Asked by customer! The best way to enjoy the Kumano Kodo

We interviewed guests who stayed at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA to find out what kind of itinerary they enjoyed on the Kumano Kodo. If you are considering a trip to the Kumano Kodo, please take a look!

Customers we spoke to
A.M. (22 years old, female) A university senior living in Shikoku. She came on a graduation trip in March 2022 with four friends to make her last memories as a student!

16:30　Check in at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA

After leaving Shikoku by car in the morning, it was time to go to Wakayama.After getting off the motorway, we did some shopping at a supermarket and arrived at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA in the mountains.As soon as we got our luggage in, we set off for a walk around the neighbourhood!

17:00　View of the mountains in the setting sun from the lookout.

A five-minute walk from the inn takes you to the ‘Highland Fog Village Rest Area’, which has a good view.This is a viewpoint from which you can see the mountain ranges and terraced rice fields in the distance.
‘It was so beautiful and moving to watch the sun set behind the mountains, turning the whole area orange!’

18:30　A little cooking in the kitchen before the BBQ

Back at the inn, Wakayama tuna and pork from the supermarket were fried in the kitchen and made into cutlets!
‘It was great to pick up some of the side dishes we cooked ourselves, with our all-inclusive drinks and juices in hand.I also have fond memories of us all discussing how we should allocate the rooms while eating the cutlets.”

19:00　BBQ over charcoal + split wood for bonfire

The participants were divided into two groups: those in charge of building the fire and those in charge of lighting the charcoal, and started preparing the BBQ!The participants were told that charcoal was used instead of gas to bring out the flavour and aroma of the meat.
Everyone took turns chopping the wood and putting it on the stove.It was great to experience something like camping in the great outdoors!”

21:00　stargazing

We went back to the ‘Highland Fog Village Rest Area’ to watch the sunset and observe the starry sky!
‘There were no clouds that day, and the stars and crescent moon filling the sky were very beautiful.There aren’t many streetlights around the inn, but I felt safe because I carried a lantern from the inn with me!”

22:00　Chatting in the living room while watching Netflix

After bathing, everyone chatted while watching cartoons and variety shows on the TV in the living room.They also enjoyed playing with the piles of stones placed at the inn.
‘We were grateful that there were showers not only in the A wing of the main house but also in the B wing, so we didn’t have to wait for our turn to take a bath.The living room was spacious, so we all lingered and talked until late into the night.”

Day 2 8:00 Breakfast of bread + eggs and strawberries at the inn

In addition to the bread available at the inn, they made fried eggs and fried eggs for breakfast together.
‘The bread was delicious, eaten with hot coffee in the open space!We were fighting over all the jams made from Wakayama fruit such as mandarin oranges and peaches (laughs).”

11:00　Visit Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine.

After checking out of the inn, drive for 50 minutes to the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine.At the former shrine site, Osaibara, they were overwhelmed by the huge torii gate!

15:00　To the sea in Nanki-Shirahama!

From Hongu, travel to Shirahama, where you can visit scenic sights such as the Sandanbeki Caves and Senjidashiki.The sunset from the ferry has a different charm to the sunset over the mountains.

17:00　Stay at SHIRAHAMA KEY TERRACE HOTEL SEAMORE

In contrast to SEN.RETREAT, which is surrounded by mountains, the hotel has the open sea in front of it.

Impressions of staying at SEN.RETREAT

Spending two days surrounded by the great outdoors has helped me to clear away the stresses of everyday life.
Gazing up at the star-filled sky, staring blankly at the flickering flames of the bonfire, relaxing in the living room with plenty of natural light…All these memories are irreplaceable.
One thing we recommend to other guests is to use the kitchen and cook your own food.The inn has BBQ ingredients and bread for breakfast, but I think if you add your own way of enjoying yourself, you will enjoy your stay even more.
While two years of my university life overlapped with the Corona Disaster and it was difficult to go out and have fun, I was able to have a wonderful time with friends in the space of a single lodge.My friends told me ‘thank you for finding me a good place to stay’ and I really enjoyed it.”