[Campaign in progress] Taking a break during your trip to Kumano is important! Convenient drive-ins

• Table of Contents
• The Charm of Kumano
• 1. Dorokyo Meguri no Sato, Kumanogawa
• 2. Nachisan Tourist Center
• 3. Roadside Station Kushimoto Hashigui-iwa
• 4. Shionomisaki Tourist Tower
• Access Information
• Limited-Time Campaign Underway!

The Charm of Kumano

The Kumano region, located in the Nanbu of Wakayama Prefecture , is known for the Kumano Kodo trails, which are registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the " Kii Mountains Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Motomiya Shrine, Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, and Mount Nachi Seiganto-ji Temple), and the scenery created by the rich natural environment.

The number of tourists visiting the Kumano region is increasing every year, and many people from Japan and abroad walk the Kumano Kodo trails, tour the Kumano Sanzan shrines, and enjoy the spectacular natural scenery at places like Doro Gorge and Nachi Falls.

Knowing about convenient spots to rest, eat, or buy local specialties in between sightseeing is an important piece of information for any trip.

In this article, we will introduce drive-ins that you should stop by when traveling in the Kumano region. They are not just rest areas, but also places where you can enjoy Kumano's food culture and local specialties.

And what's more, they have started selling special items that can only be purchased at these four drive-ins! At the end of the article, there is a product introduction and a discount coupon. Please read to the end.

Kumano Tourism Development (company in charge) website

1. Dorokyo Meguri no Sato, Kumanogawa

Located in Kumanogawacho, in Shingu, "Dorokyo Meguri no Sato Kumanogawacho", is a drive-in that serves as a base for sightseeing at Dorokyo, a nationally designated special scenic spot. The area is surrounded by the clear streams of the Kumano River, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and the sense of openness through out the seasons.

The vast grounds include a free parking lot that can accommodate around 200 cars, and up to 10 tourist buses. The facility is equipped with clean restrooms and rest areas, providing a place to relax and rejuvenate during long drives.

Dining

The restaurant at the Dorokyo Meguri no Sato Kumanogawa, offers local cuisine featuring Kumano Beef, local mountain vegetables, and Kishu Tuna, utilizing ingredients from the Kumano Area.

Well-lit dining spaces

Meals can be ordered from the ticket machine. Water and Tea are also provided for free.

Kishu Tuna Sushi

From the spacious restaurant for groups, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Kumano River, registered as a World Heritage Site, through its large windows. Enjoy a heartwarming meal with family and friends while gazing at the majestic river scenery.
*The waterway between the Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha is the world's only "Water Pilgrimage Route" registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shop

The souvenir corner offers a wide variety of Kumano specialties. Popular items include jams made from local fruits, Kumano honey, and local sake. Additionally, postcards and crafts depicting the scenery of Dorokyo are available, making them popular choices for travelers looking for mementos.

Access Information

Address: 272 Hisashi, Kumanogawacho, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Restaurant 10:30-15:00 Last order)
Parking: Free (10 tourist bus spaces, approximately 200 cars)
Closing days: Open all year round

2. Nachisan Tourist Center

Located in Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture, the "Nachisan Tourist Center" is a rest facility that serves as a base when visiting the Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Nachi Falls. Nearby is the Daimonzoka, near the entrance to the approach to Seiganto-ji Temple and Kumano Nachi Taisha, making it ideal for resting before and after your visit.

The return bus to Nachikatsuura Station also departs from here. Why not visit it while waiting?

The premises include a large parking lot that can accommodate 20 tourist buses, and about 70 regular cars. Clean toilets and rest areas are available, and it is bustling with tourists before and after their visit to Nachisan.

Dining Area

At the café corner of the Nachisan Tourist Center, you can enjoy dishes such as curry and udon made with Kumano Beef, as well as local milk-based sweets such  as the "Kuroame soft-serve" and the flavorful "Jabara soft-serve" made with the refreshing local citrus "Jabara" (a fruit similar to Yuzu) from Kitayama Village.

Souvenir Corner

The store is stocked with a variety of local specialties and souvenirs. In addition to "Nachikuro (candy)" inspired by the Nachikuro stone, there are many products such as Wakayama's famous pickled plums and honey from the Kumano region.

Furthermore, there are many attractive and high-quality clothing items unique to the Kumano Kodo area, as well as special commemorative plush toys that are carefully and adorably made. When you visit, be sure to find your favorite item. These products are great souvenirs that reflect the culture and personality of the Kumano region, deepening your travel memories.

Access Information

Address: 442-2 Nachisan, Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro, Wakayama Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:00-17:00
Parking: Free 20 spaces for tourist buses, 70 spaces for regular cars (※Charges may apply during peak periods as detailed below)
※Peak season: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, New Year's holidays, Obon, Golden Week, and other long holidays. Charged at ￥500 for cars.

3. Roadside Station Kushimoto Hashigui-iwa

Located in an excellent position overlooking "Hashigui-iwa", a national natural monument, is "Roadside Station Kushimoto Hashigui-iwa". This facility is along Route 42, and is popular as a convenient rest stop for tourists travelling by car.

"Hashigui-iwa" is a unique spectacle where about 40 rock pillars line up straight from the sea. The scenery, especially during sunrise and sunset, is exceptional and has been selected as one of Wakayama Prefecture's "100 Best Sunrise/Sunsets".

[Hashigui Rocks and the Asahi] © Wakayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

[Hashigui Rocks - Illumination]

The spacious premises include a free parking lot for about 50-cars, accommodating regular cars and large buses. Additionally, there is an observation space on the second floor where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent Hashigui-iwa lined up straight from Kushimoto to Kii-Oshima. It is a perfect place to refresh your tired body after a long drive.

