Let’s go by car! World Heritage Kumano Kodo Driving Trip Recommendation Course
The Kumano Kodo was the first ‘road’ in Japan to be registered as a World Heritage Site. It is a 1,000 m long ancient road that spans one or three prefectures, including Wakayama Prefecture.
Many people from all over the world visit the Kumano Sanzan (three mountains of Kumano) – Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha – to walk along the historic paths and visit them.
When you hear of the Kumano Kodo, you may have the image of visiting on foot, but you can also visit by car, as many spots are equipped with parking lots.
This article provides recommended routes and parking information for those visiting the Kumano Kodo by car or rental car.
Kumano Sanzan and trekking in a day
The first route introduced is a one-day tour of the three Kumano mountains. This is a day full of trekking and visiting the Kumano Sanzan (three mountains of Kumano). It takes more than two days and one night to visit the Kumano Sanzan on foot or by public transport, but you can do it in a day if you use a car.
8:00 Park at the Kumano Hongu Taisha parking lot.
8:20 Board a bus at the ‘Hongu Taisha-mae’ bus stop (see bus timetable here).
↓ Bus 20 mins.
8:40 Arrive at ‘Hatsushinmon-oji’ bus stop
↓ Trek 3.5 hours (including rest stops, approx. 7km)
11:30Arrive at Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine and visit
12:00Lunch near Kumano Hongu Taisha
↓ Walk 5 min.
13:00 Visit Osaibara
↓ 45-minute drive
14:00 Visit Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine
↓ 35 minutes by car
15:20 Visit Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine
↓ 5 minutes by car
16:00 Visit Nachi Waterfall
If visiting from the Kansai region, a day trip is possible by leaving home early in the morning. If you are visiting from further afield, it is recommended to stay the night before at accommodation near Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine or stay the night after at Nachi.
If you are a trekking novice, prepare carefully! Read about the equipment you should prepare beforehand in this article.
Recommended restaurants for lunch near Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine
Near the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, there are a variety of restaurants where you can have lunch using plenty of local produce or eat in a natural setting. Wakayama’s vegetables, wild game and seafood are very tasty.
The following article introduces some lunch spots you should stop by if you come to Kumano Kodo.
Courses to enjoy the Kumano Kodo to the fullest without walking.
A recommended route for those with small children or those who cannot walk long distances is to make use of a car and enjoy the Kumano Kodo with very little walking. Parking around the Kumano Sanzan is described in the second half of this article.
If you want to have more time, we recommend staying the night before or after and touring the Kumano Kodo in two days and one night.
If you are coming from the Kansai region, it is best to visit Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha in that order, and if you are coming from Nagoya, it is best to visit Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hongu Taisha in that order to ensure a smooth tour. This time, we will introduce a model course if you are visiting from the Nagoya direction.
11:00 Arrive at Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine and visit
↓ 5 mins by car
11:30 Visit Gotobiki Rock
↓ 30 minutes by car
12:30Lunch near Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine
↓ Arrive at Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine and visit Gotobiki Rock
13:30Visit Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine, Seigantoji Temple and Nachi Falls
↓ 60 minutes by car
15:30 Visit Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine
↓ 5 min. by car
16:00 Visit Osaibara (former shrine site of Kumano Hongu Taisha)
At Kumano Nachi Taisha, use the ‘Shrine Parking Lot’. From the free parking lot, you need to climb up a slope called ‘Daimonzaka’, which takes about one hour.
Nachi, where Kumano Nachi Taisha is located, is famous for its tuna. Please enjoy the delicious tuna.
Where can I park in the Kumano Sanzan? Where is free parking?
Parking is a concern when visiting the Kumano Sanzan by car.Here are some recommended parking areas near the Kumano Sanzan.
Parking at Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine
There are three general parking lots at Kumano Hongu Taisha for parking your own car or rental car, and one parking lot near the main shrine building for disabled visitors.
From the general parking lots (Jyunosato Parking Lot, Zuihoden Parking Lot and Kumano Hongu Pilgrimage (riverside) Free Parking Lot), it is necessary to climb 158 steps to the main hall. There are many souvenir shops near the Zuihoden car park, and many parking spaces are available.
From near the main hall, visitors can visit the main hall without having to climb any hills or stairs. (Accessible only for disabled persons).
Parking address.
‘Tree Village, parking lot.’
‘Zuifengdian Parking Lot.’
‘Free parking at the Kumano Hongu Shrine (riverside)’
‘Parking near the main shrine (for disabled persons only)’
Charges.
Free
Parking at Kumano Hayatama-taisha shrine.
If you are coming by car, there is a free car park near the precinct, with a limited number of parking spaces (around 20), but a temporary car park is open during peak season.
Parking address.
〒647-0081 1-6 Shingu, Shingu, Wakayama
Charges.
Free
Parking at Kumano Nachi-taisha shrine.
The Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine has a free parking lot, (i) the ‘Daimonzaka Parking Lot’ and (ii) the ‘Shrine Parking Lot’ at the end of the toll road (parking itself is free), (iii) the ‘Nachinotaki Parking Lot’ closest to Nachi Falls and (iv) the ‘Kumano Kotsu Nachi Mountain Tourism Centre Parking Lot’ about five minutes walk to Nachinotaki Falls.
(i) From the ‘Daimonzaka Parking Lot’ to Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine, you need to walk for about an hour along the cobbled steps called Daimonzaka, but it is free.
(ii) To get to the ‘Shrine Parking Lot’, a shrine disaster prevention road toll of 800 yen is required, but is recommended for those who want to visit the Kumano Sanzan in one day to save time.
(iii) The ‘Nachi-no-Taki Falls Parking Lot’ provides excellent access to Nachi-no-Taki Falls, but it takes about 15 minutes to walk to the main building of Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine and Seigando-ji Temple.
(iv) The ‘Kumano Kotsu Nachi Sightseeing Centre’ is a facility with a cafeteria and souvenir shops. It also serves as a parking lot for large buses and is the largest parking lot (70 passenger cars) in the Nachisan area.
Parking lot.
(1) ‘Daimonzaka parking lot’. 〒649-5302 3034-2, Ichino, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
(ii) ‘Shrine parking lot’. 〒649-5301 1, Nachisan, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama
(iii) ‘Nachi Falls parking lot’. 〒649-5301 Nachiyama, Nachi-Katsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, in front of Nachi-no-taki Falls.
(iv) ‘Kumano Kotsu Nachisan Tourist Centre parking lot’. 〒649-5301 442-2, Nachiyama, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama.
Fees.
1) ‘Daimonzaka parking lot’: free of charge
(ii) ‘Shrine parking lot’: 800 yen (as a toll for the shrine disaster prevention road)
(iii) ‘Nachi-no-Taki Falls Parking Lot’: Free of charge
(4) ‘Kumano Kotsu Nachisan Tourist Centre Parking Lot’: Free (500 yen for standard vehicles during major holidays such as New Year’s Eve and New Year, Bon Festival and Golden Week)
If you go to the trouble, take a relaxing trip! Recommended accommodation along the Kumano Kodo
If you want to travel the Kumano Kodo with plenty of time to spare, stay at accommodation along the Kumano Kodo and take a two-day and one-night itinerary to get around the area.
Recommended accommodation can be found in this article.
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