【Kumano Kodo】5 recommended Wakayama souvenirs that are only available in Kumano Sanzan.
The Kumano Kodo, which spans four prefectures around Wakayama Prefecture, has been a path that many people have walked to visit since the Heian period. Since it has been registered as a World Heritage Site, tourists from all over Japan and worldwide are visiting.
In this article, we will introduce some souvenirs that visitors to Kumano Kodo would definitely like to buy! Some of them are rare products not sold by mail order and can only be obtained by those who visit Kumano Kodo!
Please use it as a reference when choosing souvenirs for your family and friends.
Wasanbon’s sweetness｜Kobaido’s “Bell-shaped sponge cake bites”
“Suzuyaki” is a high-quality bell-shaped Castella made at Kobaido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop representing Kumano. It is a historic shop founded in 1968, the first year of Meiji.
When you hear bell-shaped castella, you may imagine baby castella sold at festivals, but Kobaido’s “Suzuyaki” is extraordinarily luxurious. The use of the highest quality Wasanbon from Shikoku is reasonable.
When you start eating one, it won’t stop and you’ll finish it in no time. It’s a very popular product, so there are similar products on the market. Please make sure to buy it at Kobaido. There are two types: 20 grains (2 bags) and 16 grains (9 bags).
Besides Suzuyaki, Dorayaki and Senbei are also on sale. Please stop by when you visit Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine (Shingu).
Address
3-3-4 Ohashidori, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access
5 minutes by walk from “Kumano Hayatama Taisha”
Number
0735-22-3132（toll-free：0120-21-2825）
Opening hours
（Mon～Sat）8:00～21:00
（only Sunday）8:30～17:30
Holidays
Irregular holidays
Official site
http://www.suzuyaki.jp/suzuyaki.html
Online shop
There is no online shop, but orders through calls and FAX can be shipped nationwide.
Only at Kumano Sanzan!｜Chinchoan’s Moude Mochi
“Moude mochi” by Chinchoan is a limited edition item that can only be purchased in stores near Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha)! If you are going to visit the shrine, you would definitely want to buy it as a souvenir.
The wrapping paper used in each shop has a different design, and you need to visit all three Kumano Sanzan to collect them. Remember, there is no mail order at all!
The rice cakes are made early every morning. You can taste the freshly made food. Koshian, which has been handed down from its foundation in 1951, is wrapped in soft rice cakes and sprinkled with brown rice flour.
Please try the traditional sweets made to pray for the good health of visitors to Kumano.
Address
Shingu
〒647-0004 2-3-3 Ohashidori, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Tea House Chinchoan Hongu
〒647-1731 195-3 Hongu, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture (Front of Kumano Hongu Taisha, Inside Zuihoden)
Tea House Chinchoan Nachisan
〒649-5301 39 Nachisan, Nachi Katsuura, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture
Access
Chinchoan Shingu
3 minutes by walk from “Kumano Hayatama Taisha”
Tea House Chinchoan Hongu
“Kumano Hongu Taisha” inside Zuihoden
Tea House Chinchoan Nachisan
6 minutes by walk from “Kumano Nachi Taisha”
Number
Shingu
0735-22-3129
Tea House Chinchoan Hongu
0735-42-1648
Tea House Chinchoan Nachisan
0735-55-0811
Opening hours
Shingu
9:00〜17:00
Tea House Chinchoan Hongu
9:00〜16:00
Tea House Chinchoan Nachisan
around 10:00〜15:00（Subject to shortening due to weather,）
Holidays
Shingu
Wednesdays
Tea House Chinchoan Hongu
Wednesdays
Tea House Chinchoan Nachisan
Irregular holidays
Official site
Uses lemon from Tanabe City | Suzuya’s “Lemon Cake” and “Deluxe Cake”
Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, is famous for its lemons! Suzuya’s lemon cakes are carefully made using a lot of local lemons.
