[Kumano Kodo] 5 Best Wakayama Souvenirs You Can Only Get at the Kumano Sanzan
The Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage route spanning Wakayama, Mie, Nara, and Osaka, has been walked since the Heian period. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it now attracts visitors from across Japan and around the world.
In this article, we present recommended souvenirs for visitors to the Kumano Kodo. Some are available only on-site and not sold online.
Please use this as a reference when choosing souvenirs for your family and friends.
Kobaidō “Suzuyaki”: Cute Bell-Shaped Castella Bites with Delicate Wasanbon Sweetness
Kobaidō’s “Suzuyaki” — Bell-Shaped Castella Bites Sweetened with Wasanbon
“Suzuyaki” is Kobaidō’s signature, high-end, bell-shaped castella bite. Kobaidō is a beloved, long-established wagashi shop in Kumano, founded in 1868 (the first year of the Meiji period).
You might picture the baby-castella sold at festivals, but Kobaidō’s Suzuyaki is on a different level—made with premium wasanbon sugar from Shikoku, giving it a delicately refined sweetness. They’re wonderfully moreish—you’ll find it hard to stop at just one.
Because the product is so popular, imitations exist, so be sure to purchase from Kobaidō. It comes in two box options: 20 pieces (packed in two inner pouches) or 16 pieces (packed in multiple mini pouches).
Kobaidō also offers dorayaki and senbei. If you’re visiting Kumano Hayatama Taisha in Shingū, it’s well worth a stop.
Address
3-3-4 Ohashidori, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access
5 minutes 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
Chinchoan “Mōde Mochi”: A Shrine-Side Treat You Can Only Buy in Kumano
“Mōde Mochi” from Chinchoan is available only at the shops near the three Kumano Grand Shrines—Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha. If you’re making the Kumano pilgrimage, it’s a must-buy souvenir.
Each shop uses a different wrapping-paper design, so to collect all three you’ll need to visit all three shrines—part of the fun. And there are no online sales.
The mochi are made early each morning, so you can enjoy them fresh. A recipe for smooth red bean paste (koshian), **handed down since the shop’s founding in 1951, is wrapped in tender mochi and finished with a dusting of brown rice flour, then stamped with the “Mōde Mochi” brand mark.
Savor this traditional sweet, created to pray for the good health of those who visit 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 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 in Wakayama is known for its lemons, and Suzuya’s lemon cakes showcase them beautifully. Each lemon-shaped castella sponge is filled with vanilla cream and finished with a lemon-flavored white-chocolate coating. They’re made without preservatives, highlighting the bright flavor of local lemons. Every piece is handmade, yet surprisingly affordable at about ¥200 each.
Gift boxes come in three sizes—5 pieces (¥1,050), 10 pieces (¥2,000), and 15 pieces (¥3,000)—with individual wrapping, perfect for sharing at the office. Online ordering is available.
Suzuya’s Deluxe Cake is another bestseller: a tender cake filled with house-made jam and coated in white chocolate—a delightful blend of Japanese and Western styles. It’s the shop’s most popular item, and it’s even been enjoyed by Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.
Both the lemon cake and the Deluxe Cake come in retro Shōwa-era packaging that many customers buy for the design alone. The shop is open through New Year’s Day, so it’s easy to pick some up 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 Amanogawa” — A Milky Way–Beautiful Agar Jelly Studded with Azuki
“Dainagon Kohaku Amanogawa” is a semi-dried wagashi: translucent agar jelly studded with Dainagon azuki beans, as lovely as the Milky Way. The shop sits just a few minutes’ walk from Kumano Hayatama Taisha; with no signboard, it’s easy to mistake for a private home—a true hidden-gem confectionery shop.
Its simple yet delicate flavor has won many fans. With no online sales, it’s a treat you can only enjoy in person.
The year-round “Dainagon Kohaku” is ¥90 per piece. In spring, a seasonal “Uguisu” version (using uguisu-mame—green peas instead of azuki) is also ¥90. They also sell yōkan (¥800). Gift boxes are available from 9 up to 32 pieces—perfect for souvenirs.
Founded in the early Shōwa period, the shop is now run by the third generation. It closes once sold out, so visiting earlier in the day is recommended.
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 the Beer Lover — VOYAGER BREWING
Gift-Worthy Wakayama Craft Beer — VOYAGER BREWING (Tanabe, est. 2015)
Looking for a souvenir for the beer lover—a friend, colleague, or even your boss? Wakayama craft beer is a great pick. If you’re in Tanabe, drop by VOYAGER BREWING, which opened in 2015.
The lineup features COPPER, GOLD, and THRUSTER (all ales), plus an IPA, with limited releases available from time to time. At the brewery you can purchase take-home bottles and branded merch, and from the second-floor gallery you get a full view of the brewhouse. You can even bring your own food and enjoy a fresh pint on site.
Don’t want to carry bottles home? Online orders placed by late morning ship the same day, reflecting the brewery’s wish for you to enjoy their beer at its best.
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
We’ve rounded up our favorite Kumano Kodo souvenirs, with a special focus on sweets.
From trail-only finds you can only buy when you visit to treats from century-old institutions, these picks are sure to delight anyone you gift them to.
If you’re looking for must-try sweets to eat while in Kumano Kodo, check out our companion guide below as well.
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