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What is the Ohechi Route? The Ohechi Route is the coastal arm of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage network, running along the Pacific coast of Wakayama Prefecture and connecting coastal towns with fishing communities. Here we'll explain how fishing fits in with your Ohechi Route walk. For travelers drawn to quieter landscapes and stunning coastal scenery, the Ohechi Route on the Kumano Kodo offers a compelling alternative to the more widely traveled inland paths. If you’ve ever wanted to go fishing...

This guide explains the best hot spring experiences in the Hongū area — Yunomine Onsen, Kawayū, and Watarase — with practical tips, local insights, and cultural context for travelers. 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...

This article describes the spiritual heart of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage — the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano — and why they have drawn travelers for over a thousand years. Kumano Hayatama Grand Shine The Spiritual Heart of Kumano When I first began designing trips in the Kumano region of Japan, I noticed something missing from most Kumano Kodo guided tours . They focused on the walking—but not on why  pilgrims walked these sacred trails in the first place. What the Three Grand Shrines...