The lemon-shaped castella dough contains vanilla cream and the surface is carefully coated with lemon chocolate. It is made without any preservatives and brings out the goodness of local lemons. Each one is handmade, and despite the time and effort it takes to make them, they are affordable for about 200 yen each.
There are three types: 5 pieces (1050 yen), 10 pieces (2,000 yen), and 15 pieces (3,000 yen) in a box, and they are packaged individually, making them perfect for souvenirs. There is also an online sale.
Also, deluxe cakes are made by coating a cake with a special jam sandwiched between them with white chocolate! They are very delicious because Japanese and Western styles mesh well together. Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko also ate this dish! It is the most popular product in the store.
Both lemon cake and deluxe cake are “Showa retro” wrapping paper. Many people buy it because of the cuteness of the package.
It is open until New Year’s Day, so you can get it whenever you visit.
Address
〒646-0031 5-11 Minato, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access
2 minutes by walk from “JR Kii Tanabe Station”
Number
0739-22-0436
Opening hours
8:00～18:00（New Year’s day 10:00～15:00）
Holidays
Open all-year-round
Official site
Online shop
A hidden spot that has no sign!｜Matsubaya’s “Dainagon Kohaku Ten no Kawa”
“Dainagon Kohaku Ten no Kawa” is a semi-dried confectionery that looks as beautiful as the Milky Way and contains dainagon in the agar. It is a few minutes’ walk from Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, but there are no signs, so many people mistake it for a private house. It is a famous hidden restaurant that only the people who know can go to.
Its simple and delicate taste attracts many people. Since there are no online shops, only those who go to the restaurant can eat them! This enhances the appeal of these sweets.
“Dainagon amber” sold throughout the year is 90 yen each, and “Uguisu” (bush warbler is used instead of Dainagon) is also 90 yen each, which is a good price. In addition, yokan (800 yen) is sold. The perfect box for souvenirs comes in 9 to 32 pieces.
Established in the early Showa era and is now in its third generation. It closes as soon as it is sold out, so we recommend you go as soon as possible.
Address
2-6-2 Funamachi, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access
15 minutes by walk from “JR Shingu Station”
3 minutes by walk from “Kumano Hayatama Taisha”
Number
0735-22-5435
Opening hours
（Mon～Sat）8:30～18:00
（Sun・holidays）8:30～15:00
Holidays
Irregular holidays
Official site
none
Online shop
none
Wakayama craft beer for those who enjoy drinking!｜VOYAGER BREWING’s craft beer
Wakayama craft beer is a recommended souvenir for friends and bosses who like to drink! Please stop by VOYAGER BREWING, which opened in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture in 2015.
In addition to the four types of ale-type “COPPER,” “GOLD,” “THRUSTER,” and “IPA,” there are also limited-brewery.
At the Brewery, you can buy take-out bottled beers and shop goods and have a panoramic view of the brewery from the second floor. You can also bring your meals in and enjoy draft beer!
It’s okay for those who think it’s too heavy to take the beer! If you buy it from an online shop before lunchtime, it will be shipped on the same day. The restaurant wants the consumers to enjoy the beer in its best condition.
Address
〒646-0061 1-9-20 Uenoyama, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access
About 10 minutes by car from “JR Kii Tanabe station”
About 70 minutes by car from “Kumano Hongu Taisha”
Number
0739-34-3305
Opening hours
9:00〜18:00
Holidays
Tuesdays
Official site
Online shop
https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/voyagerbrewing/
https://www.instagram.com/voyagerbrewing/
Summary of Kumano Kodo Souvenirs
In this article, we have introduced you to some souvenirs, focusing on sweets.
There is no doubt that the recipients will be pleased with souvenirs that only visitors to Kumano Kodo can buy and souvenirs from famous shops with more than 100 years of history.
The article below summarizes the sweets that you would like to eat when you visit Kumano Furumichi. Please refer to it as well.
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