Kumano Nachi Taisha & Nachi Falls

🗺️ Scope & Locations

Days / Dates: April 11, 2025
Locations Covered:

📝 Thoughts & Reflections

The Daimonzaka trail lined with giant ancient cedar trees was beautiful.
Getting caught in the rain created a misty forest atmosphere that felt magical and dream-like.

📸 Journal & Photos

Finally found some time to continue sharing photos from my Japan trip! 🇯🇵✨

After exploring Nagoya, I made my way down to the Wakayama area—a bit of a long train ride (around 4 hours), but absolutely worth it. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any other Thai travelers here!

The highlight of this region is the sacred Kumano Sanzan: three grand shrines connected by the historic pilgrimage route known as the Kumano Kodo (along with Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha). Visiting all three takes a couple of days, as they’re spread out across the mountains.

The first shrine I visited was Kumano Nachi Taisha, one of the most iconic, especially with the majestic Nachi Falls—Japan’s tallest waterfall—right beside it. To get there, I hiked up the Daimonzaka trail, a stone-paved path lined with ancient Japanese cedar trees. I actually got caught in a bit of rain along the way, but afterward, the forest turned misty and magical—like something out of a dream. I based myself at my Kii Katsuura base for this exploration. 🌧️🌿⛩️