The tourist information center provides abundant information about sightseeing in the Kushimoto area, helping with planning tourist routes and discovering attractions. "Roadside Station Kushimoto Hashigui-iwa" is an attractive spot where you can enjoy the natural beauty while travelling comfortably. It is often featured on TV, and many celebrity autographs can also be seen.

Shop

The shop sells a wide range of local flavors, from traditional Wakayama foods such as dried fish and "Kishu-ni" (A local Wakayama dish of mackerel and sardines simmered with pickled plums), to the flavorful local dish, Sanma Sushi. These products are very popular as souvenirs because you can enjoy the taste of Kushimoto at home. There is also the locally famous Kin-Kon soft-serve ice cream (pickled ice cream), which we highly recommend trying!

Kushimoto Town has an unforgettable history. In 1890, a Turskish Warship returning home was hit by a typhoon and sank off the coast of Kushimoto Town. The local residents made great efforts to rescue the survivors and search for missing persons.

This even led to a deep friendship between Turkey and Kushimoto Town, and later the "Turkish Memorial Hall" was built as a testament to this bond. Today, local souvenir shops sell products related to Turkey, allowing you to feel the history of the country.

Finally, for those who love collecting stamps, the roadside stamps are a must-have item! Be sure to collect them as a travel memento. Each stamp encapsulates the charm of the visited island, enhancing your memories of travel with more fondness. Why not spend some time getting in touch with nature, and learning about the history of Kushimoto?

Access Information

Address: 1549-8 Kushimoto, Higashimuro, Wakayama Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00 - 18:00 (April - September) 9:00 - 17:00 (October - March)
Parking: Free, 51 spaces (6 large vehicles, 45 regular cars)

4. Shionomisaki Tourist Tower

Known as a launch site for small private rockets, Kushimoto Town in Wakayama Prefecture is home to the "Shionomisaki Tourist Tower", an observation facility located at Shionomisaki, the southernmost point of Honshu. From the approximately 50-meter-high tower, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

The tower is equipped with an elevator, allowing everyone to comfortably ascend from the ground floor to the observation deck. With a 360-degree view, you can enjoy the beautiful ocean scenery and the Kumano mountain range. On clear days, you can see the horizon distinctly and see the curvature of the earth. Additionally, when you climb the tower, you can obtain the "Certificate of Visit to the Southernmost Point of Honshu"!

By collecting certificates of visit from the four points of Honshu, submitting copies of these certificates, a photo showing yourself at each point, you can receive a certificate and a commemorative item for completing the Honshu Four Points Rally. If you're up for a challenge, why not give it a try?

Dining

On the second floor of the tower's shop, there is a spacious dining hall where you can enjoy a variety of dishes made with luxurious Kindai Tuna and local specialties unique to Kushimoto while gazing at the beautiful ocean scenery. There is also a wide range of take-out menus, perfect for enjoying with family and friends.

Shop

The shop sells a variety of unique products themed around the spaceport. Made from Kishu-grown cypress, these items are highly valued as souvenirs due to their intricate craftmanship and warm material feel.

For those with sweet tooth, be sure to try the "Wakayama Mandarin Soft-serve". Its refreshing sweetness and rich mandarin flavor are exquisite, making it a popular item among visitors.

As a memento of your visit to Shinomisaki Tower, enjoy these products and sweets!

Access Information

Address: 2706-26 Shionomisaki, Kushimoto, Higashimuro, Wakayama Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00 - 17:00, Restaurant 10:30 - 15:30 (Last Order 15:00)
Admission Fee: 300-yen for adults, 100-yen for children
Parking: Free (11 tourist bus spaces, approx. 100 regular cars)

Limited-Time Campaign Underway!

We are currently offering readers a special limited-edition products that can only be obtained at the four drive-ins mentioned above!

"Roots of Japan" is collaborating with these four stores to issue valuable coupons that can be used to purchase these limited-edition products. Take advantage of this great opportunity!

For more information and how to get the coupon, please see below:

Product Description - Kishu Nanko Red Umeshu

Made from Nanko plums, considered the highest quality among the many varieties of plums, primarily produced in Wakayama Prefecture. This umeshu (plum wine) is colored red with the pigment of purple sweet potatoes.

The logo of "Yatagarasu", a symbol of the Kumano Region, features the phrase "Umesyu meets Vegetables" at the bottom.

Inspired by the idea of "Boy Meets Girl", where a boy meets a girl, falls in love, and their relationship blossoms, this phrase expresses the concept of "Umeshu meeting vegetables (purple sweet potatoes), falling in love, turning red".

Product Description - Kishu Nanko Amber Umeshu

Similar to the Kishu Nanko Red Umeshu, this amber-colored umeshu is made from Nanko plums. It is finished without additives, using only plums, sugar, and white liquor.

The label features the phrase "Amber Umeshu Drops",

Inspired by the alternate name of pearls, "Pearl Moon Drops", expressing the idea of "Amber-colored Umeshu Drops".

Both Kishu Nanko Red Umeshu and Kishu Nanko Amber Umeshu are available in two sizes, 300mL (￥1,320 including tax), and 720mL (￥2,350 including tax). They make perfect souvenirs for your Kumano Trip, whether it's for yourself, or as a gift!

"Roots of Japan" Limited Campaign!

From April 18, 2025 (Friday) to July 21, 2025 (Monday), access the Roots of Japan limited campaign via the QR Code below and present it to the counter of any of the four stores, purchasing any of the Kishu Nanko Umeshu series, in order to receive a 10% OFF DISCOUNT!

Since these products are exclusive to the sales locations, be sure to remember this should you find yourself nearby these locations!

You can also access it from here!