Kushimoto, the Hashigui-iwa Rocks are a spectacular series of rock pillars stretching for approximately 900 meters along the coast. Formed through volcanic activity around 15 million years ago, the unusual formation is also associated with a famous local legend involving Kobo Daishi and an ogre-like creature called Amanojaku.
The One-Stone Wall of the Kozagawa River
The One-Stone Wall of the Kozagawa River is an enormous rock formation measuring approximately 100 meters high and 500 meters wide. Created through volcanic activity associated with a gigantic caldera eruption, it is one of Japan’s most impressive examples of a massive monolithic rock landscape.
Nachi Falls
With a drop of approximately 133 meters, Nachi Falls is one of Japan’s most famous waterfalls and an important sacred site associated with Kumano worship. The waterfall developed along a geological boundary between igneous and sedimentary rocks, giving it considerable geological as well as religious significance.
Phoenix Fold
The Phoenix Fold is a spectacular example of folded geological strata created by enormous pressure associated with tectonic movement. Its distinctive form has become well known internationally and has even been introduced in Japanese middle-school science textbooks.
Senjojiki
Senjojiki in Shirahama is a broad rocky coastal platform carved by waves over long periods of time. It is one of the area’s best-known scenic attractions and offers opportunities to observe coastal terraces and trace fossils.
An Open Space Overlooking the Pacific Ocean
The building itself is also an attractive part of the experience. The interior features a spacious open-ceiling design with large structural beams that create a distinctive sense of openness.
Seats along the windows offer sweeping views of the grassy landscape of Shio-no-Misaki and the vast Pacific Ocean. Visitors can relax while watching ships pass offshore.
Shio-no-Misaki is sometimes known as a region frequently affected by typhoons, so the building has also been designed with measures to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. Its architecture reflects the powerful natural environment of the southern Kii Peninsula.
Experience Ancient Volcanic Activity in the Video Theater
The second floor features a video theater where visitors can learn about the massive volcanic activity that occurred in the Kii Peninsula around 14 million years ago.
The videos vividly illustrate the formation of a gigantic caldera and explain how the geological events of the distant past eventually created the landscapes seen in Nanki-Kumano today.
The enormous scale of these volcanic events provides a powerful reminder that the region’s mountains, cliffs, waterfalls, and rock formations were shaped by forces far greater than anything humans can create.
A Free Attraction for Children and Adults
Another major advantage of the Nanki-Kumano Geopark Center is that admission is free. The exhibits are designed to be accessible to children while offering enough scientific depth to interest adults as well.
The center is an excellent stop for families, travelers interested in natural science and geology, visitors studying disaster preparedness, and anyone who wants to understand the cultural heritage of the Kumano region more deeply.
It is located next to the Shionomisaki Tourist Tower, making it easy to combine a visit to the center with sightseeing at the southernmost point of Honshu.
Access
Address: 2838-3 Shionomisaki, Kushimoto Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
The center is located immediately west of the Shionomisaki Tourist Tower.
From Kushimoto Station on the JR Kisei Line, take the Kushimoto sightseeing loop bus or the Kushimoto Town Community Bus on the Shionomisaki-Izumo route. Get off at the Shionomisaki Tourist Tower / Nanki-Kumano Geopark Center bus stop, located directly in front of the facility.
By car, the center is approximately 40 minutes from the Susami-Minami Interchange on the Kisei Expressway. From the Kumano-Odomari Interchange, it takes approximately 100 minutes.
Deepen Your Journey Through Nanki-Kumano
The Nanki-Kumano Geopark Center is much more than a conventional tourist facility. It offers a fascinating introduction to the geological forces that shaped the Kii Peninsula and shows how those forces influenced the region’s ecosystems, communities, religious traditions, and culture.
Visiting the center before exploring attractions such as Hashigui-iwa Rocks or Nachi Falls allows travelers to understand how these extraordinary landscapes were formed. With that knowledge, the scenery becomes more than simply beautiful—it becomes part of a much larger story about the history of our planet.
At the southernmost point of Honshu, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Nanki-Kumano Geopark Center offers an engaging opportunity to discover the Earth’s history and the unique culture of southern Wakayama. It is a highly recommended stop for anyone wishing to experience the deeper story behind the spectacular landscapes of Nanki-Kumano.