8 Best Hotels and Guesthouses Along the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route
The Kumano Kodo is one of only two pilgrimage routes in the world recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This article highlights the best places to stay along the Nakahechi Route.
Whether you are looking for budget-friendly guesthouses close to the trail or hot spring hotels where you can unwind after a day of hiking, you’ll find a wide range of accommodations to choose from.
How do you read Nakahechi ? Where is it located?
The Kumano Kodo is a World Heritage Site. This is the name given to the pilgrimage route taken by pilgrims to the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha) in Wakayama Prefecture. Nakahechi, which translates as ‘middle part of the road’, refers to a part of the Kumano Kodo.
The Kumano Kodo can be divided into five main routes: Nakahechi, Iseji, Kobechi, Kiiji and Oheji. Of these, the Nakahechi route is one of the most widely travelled, stretching 105 km from the Tanabe area where JR Kii Tanabe Station is located, around Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, to Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine and Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine. The Nakahechi was the official pilgrimage route during the Kumano Gokou, which took place between the Heian and Kamakura periods. Even today, many people still walk this road.
To enjoy the Kumano Kodo on foot, we recommend a stay of at least two days and one night. Therefore, we will introduce recommended accommodation in two main parts of the Nakahechi Road.
Where to Stay on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi: 4 Best Accommodations from Tanabe via Takijiri and Chikatsuyu to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Let’s start with recommended places to stay along the 35 km section of the Kumano Kodo, stretching from JR Kii-Tanabe Station to Kumano Hongu Taisha. Several of these accommodations are brand-new, opening as recently as 2022 — definitely worth checking out!
[TAKAHARA] SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA
The first recommended stay is SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA, located about a two-and-a-half-hour walk from Takijiri-oji—the first major landmark on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route—and about an hour and a half by bus and foot from Kumano Hongu Taisha. It offers the perfect base for a journey along the Kumano Kodo.
This unique accommodation is a renovated traditional farmhouse in the small village of Takahara, home to only about 70 residents. Operated as a self-service inn, it allows you to enjoy your stay in complete privacy, without the presence of staff.
All meals and drinks are included in the room rate, featuring local specialties such as premium meat, fresh vegetables, sake, juice, and snacks from Wakayama Prefecture. Feel free to enjoy as much as you like—and if you can’t finish, you’re even welcome to take some with you.
Spend time relaxing in the spacious wooden living room, gather around the bonfire at night for conversation, and wake early to walk along the Kumano Kodo, where you might be lucky enough to witness a breathtaking sea of clouds. At 300 meters above sea level, the inn overlooks sweeping terraced rice fields, and when night falls, the sky reveals a dazzling blanket of stars—an unforgettable sight you’ll never see in the city.
Address.
〒646-1416 1966 Takahara, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access.
40 minutes by car from the Kamitonda IC, 45 minutes by car from JR Kii-Tanabe Station.
Official website
https://sen-retreat.com/stay/takahara/
[Nonaka] Guest House MUI
Located about a 7-hour walk from Takijiri-oji, 70 minutes from Chikatsuyu-oji, 13 minutes from Tsugizakura-oji, and 7 hours from Kumano Hongu Taisha, Guest House MUI takes its name from the Daoist concept of Mu-i Shizen (“natural simplicity”), reflecting the spirit of the Kumano Kodo. This cozy inn has just two rooms and is run by a couple who relocated here from Tokyo.
Meals are a blend of Japanese and Western styles, with freshly baked homemade sourdough campagne served each morning for breakfast—providing plenty of energy for your walk along the Kumano Kodo Trail. The bread is also available for purchase at the guesthouse every Saturday.
Adding to its charm, two friendly goats greet visitors at the entrance, setting the tone for a relaxed and peaceful stay.
Address.
〒646-1401 284-5 Nonaka, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access.
From Kii-Tanabe Station, 75 minutes by bus, 30 minutes walk from Nonaka Ipponsugi bus stop.
