6 Best Kumano Kodo Stays: Hotels & Guesthouses with Onsen (Hot Springs) and BBQ
Kumano Kodo—now a UNESCO World Heritage site—offers plenty of places to stay along the trail. Accommodation options range from family-run guesthouses and modern hotels to onsen ryokan.
Craving a soak in hot springs, a slow and restful stay, or a taste of local flavors?
In this guide, we’ll match recommended stays to your goals and route. We also spotlight newly opened places drawing buzz—perfect if you love discovering the latest spots.
Discover the Kumano Kodo — an ancient UNESCO World Heritage trail in Wakayama, Japan.
The Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes spanning Osaka, Wakayama, Nara, and Mie in Japan. For centuries it served as the path for “Kumano mōde,” pilgrimages to the three grand shrines collectively known as the Kumano Sanzan. In the Heian period, aristocrats would spend about a month traveling round-trip from Kyoto to worship there. So many people—of all social classes—walked these routes that the scene was famously likened to a procession of ants, known as “Ari-no Kumano-mōde.”
Today, the Kumano Kodo remains a revered spiritual destination and a beloved trekking area. Many stretches of the original stone-paved path survive, and simply walking them has a quietly solemn, restorative feel.
Top 3 Kumano Kodo Hotels & Inns by Purpose: Hot Springs, BBQ & Trekking
First, here are stays matched to what you’re looking for—whether it’s trekking the Kumano Kodo, soaking in hot springs, or savoring local specialties.
We’ve organized them into three themes: Hot Springs, Retreat, and Kumano Cuisine.
If You Want to Enjoy Hot Springs: Watarase Onsen — Hotel Sasayuri, Hotel Yamayuri & Hotel Himeyuri
There are numerous onsen inns along the Kumano Kodo. The Kumano Hongu Onsenkyo—made up of Yunomine, Kawayu, and Watarase (Wataze) Onsen—is particularly famous. Among them, Yunomine Onsen is often said to date back around 1,800 years, making it one of Japan’s oldest hot-spring areas.
In this article, we spotlight the Watarase Onsen area, a popular outdoor spot for river play and fishing, and introduce three sister properties: Hotel Sasayuri, Hotel Yamayuri, and Hotel Himeyuri. Kumano Hongu Taisha is about a 10-minute drive away, and a free shuttle makes these hotels a convenient base for walking the Kumano Kodo.
If you’re trekking in winter, staying at an onsen ryokan is especially rewarding—the baths are perfect for warming up after long hours on the trail.
You can rent colorful yukata and enjoy a mini “bath-hopping” tour. At these hotels, you’ll find nine different baths, including a large indoor bath fed by natural hot-spring waters, family-use private open-air baths, and guest-only private baths—great for families who want to unwind in privacy.
The water here is a sodium hydrogen carbonate (sodium bicarbonate) spring, traditionally believed to be kind to the skin and to support digestion and relaxation.
Address
〒647-1733 45-1 Hongucho Wataze, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access
About 120 minutes by bus from JR Kii-Tanabe Station, about 60 minutes by bus from JR Shinguu Station
Accommodation Fee
Around 20,000 yen
Official Website
https://www.watarase-onsen.jp/
If you want to trek & retreat｜SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA
Do you know what a “retreat” is?
A retreat means stepping away from everyday life to rest your body and mind. Along the Kumano Kodo, the little hamlet of Takahara opened a perfect retreat stay in 2022. Walking the history-rich, forested trail helps you slow down and look inward; gentle exercise leaves you genuinely refreshed.
SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA sits in an ideal spot for hikers—about a 2.5-hour walk from Takijiri-oji and roughly 1.5 hours by bus plus walking from Kumano Hongu Taisha. Inside, a spacious, wood-toned living room invites lingering conversation; at night, gather around a fire pit. It’s a self-service (staffless) lodge, so you can relax without feeling watched. It’s an excellent base for a Kumano Kodo journey.
Head out at dawn and, with luck, you might see a sea of clouds (unkai). At 300 m elevation, Takahara looks out over sweeping terraced rice fields, and after dark the starry sky is dazzling. With only about 70 residents, the village offers a night sky you won’t find in the city.
This is a private, whole-house stay in a renovated kominka (traditional Japanese farmhouse), and the all-inclusive plan is a major perk. BBQ ingredients and gear are all provided, so after walking the Kumano Kodo you can fire up a barbecue featuring local produce.
The BBQ spread is thoughtfully curated: clean-tasting game from the local licensed processor Hinata no Mori; hearty, fresh vegetables such as “Ryujin” shiitake sourced via JA Kinan; sausages made with Kishu Umebuta (plum-fed pork); house breads with jams packed with Kishu plums and other local fruits; plus Wakayama fruit juices, craft beer, and umeshu. All of it is included in the room rate, and you’re welcome to take home what you can’t finish.
Address
〒646-1416 1966 Takahara Nakahechicho, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access
About 45 minutes by taxi or car from JR Kii-Tanabe Station, about 80 minutes by bus or trekking
Accommodation Fee
11,400 yen〜
Official Website
If You Want to Savor Kumano Specialties: Kiri-no-Sato Takahara
Kumano’s specialties come from both the sea and the mountains:
tuna from Nachi-Katsuura, Pacific saury from Kumano, citrus fruits such as mandarins, mehari-zushi (rice balls wrapped in pickled mustard leaves), and game meat like wild boar.
Here’s an inn where you can truly savor these regional flavors.
Kiri-no-Sato Takahara, located in the Takahara area along the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo, serves dishes prepared by local women using vegetables and river fish sourced directly from nearby producers. The meals combine traditional Japanese flavors with Spanish-inspired creativity, highlighting the best seasonal ingredients throughout the year.
