Hongu Onsen Guide: What to Know (Hongu Town vs. The 3 Villages) Deciphering place names in Japan can be confusing. To help you plan the best visit, first, it's important to clarify the "Hongu Onsen" area. Hongu itself is the central town, is of course the location of the Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, and has many excellent lodgings (ryokan and minshuku) that feature their own private hot spring baths. However, the region's most famous and unique public onsen...

Kumano Hayatama Grand Shine When I first began designing trips in the Kumano region of Japan, I noticed something missing from most...

Did you know there are only two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes on Earth? Embarking on either the Kumano Kodo in Japan or the Way...