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Kawayu Onsen with Permanent View

Kawayu Middoriya Hotel 奧熊野川湯溫泉

If you are visiting Kumano area for the UNESCO world heritage sacred sites and pilgrimage route, don’t miss the chance to experience the Kawayu Onsen which is an outdoor bath in Oto River, a natural hot spring wonder. It is only 10 minutes by car or bus from the sacred site Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. Otor River is a tributary of Kumano River, featuring natural crystal clear warm water. One side of the river is a forest mountain and the other side fills with hotels, traditional Ryokan inns and some family run Minshuku guest houses. Many of the accommodations offer guests room facing the river and are walkable distance to the Kawayu Onsen which is a pool dug manually for people to soak in. You may go for day trip if you are driving or stay in one of the accommodations to spend more time to enjoy this natural wonder. Wakayu Midoriya is one of the larger hotel in the area with both Japanese and western style guest rooms. The cool things about this hotel is that it has…

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Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine

Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine 熊野本宮大社

Kumano Hongu Taisha (Grand Shrine) is one of the three main shrines of Kumano Sanzan, part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. All of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes lead to this Grand Shrine. The Kumano area which covers Hayatama Grand Shrine, Nachi Grand Shrine and Hongu Grand Shrine has been a holy place since the Nara Period (AD 710-794). Emperors, aristocrats and pilgrims travelled 300km from Kyoto to visit the grand shrines. The original Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine was locating on a sandbank at the confluent of Kumano and Otonashi Rivers which is about 5 minutes way from the current location. A big flood in 1889 washed away many of the shrine buildings, leading to the relocation up the hill to the current location. Address: Japan, 〒647-1731 Wakayama Prefecture, Tanabe, Hongucho Hongu, 1110 Tel: +81 735-42-0009 Transportation: The shortest route is to take Kumano Kotsu or Nara Kotsu bus in front of the JR Shingu Station and get off at Hongu which takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes.…

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Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine

Grand Shrine 熊野那智大社

Nachi Taisha (Grand Shrine) is among the three most important shrines in Kumano that was listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes of the Kii Mountain Range in Japan. The other two shrines are Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine and Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. Nachi Grand Shrine is believed to be the place where you can find and meet your destiny. Locating half way up Nachi Mountain, Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine is about 350 meters above sea level. It is a unique place where you can find both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in one location, take a hike on an ancient cobblestone path surrounded by hundreds of years old cedar trees, as well as to see the tallest waterfall in Japan. Besides, you may try out some elegant outfits back in the Heian Period (794-1185) and take photos in the area. It’s a great experience! If you drive, there are a few parking lots close to each tourist attraction. If you take JR, simply get on the regular bus that runs between JR Kii-Karuusa…

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Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine

Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine 熊野速玉大社

Kumano has been part of the sacred sites and pilgrimage route where people from all walks of life, including the kings and aristocrats would pay respect since the ancient times. People make an arduous trip to pay a visit to the three main shrines in Kumano Sanzan, covering Kumano Hongu Taisha (Grand Shrine), Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine and Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine in the southern part of Kii Peninsula. There is a believe that you may wash away your sins in the past life by pay a respect at Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine, engage in your present life by visiting Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine, and pray for a better next life at Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine. So the idea is to visit all. Experiencing is the key to the visits. In the old days, the emperors and aristocrats would walk for months to walk from Nara and Kyoto all way to Kumano. Today, you may take JR trains, buses and even drive to the sites. Yet there are many amazing trails and sacred sites that are only accessible on foot.…

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