KUMANO TRAVEL

Nakata Foods has been involved in Tanabe’s ume industry for 120 years.

Our headquarters houses our large factories, which have viewing decks where you can see the production process for yourself. Come learn about ume cultivation and harvest, and find out how these amazing traditional foods are made.

We offer guided English tours or self tours (dependent on schedule). Both will give you a deeper understanding of the pillar of Tanabe’s agricultural industry.

Our spacious store is constructed from local lumber with traditional methods. There you can try samples of many kinds of umeboshi salted ume pickles and umeshu fruit liqueur, and then make your own ume syrup for juice or umeshu liqueur to take home!

Our campus also features an excellent art gallery where traditional art is displayed. Come see our rotating displays and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.

Walking around Kumano Hongu Taisha grand shrine with Traditional Kimono makes for an unforgettable memory of your trip to Kumano. Tsubo-shozoku is a style of Kimono of court noble women, beautiful and eye catching traditional costume from centuries past.  For men, Kimonos that are richly embroidered such as Hitatare of Samurai 武士の直垂, or hunter-clothes of court nobles 公家の狩衣 are available. Dress-back-in-time with a traditional kimono experience with the Kumashiroya company!

Monpetokuwa is a home-stay like hostel run by a family, who also runs the cafe.  The house is perched overlooking the Hidaka-gawa river in Ryujin village.

During the winter months (January~March)they offer a variety of experience programs in Ryujin and near the Kii-Tanabe station.

Experience Kumano on the river! For over 1000 years pilgrims have been making the journey to Kumano. 

The Kumano-gawa River was a vital section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route between Kumano Hongu Taisha in Hongu, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha in Shingu. 
Visitors are able to journey in traditional wooden flat-bottom boats as pilgrims have been doing for centuries.  This is a unique and fun way to get a river view perspective of Kumano’s spiritual landscape.

Boat Tour Schedule
● March 1st to November 30th departures (90 minutes tour)
Morning     10:00 ~ 11:30
Afternoon   14:30 ~ 16:00

◆ IMPORTANT NOTICE ◆
Sorry, closed from December 1 to February 28.

Earth Mate offers guided seakayaking excursions on the inner sections of the beautiful Tanabe Bay between Tanabe City and Shirahama Onsen.   There are a variety of trips for different levels of experience, including beginners. This is a wonderful way to spend some time exploring the Wakayama coastline by kayak!

Nanki Marine Leisure Service is a small business located in the tiny port of Ugui, between Shingu and Katsuura.  Fishermen in the area wanted to share the excitement of experiencing the beauty and power of the ocean they work on everyday with the local people and visitors alike.  This desire to share and explore led them to create whale watching tours.  The Kuroshio black current runs next to the southern tip of the Kii peninsula attracting a diversity of sea life, including whales and dolphins.  The fishing boats take guests out into this vast seascape in search of encounters with these awe-inspiring mammals.  Nature is impossible to control, but with the network of other fishermen in the area, chances are greatly increased to see dolphins and whales in their natural environment.  Free pick-up is available from accommodation in nearby Katsuura Onsen.

/// IMPORTANT ///
Nanki Marine Leisure Service can only accept reservations 1 month or less in advance.
Thank you for your understanding.