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WAKAYAMA

Travel guides for Wakayama prefecture — Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, Koyasan access, Shirahama beach, Nachi Falls and the sacred Kii Peninsula.

Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail Japan ancient cedar forest stone path

Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Guide: Routes, Stages and Planning (2026)

The Kumano Kodo is one of the world’s great pilgrimage routes — a network of ancient trails on the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture that has drawn spiritual seekers for over a thousand years. Alongside the Camino de Santiago in Spain, it is the only pilgrimage route in the world to hold dual UNESCO World Heritage status, recognizing the profound cultural and spiritual significance these paths carry across centuries and continents. At its heart, the Kumano Kodo connects the three Kumano Grand Shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha. These shrines represent the sacred destination that […]

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Shirahama beach Wakayama Japan white sand turquoise ocean

Shirahama Onsen and Beach Guide: Everything to Know (2026)

Shirahama is Wakayama Prefecture’s crown jewel — a resort town on the Kii Peninsula where one of Japan’s finest white sand beaches meets a rich tradition of hot spring bathing and some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery. For travelers seeking the full range of Japanese beach and onsen culture without the crowds of more famous destinations, Shirahama offers an experience that is genuinely world-class yet refreshingly accessible. The name Shirahama literally means “white beach,” and the town delivers on that promise: Shirara Beach stretches 620 meters of powdery white sand backed by a relaxed resort strip of hotels, […]

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