10 delicious sweets from the Kumano Kodo. Including the hottest cream puffs, cakes, shaved ice and more!
The Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site, is a popular power spot.This ancient road, which is centred in Wakayama Prefecture and stretches across one prefecture and three prefectures, is a place where visitors can feel the history of the area.
This issue introduces recommended sweets along the Kumano Kodo!We have collected some of the best sweet shops along the Kumano Kodo that you must stop by when you visit, including a cream puff shop in the popular town of Hongu and a cute cake shop near the Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine.
It also contains information on access from the Kumano Sanzan (three mountains) and tourist attractions along the Kumano Kodo, so please use it as a reference for your trip along the Kumano Kodo!
【熊野本宮大社近く】予約必須のシュークリーム｜choux（シュー）
Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of the Kumano Sanzan (three main shrines along the Kumano Kodo).The cream puff shop ‘choux‘ opened not far from there in 2020.
As well as the popular cream puffs and drinks, you can also enjoy cakes and baked goods made from locally produced fruit when the fruit is in season.The cream puffs are reasonably priced at 350 yen each.They are carefully handmade without flavourings or other additives.
The shop was featured in the popular TV programme Happy Bombie Girl and has become a hot topic of conversation, with customers constantly coming to the shop.The shop specialises in take-out, but there is also a terrace space outside the shop where you can take a break and enjoy cream puffs and a drink.Drinks include coffee (350 yen), red grape juice (350 yen) and home-made ripe Nanko plum juice (400 yen).
Bookings for the following month are accepted from around the 20th of each month.Advance booking in-store or by phone is recommended.In-store sales are also available, but reservations are essential to ensure availability due to the popularity of the shop!
There are also limited-time-only cream puffs, so check the shop’s Instagram for updates.
Address.
〒647-1731 1571-15 Hongu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access.
2 minutes drive from Kumano Hongu Taisha
6 minutes’ walk from “Ooyunohara”.
Tel
+81-735-30-0801
Opening hours
11:00-17:00
regular closing day
Tuesday – Thursday.
Official website
https://www.instagram.com/choux.kumano/
Near the Nakahechi Museum of Art, Kumano Kodo｜paradisecafe Onkawa.
This café offers a wide range of baked goods, including muffins, cookies, cakes, scones and scone sandwiches. Paradise Café Ongawa was originally renovated from a former warehouse and features a cute red building. The sweets eaten in the great outdoors are exceptional.
The spacious terrace seating is popular, where you can enjoy sweets and meals while feeling the nature. Sweets can be taken out, so please enjoy them at home.
The dining menu includes plate lunches, curries and pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven. As with the sweets, you will definitely have a hard time deciding which one to try! Local production for local consumption is the key word here, so you’ll find plenty of locally produced ingredients.
A design company bought the 7,000 tsubo site, which used to be a primary school and a rug factory, and relocated its headquarters there! The future of the Ongawa Project is also attracting attention.
Address.
〒646-1434 170 Ongawa, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access.
40 minutes by car from Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine.
15 minutes by car from the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Art Museum.
Address.
073-964-0888
Opening hours.
▶︎ sweets-day
Wed, Thu, Fri 12:00-16:00 (close when sold out).
Baked goods take-away operation/terrace seating only.
▶︎ Normal business
Sat & Sun 11:00-17:00 (LO.16:30)
All meals and snacks / All seats available
regular closing day
Monday and Tuesday.
https://www.facebook.com/huta.nikki/
https://www.instagram.com/paradisecafe.n/
Ice cream with fruit from Kinan, near JR Kii-Tanabe Station.
This café serves Tanabe and Kinan fruits that would otherwise have been thrown away, such as out-of-spec fruit, in ice cream. The fruit and ice cream are blended together on the spot, so you can enjoy the taste of freshly made ice cream.
Kiwi and strawberries in spring, sweet summer fruits, plums and blueberries in summer… a line-up that lets you feel the seasons. In addition to ice cream, you can also enjoy juices made from locally produced fruit, coffee and alcohol such as plum wine.
This ‘tanabe en+’ is a complex with a shop and co-working space as well as a café. Under the slogan ‘Tanabe no En wo Musubu’, it is a place where locals and visitors can gather in one place and interact with each other.
Address.
〒646-0031 41-1 Minato, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access.
JR Kii-Tanabe Station
Use the ‘Kii-Tanabe Station Parking Lot’ or ‘Kii-Tanabe Station Parking Lot No. 2’ for parking.
Phone.
0739-33-9761
Opening hours
10:00 – 19:00 ( LO 18:00 )
regular closing day
No mid-year break
Official website
https://www.instagram.com/enpluscafe_tanabe/
Near Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine] It’s like the world of Ghibli!｜A small pastry shop on top of a mountain meguru
The cake shop Meguru, a small confectionary shop on the mountain, is a space that makes you feel as if you have been transported into the world of Ghibli.As of July 2022, cakes here are only available by advance reservation, and each cake is individually designed for each person.The cake shop is popular for its cute and tasty cakes.Reservations can be made up to four days in advance.
