After checking out from Ichijo-in in Koyasan, we drove to Kumano Taisha almost 90km away in almost 3 hours, along narrow mountainous road downhill. There were some beautiful scenery on the way.

Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社)

Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野速玉大社)

It was a very hot day at well over 30C in the area. Had a quick soba lunch and drove to coastal town Shingu for Hayatama Taisha.

Before we left, dropped by Jofuku Koen (徐福公園).  The legend of Jofuku (Xu Fu in Chinese) is that he led 3000 boys and girls by sea to a fairy island to look for longevity herbs, by order of the First Emperor of China during the Chin Dynasty around 200 B.C.  After landing, he found the place fertile and in good climate. So he stayed behind and passed on agricultural and fishery skills.

Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社)

2nd visit since 2013. Though it was not in our plan, as we finished early in Shingu dropped by again while driving en route to onsen ryokan in Kii Katsuura. Visited the Nachi Fall – the tallest in Japan.

==> Shirahama ==>