Official website
https://www.guesthousemui.com/
[Chikatsuyu] SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU
Next on our list is SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU, part of the same group as SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA introduced earlier. This retreat features seven modern container-style villas, where guests can enjoy making pizzas in a stone oven or having a lava plate BBQ.
The property is also pet-friendly, making it an ideal choice for families who want to experience the Kumano Kodo together. A modern washer-dryer is available on-site, allowing you to pack light for your journey.
Like SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA, it is an all-inclusive stay, with locally sourced meat, vegetables, sake, juice, and snacks from Wakayama Prefecture included in the room rate. You can fully savor Wakayama’s flavors without worrying about the cost. For extra convenience, a supermarket called A-Coop Kumanokodo Chikatsuyu is located right next door.
Situated about a 4-hour walk from SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA and a 9-hour walk from Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, it’s perfect for a 3-day, 2-night walk along the Kumano Kodo, staying one night each at Takahara and Chikatsuyu.
Address.
〒646-1402 1806 Chikanuro, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Access.
40 minutes by car from the Kamitonda IC, 45 minutes by car from JR Kii-Tanabe Station, 1 hour by bus.
Official website
https://sen-retreat.com/stay/chikatsuyu/
[Yunomine Onsen] Ryokan Azumaya
Around the Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, there are several historic hot spring villages, including Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen, and Wataze Onsen. Among them, Yunomine Onsen is especially famous as the oldest hot spring in Japan, with a history spanning some 1,800 years.
For those seeking a truly authentic experience, we recommend Ryokan Azumaya. This long-established ryokan, operating since the Edo period, draws its water from its own spring source. The baths feature natural “yunohana” (hot spring minerals) floating on the surface, and the large cedar-wood bathhouse is filled with a soothing aroma. Remarkably, the water is naturally cooled to bathing temperature without any dilution.
From the open-air baths, guests can admire a beautifully landscaped Japanese garden. Seasonal cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients from the Kumano region and traditional tatami-mat guest rooms complete the experience—everything here speaks of history and tradition. It is the perfect place to rest and recover after walking the Kumano Kodo.
While visiting Yunomine Onsen, don’t miss Tsuboyu, the only hot spring bath in the world designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tiny public bath, which accommodates only two or three people at a time, operates on 30-minute shifts. Visitors often wait several hours for their turn, so be sure to take a numbered ticket and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Address.
〒647-1732 122, Yunomine, Hongu-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access.
Approx. 100 minutes by bus from Kii-Tanabe Station.
Or 70 minutes by bus from Shingu Station.
Official website.
4 recommended hotels near Kumano Hongu Taisha – Oguchi – Kumano Nachi Taisha – Kumano Hayatama Taisha
After paying your respects at Kumano Hongu Taisha, continue on to Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha. Together, these three form the sacred Kumano Sanzan, and visiting them all is considered a spiritual completion of the Kumano pilgrimage.
[Koguchi] Farmhouse Guesthouse KuMaano
Between Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha lie two famous mountain passes: Ōkumotorigoe and Kogumotorigoe. Nestled between these two routes is the small village of Koguchi.
Here you’ll find Farmhouse Guesthouse KuMaano, a unique inn that accepts only one group per day. The name “Maano” comes from the Indian word for “mother,” chosen to symbolize the Kumano Kodo as Mother Earth.
The guesthouse is surrounded by mountains, rivers, and terraced rice fields. Guests can enjoy hands-on rural activities such as chopping firewood, heating a traditional bath with wood, and working in the farm fields—making for a truly memorable countryside experience. It’s popular with Kumano Kodo walkers as well as those who want to try rural life in Japan.
The location is perfect for hiking: the trailhead for the Ōkumotorigoe Pass is about a 35-minute walk away, while the Kogumotorigoe Pass trailhead can be reached in about 45 minutes.
Address.
〒647-1203 1561 Oyama, Kumanogawa-cho, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access.
From JR Shingu Station, take a bus to Kamimaru bus stop (40 minutes), change to a bus bound for Koguchi (15 minutes).Get off at Koguchi bus stop and walk for about 30 minutes.(Pick-up service also available).