As well as cakes, there are also cute baked goods, which can be purchased without a reservation.
From time to time, they also open stalls at marche and events, so be sure to check meguru’s official Instagram for the latest information. At events, parfaits and roll cakes as well as baked goods are sometimes sold! Don’t miss out!
Address.
872-1, Takahara, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Access.
45 minutes drive from Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine.
2 minutes walk from Kumano Kogen Shrine.
2-minute walk from the ‘Kogen Free Rest Area’ (please use the parking lot here).
Tel.
0739-64-1667
Opening hours.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (possible delivery days).
regular closing day
Wed, Sat, Sun (open on event days).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfv32O-FcFP/
Near Kumano Hayatama-taisha shrine] Colourful cakes welcome you to Mon image.
Mon image in Kumano, Mie Prefecture, offers cakes and parfaits made with an abundance of fruit from Kumano. Many seasonal fruits that can only be eaten at that time of year are used, such as strawberries, pineapples, sweet summer fruits and so on.
The cake line-up includes a confusing number of mousses, bavarois, shortcakes and cream puffs! What’s more, during the summer months, you can also get gelato and parfaits for a limited time only. You’ll want to go back again and again.
It takes less than 30 minutes by car from Kumano Hayatama Taisha, one of the Kumano Sanzan (three mountains), which is an essential part of a Kumano pilgrimage, so be sure to stop by if you visit the Kumano Kodo.
住所
〒519-4325 5821-33, Arima-cho, Kumano, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Access.
25 minutes by car from Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine
50 minutes by car from Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine.
Tel.
0597-89-6810
Opening hours
10:00-19:00.
regular closing day
Monday.
Official website
https://www.monimage-kumano.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mon.image/
[Near Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine] Cakes, ice cream and daifuku | Confectionery workshop Est.
If you visit Kumano Nachi-taisha shrine, you should stop by the confectionery workshop Est. This is a small cake shop that has been loved by the local community for 27 years now.
The warm wooden shop offers a wide range of products, from shortcakes, Mont Blanc and other cakes to cookies, ice cream, fresh cream Daifuku (200 yen) and other sweets! You can even order a birthday cake with cute cookies on it!
In the workshop next to the shop, the owner himself produces ceramic plates, mugs and other items. You can also buy their creations at the confectionery studio est. Many people buy cakes and ceramics together as a birthday present. Please take advantage of this.
The shop is only a three-minute walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.
Address.
3-1 Asahi, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama
Access.
3 minutes walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.
15 minutes by car from Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine.
25 minutes by car from Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine.
Tel.
0735-52-6868
Opening hours
10:00-17:00.
regular closing day
indeterminate rest period
https://www.instagram.com/estcake/
Near Kumano Hayatama-taisha shrine] 55 years of history!Shaved ice that doesn’t give you a headache｜Naka Ice Shop
Naka Ice Shop, which has been serving delicious shaved ice every year without a break for 55 years, is located near Kumano Hayatama Taisha, one of the three Kumano mountains. The shop has a retro Showa-era feel and is said to be one of the top five shaved ice shops in the country. Photos of celebrities visiting the shop are displayed throughout.
The shaved ice is made from ice that has been filtered through the high-quality water of the Kozagawa River that flows through Wakayama Prefecture and slowly frozen for 72 hours! This shaved ice is made from thinly shaved pure ice and is both fluffy and crunchy.
The syrups are made with fruits from Mie and Wakayama prefectures and are also popular. The selection includes Onshu Mikan (500 yen), Meyer Lemon (500 yen), Yuzu (450 yen) and Shikuwasa (450 yen), among other varieties. The most popular is the Matcha Milk Kintoki (600 yen). It has a reputation for being eaten all the way through without getting tired of the taste.
Watermelon ice, which has been eaten around Shingu City for centuries, is also a summer tradition in the area. Looking like a watermelon, the ice is covered with melon, strawberry and lemon syrup and stuck on a skewer.
If you are on a summer pilgrimage to Kumano, stop by to cool off.
Address.
〒647-0081 551-12 Shingu, Shingu, Wakayama
Access.
6 minutes walk from Kumano Hayatama-taisha shrine.
15 minutes’ walk from Gotobikiwa.
Tel
073-521-5300
Opening hours.
8:00~20:00
regular closing day
no rest
food log
https://tabelog.com/wakayama/A3005/A300501/30004308/
Simple and lovely cakes and cookies.
At the baked sweets specialist mimiy, you can enjoy a standard menu including basque cheesecake, gâteau chocolat with special chocolate, pudding and chiffon cake, as well as shortcakes made with seasonal fruit. The cakes are simple in appearance and full of flavour.
There is also a very popular cookie tin filled with cute and tasty cookies. Diamants, American cookies, snowballs… they are all delicious.
The shop was closed for a while for relocation, but reopened on Friday, 23 September 2022! Check out our Instagram for updates.
Address.
〒647-0073 87-1, Kinokawa, Shingu, Wakayama
(The Google map below is an approximate location.)