Guest rooms are built with abundant Kishu timber, reflecting the region once known as the “Land of Wood.” Staff who speak English, Chinese, and Spanish make this inn a comfortable choice for visitors from overseas.
They use spring water from Watarase Onsen in the Kumano Hongu Onsenkyo, and the baths are wood-fired with locally thinned timber. The water takes on a soft, silky feel that’s gentle on the skin—one reason this inn is so popular. From the open-air baths, you can enjoy must-see views over Takahara.
Address
826 Takahara Nakahechicho, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access
＜From Osaka＞About an hour from Hanwa Expressway “Tanabe IC”
＜From Nagoya＞About 3 hours from Higashi-Meihan/ Ise Expressway “Seiwa-Taki IC”
About 45 minutes by bus from JR Kii-Tanabe Station
Accommodation Fee
About 11,500 yen〜20,000 yen
Official Website
https://kirinosato-takahara.com/
By Location: 3 Guesthouses and Hotels Near Kumano Hongu Taisha and Nachi Taisha
Want to choose your stay based on where you’ll visit? If you’re planning to walk the Kumano Kodo and prefer to lodge near the main spots, this section is for you. We’ve handpicked stays matched to your destination.
We selected three convenient options:
If you want to enjoy Kumano Kodo！An inn along the Nakahechi｜SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU
“SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU” sits along the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo. This private, whole-house guest villa is about a 9-hour walk from Kumano Hongu Taisha—one of the three grand shrines known as the Kumano Sanzan—and about a 4-hour walk from “SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA.” It’s an ideal base for a 1–2-night (2–3-day) Kumano Kodo trek. The property is new, having opened on April 28, 2022.
Built from repurposed shipping containers, this container villa features a private garden and a rooftop terrace—great for family time (pets welcome) or gatherings with close friends. A change of setting lets familiar faces show a different side, and it also works beautifully as a quiet place to slow down and reflect on your own.
Every unit includes an in-room washing machine, a welcome perk for trekkers who want to pack light.
Address
〒646-1402 1806 Chikatsuyu, Nakahechi, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access
About 60 minutes by bus or 45 minutes by car or taxi from JR Kii-Tanabe Station
Accommodation Fee
12,000 yen per person〜
Official Website
If you are visiting Kumano Hongu Taisha! An inn near Hongu｜Guest House Asyl
“Yamabushi-yado Asyl (Guest House Asyl)” is a private, whole-house guesthouse near Fushiogami-oji, just a little over an hour’s walk from Kumano Hongu Taisha. The property is run by Yamabushi Soba Haian, which was listed in the Michelin Guide Wakayama 2022, so overnight guests can enjoy excellent soba for dinner. Wild mountain vegetables are locally foraged, and staples like soy sauce, mirin, umeboshi, and pickles are all homemade. There’s also a bento-included plan for guests heading out to walk the Kumano Kodo the next day.
If you’ve come to the Kumano Kodo to slow down, this is the place: there’s no Wi-Fi, making a natural digital detox easy. You can even try making soba on request—perfect for a touch of the extraordinary.
The guesthouse also prioritizes sustainability, working to reduce food waste and plastic use and to promote local production for local consumption.
Address
〒647-1743 170 Fushiogami, Hongucho, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access
About 10 minutes by car from Kumano Hongu Taisha
About 15 minutes by bus bound for “Hosshinmon” in front of Hongu Taisha and 15 minutes by walk from the bus stop “Fushiogami-guchi”
Accommodation Fee
9,400円／per person（when 3 people stay）〜
Official Website
Hotel Urashima: Best Base for Daimon-zaka and Kumano Nachi Taisha (Nachi-Katsuura)
Hotel Urashima, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, is located about a two-hour walk from Kumano Nachi Taisha. The Daimon-zaka slope, a popular starting point for beginners walking the Kumano Kodo, is just a 20-minute drive away—making this hotel a convenient base for travelers who want to explore the trails at a relaxed pace. At Kumano Nachi Taisha, you can also see the majestic Nachi Falls, one of Japan’s most spectacular natural sights.
From the Katsuura Port Tourist Pier, about a 6-minute walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station, a private boat carries guests across the bay to reach the hotel—an experience that feels straight out of the Urashima Taro legend.
The hotel’s sprawling grounds feature five different hot springs, the most famous being Kiboto (“Returning Cave”) Onsen, a natural hot spring inside a large seaside cave. From its entrance, you can gaze out over the Pacific Ocean. The bath’s name—given by Lord Tokugawa Yorimichi of the Kishu Domain, who said it was “so beautiful it makes you forget to go home”—perfectly captures its breathtaking scenery. You can hear the crash of the ocean waves as you soak, surrounded by the raw energy of nature.
And when it comes to dining, Nachi-Katsuura means tuna!
Hotel Urashima even offers all-you-can-eat tuna, paired with local Kishu plum wine or sake—a truly indulgent experience. While simple room-only plans are available, we highly recommend enjoying a meal plan to fully savor Nachi’s famous tuna.
For anyone planning to visit Kumano Nachi Taisha, Hotel Urashima is an ideal place to stay—combining comfort, spectacular scenery, and a touch of mythology.
Address
〒649-5334 1165-2 Katsuura, Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro District, Wakayama
Access
About 6 minutes by walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station and 5 minutes by private boat from the pier
Accommodation Fee
10,450 yen per person〜
Official Website
http://www.hotelurashima.co.jp/
Walk the Kumano Kodo
The following article introduces how to walk Kumano Kodo. Choose the course that suits you the best and enjoy trekking!
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