Official website
https://www.kumano-travel.com/ja/accommodations/kumaano-guesthouse
[Koguchi] B&B Momofuku
Also located in Koguchi is Minshuku Momofuku, just about 1 km from the Kogumotorigoe Pass and 100 m from the Ōkumotorigoe Pass along the Kohechi Route. This inn is ideally situated for those walking the Nakahechi Route from Kumano Hongu Taisha toward Kumano Nachi Taisha.
One of the highlights of Minshuku Momofuku is its reasonable pricing: ¥8,000 per night with two meals included, or ¥5,000 for a room without meals. The meals feature seasonal specialties from the Kumano area—mountain vegetables in spring, sweetfish and mozuku crab in summer, and mushrooms in autumn. For those walking the Kumano Kodo, an onigiri lunch box can also be prepared for just ¥500.
The warm hospitality of the owner couple is especially well-loved, welcoming guests from all over the world.
Address.
〒647-1206 224-3 Nishi, Kumanogawa-cho, Shingu, Wakayama
Access.
35 minutes by bus from JR Shingu Station, transfer at Kamimaru bus stop, 15 minutes by bus, 1 minute walk from Koguchi bus stop.
Official website
https://momofukushop.wixsite.com/momofuku/
[Shingu] Kamikura Shosai
Just a 17-minute walk from Kumano Hayatama Taisha stands Kamikura Shrine, at the southern end of Mt. Kamikura (also known as Mt. Gongen). At its heart is the massive Gotobiki Rock, said to be the place where the Kumano deities first descended to earth. The gods were later enshrined at Kumano Hayatama Taisha, which is why Kamikura Shrine is called Motomiya (“original shrine”) and Kumano Hayatama Taisha is called Niimiya (“new shrine”).
Nestled near this sacred site is Kamikura Shosai, a small, one-group-per-day inn (maximum of three guests). The inn occupies a renovated traditional house, designed to preserve and convey the stories etched into its walls over generations. It offers a unique experience—like staying inside a living novel.
Guests can connect with the local community through cooking and dining at nearby eateries, savoring the everyday flavors loved by residents. While the inn itself has only shower facilities, visitors seeking hot springs can enjoy a short trip to nearby Katsuura Onsen for a relaxing soak.
Membership allows guests to use Kamikura Shosai as their own personal “study,” making it a distinctive base for remote work. Just two doors away is Youth Library Engawa, an “overnight library” opened in 2014—another spot well worth a visit during your stay.
Address.
1-3-1, Chiho, Shingu, Wakayama
Access.
15-minute walk from JR Shingu Station.
90-minute drive from Susami Minami IC.
Official website
https://www.kamikura-hideaway.art/
[Katsuura] Why Kumano
Why Kumano is a stylish hostel offering both private rooms and dormitory beds, located directly across from JR Kii-Katsuura Station—just a 15-second walk away. It’s an affordable and convenient base for exploring the Kumano region.
Private rooms accommodate up to four guests, while the dormitory (12 beds) offers generous space and carefully selected bedding for a comfortable night’s rest.
At the entrance, you’ll find a lively café and bar that welcomes both travelers and locals. Here you can enjoy regional specialties and drinks from Kumano and Wakayama, making it the perfect spot to connect with new people over a glass. With Wi-Fi and power outlets available, it also doubles as a co-working space.
Accommodation plans include options such as an all-you-can-drink package at the café bar or breakfast featuring freshly caught sashimi. Nachikatsuura is famous for its tuna, and nearby you’ll even find unique attractions like unmanned tuna vending stands—a true local specialty.
The two owners, originally from Wakayama, returned after traveling extensively across Japan and the world. Their experiences inspired them to share the beauty of their hometown with visitors worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they even launched the world’s first “#OnlineLodging” project, pioneering a new style of hospitality for a changing world.
While Why Kumano has shower facilities, guests can also take a short walk to enjoy the relaxing hot springs of nearby Katsuura Onsen.
Address.
〒649-5335 2F, 5-1-3 Tsukiji, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama
Access.
Short walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.
Official website
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