Access.
25 minutes by car from Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine
15 minutes by car from Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine
15 minutes by car from JR Kii-Katsuura Station
6 mins walk from JR Kiisano Station.
Tel.
0735-30-1784
Opening hours
Undecided (check Instagram for updates).
regular closing day
Monday – Thursday.
https://www.instagram.com/mimiy_2021/
Near Kii-Katsuura Station] Nachi-Katsuura Café Amaai
2-minute walk from Kii-Katsuura Station! Nachi-Katsuura Café Amaai is located in a corner of a retro shopping street, and has been a local favourite since it opened in 2012.
It is a café where young people gather to enjoy sweets such as gateau chocolates, basque cheesecakes, parfaits and French toast, as well as soft drinks such as coffee, lattes and hojicha chai. The food menu, which uses locally produced tuna and other seafood, is also popular! Lunch plates are ¥1,000, including a drink.
It is run by Kyouhei Tobayama, representative of Media Akatou from Kii-Katsuura, which is based on the theme of 1995.The restaurant offers a wide selection of drinks and sweets on the menu for both drinkers and non-drinkers to enjoy for a long time.You can also get Basque cheesecakes and gateau chocolates from the online shop.
The shop is designed to allow you to relax and talk to each other, making it the perfect place to spend time.
Address.
〒649-5335 5-2-10, Tsukiji, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama
Access.
2-minute walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.
Tel
0735-52-0181
Opening hours
Lunch
11:30-17:00 (L.O.16:30)
(Open for lunch only on Tuesdays and Sundays)
Dinner
(Mon, Thu, Fri) 19:00-22:00 (L.O.21:30)
(Sat) 19:00-23:00 (L.O.22:30)
Closed.
Wednesdays and first Thursday of the month
Official website
https://akato.amaai.net/amaai/
https://www.instagram.com/cafeamaai/
Crepe shop near Kumano Hayatama-taisha shrine: 30 second walk from Hayatama-taisha shrine.
From the Edo period to the Showa period, the banks of the Kumano River were lined with small shops known as ‘Kawahara-ke’.Kawahara-ke Yokocho, near the Kumano Hayatama-taisha shrine, recreates this atmosphere.
The Ninikotei crepe shop just opened in March this year on this side street. The crepes are both crispy and chewy. Gelato is also available in summer.
A wide range of crepes are available, including seasonal fruit toppings such as strawberries, peaches and sweet summer, simple crepes made with just butter and sugar, and pizza crepes that can be made into a meal. Toppings such as mochi and anko (sweet bean paste) are also available!
If you visit the Kumano Hayatama Taisha shrine, be sure to stop by.
Address.
〒647-0002 1-2-1 Funamachi, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan Kawaraya Yokocho 5
Access.
“Kumano Sutama Taisha” 30 seconds walk.
Opening hour
11:00-17:00.
regular closing day
Monday.
https://www.instagram.com/n1nn1k0te1/
Near the Kumano Sanzan] The Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine is an official shrine!Mote Mochi｜Chabo Chinjuan
The ‘Mote Mochi’ at Chabo Chinjuan is a Japanese confectionery that can only be tasted by those who have visited the Kumano Sanzan!Mote mochi is a limited edition product that can only be purchased at shops near the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha).
The wrappers used in each shop have a different design, and to collect all three types, you need to visit all three Kumano mountains. This sense of rarity is also irresistible!
Mochi are made from early morning every day. You can taste them freshly made. The koshi-an (sweet red bean paste), which has been passed down from generation to generation since the shop was founded in 1951, is wrapped in a soft rice cake and sprinkled with brown rice flour. It is branded with the brand name ‘Moude mochi’.
Try the traditional sweets made to pray for the good health of visitors to Kumano.
Address.
Shingu head shop
〒647-0004 2-3-3, Ohashi-dori, Shingu, Wakayama
Teahouse Chinchoan Hongu Shop
〒647-1731 195-3 Hongu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture (in front of Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, Ruihouden)
Teahouse Chinchoan Naji San Shop
〒649-5301 39 Nachiyama, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama
Access
Chinchoan Shingu head shop
3-minute walk from Kumano Hayatama Taisha.
Teahouse Chinchoan Hongu Shop
Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, Zuihouden.
Teahouse Chinchoan Naji San Shop
Six-minute walk from Kumano Nachi Taisha.
Tel
Shingu head shop
0735-22-3129
Teahouse Chinchoan Hongu Shop
0735-42-1648
Teahouse Chinchoan Naji San Shop
0735-55-0811
Opening hours
Shingu head office
9:00-17:00
Teahouse Chinchoan Hongu Shop
9:00-16:00.
Teahouse Chinchoan Naji San Shop
10:00 – approx. 15:00 (may be shortened due to weather conditions).
Regular closing day
Shingu head office
Wednesday
Teahouse Chinchoan Hongu Shop
Wednesday
Teahouse Chinchoan Naji San Shop
indeterminate rest period
Official website
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