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- Recommended Spots in Shingu City to Check Out Before or After Trekking the Kumano Kodo
STORY
Recommended Spots in Shingu City to Check Out Before or After Trekking the Kumano Kodo
- WAKAYAMA
- SIGHTSEEING
- EXPERIENCE
- CULTURE
- SPECIAL
- WORLD_HERITAGE
- KUMANO_KODO
- TREKKING
- HIKING
- HISTORY
- CASTLE
Located at the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture is surrounded by abundant nature. It is filled with World Heritage Sites, such as Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, one of the three Kumano Sanzan shrines, and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route winding through the city. Here are two recommended spots in Shingu City that you can visit before or after trekking along the Kumano Kodo: Kamikura-jinja Shrine and Shingu Castle Ruins.
Address: 1-13-8 Kamikura, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: Shrine grounds open 24 hours/day
Website (Japanese Only): https://kumanohayatama.jp/?page_id=18
Address: 3-7688-2 Tankaku, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: Open for sightseeing 24 hours/day
Address: 2-1-16 Tankaku, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Holidays: Thursdays (open if Thursday is a national holiday)
Address: 4-3-2 Kamikura, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (last order), 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (last order)
Holidays: Thursdays
■ From Kansai International Airport
Take the JR Kansai Airport Line rapid train, and get off at JR Hineno Station (about 10 minutes). Transfer to the Limited Express Kuroshio bound for Shingu, and get off at JR Shingu Station (about 3 hours and 30 minutes).
■ From JR Osaka Station
Take the Limited Express Kuroshio bound for Shingu, and get off at JR Shingu Station (about 4 hours and 10 minutes).
■ From JR Tokyo Station
Take the Nozomi Tokaido Shinkansen bound for Nagoya or Osaka, and get off at JR Nagoya Station (about 1 hour and 40 minutes). Transfer to the Limited Express Nanki bound for Kii-Katsuura, and get off at JR Shingu Station (about 3 hours and 20 minutes).
*The above article is based on information from March 2025.
*Prices, business hours and other information in this article are subject to change. Please check the latest information on the official websites before your visit.
＊Sponsored by: Shingu City Tourism Destination Enhancement Council ＊PR
The Enormous Rock, a Dwelling Place for the Shrine’s Deities! UNESCO World Heritage Kamikura-jinja Shrine
Kamikura-jinja Shrine, an auxiliary shrine to Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, is the birthplace of Kumano worship — according to legend, the gods of Kumano first descended from Heaven to Earth here, about 2,500 years ago. Gotobiki-iwa Rock, the shrine's object of worship, is an enormous rock that juts out from the perilous cliff called Amano-Iwatate, with 538 steep stone steps leading up to it. The word "Gotobiki" means "toad" in the Kumano regional dialect. This shrine is one of the historical destinations of the Kumano Kodo.
The area below the main shrine building commands a panoramic view of the city and the Kumano-nada Sea, making it the most stunning spot in Shingu City.
The “Oto Matsuri Festival” is held every year on February 6. Some 2,000 males, dressed in white and with rope tied around their waists, carry torches and run down the steep stone steps from the peak of the mountain. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom, adding gorgeous color to the red shrine pavilion. The festival is designated as a Nationally Significant Intangible Folk Cultural Asset.
Information
Kamikura-jinja Shrine｜神倉神社Address: 1-13-8 Kamikura, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: Shrine grounds open 24 hours/day
Website (Japanese Only): https://kumanohayatama.jp/?page_id=18
Striking Stone Walls and Magnificent Views at Shingu Castle Ruins!
Shingu Castle Ruins, located atop a hill along the Kumano-gawa River, is a national historic site whose castle tower and stone walls were built during the Edo period (around 1600). It is also called Tankaku Castle Ruins, owing to it being the site of the temple of Princess Tankaku, daughter of samurai warrior Minamoto no Tameyoshi, during the early Kamakura period (1185-1333).
The main appeal here is in the variety of stone walls, constructedusing techniques from the Edo period (1603 - 1868). Here, you can see stone walls made of natural stone with hardly any work done, as well as stone walls crafted precisely without any gaps between individual stones. You can spend around an hour here, exploring the ruins and enjoying the historic atmosphere, before reaching the castle tower foundation. From there, enjoy a wonderful view of the Kumano-nada Sea and the Shingu townscape.
Shingu Castle Ruins is also known for its cherry blossoms, which are a sight to behold when lit up, such as during the Sakura Light-Up event held at the castle every spring.
Information
Shingu Castle Ruins | 新宮城跡Address: 3-7688-2 Tankaku, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: Open for sightseeing 24 hours/day
Popular Gourmet Recommendations in Shingu City
Teuchi Udon Masaya
A favorite amongst locals, this udon restaurant specializes in handmade noodles. Masaya is particular about the quality of their noodles, which they make finer during hotter seasons, and thicker during colder seasons.
Information
Teuchi Udon Masaya | 手打ちうどん まさ家Address: 2-1-16 Tankaku, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Holidays: Thursdays (open if Thursday is a national holiday)
■Hamontei
This western-style restaurant is popular for its demi-glace sauce and beef stew, which are simmered for three weeks. Their course meals (available by reservation only) give visitors the opportunity to relish in the ingredients and flavors of the Kinan region. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available with advance notice.
Information
Hamontei | はもん亭Address: 4-3-2 Kamikura, Shingu-shi, Wakayama (MAP)
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (last order), 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (last order)
Holidays: Thursdays
Visit Shingu City and Enjoy Both World Heritage Sites and Spectacular Scenery
Shingu City is blessed with an abundance of nature, featuring the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route running through it, Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, and other World Heritage sites. During the Edo period (1603 - 1868), it flourished as a castle town. It is a wonderful town rich in history, culture, and nature. Shingu City is full of spots worth visiting, from picturesque river tours to relaxing hot springs and much more. Please drop by before or after trekking along the Kumano Kodo.
Information
Accessing Shingu City■ From Kansai International Airport
Take the JR Kansai Airport Line rapid train, and get off at JR Hineno Station (about 10 minutes). Transfer to the Limited Express Kuroshio bound for Shingu, and get off at JR Shingu Station (about 3 hours and 30 minutes).
■ From JR Osaka Station
Take the Limited Express Kuroshio bound for Shingu, and get off at JR Shingu Station (about 4 hours and 10 minutes).
■ From JR Tokyo Station
Take the Nozomi Tokaido Shinkansen bound for Nagoya or Osaka, and get off at JR Nagoya Station (about 1 hour and 40 minutes). Transfer to the Limited Express Nanki bound for Kii-Katsuura, and get off at JR Shingu Station (about 3 hours and 20 minutes).
*The above article is based on information from March 2025.
*Prices, business hours and other information in this article are subject to change. Please check the latest information on the official websites before your visit.
＊Sponsored by: Shingu City Tourism Destination Enhancement Council ＊PR
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 03 07,2025 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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