If you are in Nanki

Koza is a town with a long history that stretches along the Koza River, through which the Kumano Kodo (Ohechi route) runs.
Koza used to be a center of Kishu lumber and a base for whaling.
Why not make Koza, such a historic town, your base for Nanki tourism?
If you are in Nanki, you must experience it!

Sightseeing Spots

Ohechi route

The Koza Kaido road that runs right in front of our inn is the “Ohechi” of the Kumano Kodo. In the Edo period (1603-1867), it seems to have prospered as a “long way but scenic tourist route. There are also a few routes in the vicinity of Koza that have retained their ancient form. It would be interesting to take a walking trip back in history.

Kumano Sanzan (Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, Sotoku Taisha)

The Kumano Kodo was a pilgrimage to the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha). From this inn along the Ohechi route, pilgrims can also pay their respects along the same route as in ancient times. The major pilgrimage route at that time was from Kumano Hongu Shrine to Hayatama-taisha Shrine by river cruising. The Kumano River Riverboat Center offers a river pilgrimage route experience. Please take advantage of this experience as an accent to your trip to feel the history!

Muryoji Temple (Kushimoto Ohkyo Risetsu-kan)

The museum exhibits works by Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795) and Nagasawa Risetsu (1754-1799), representative painters active in the mid-Edo period. The museum is closed irregularly, so please check the opening days on the website of the Kushimoto Okyo Risetsu Museum in advance when you visit. Not only can visitors view the actual sliding door paintings by Okyo and Risetsu, but also replicas of them are installed at the actual temple. You can travel back in time to a space that looks like a slice of the Edo period.

Shionomisaki

When you visit Nanki-Kushimoto, be sure to see the scenery from Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost tip of Honshu. The Pacific Ocean stretches over 180 degrees, and you can see with your own eyes that the earth is round. The waters off Kushimoto boast a monthly traffic of more than 300 vessels. You can see many large and small vessels navigating leisurely from east to west. Cape Shiomisaki is also known as “Typhoon Ginza,” and when a typhoon hits in the summer, TV reporters are sure to be there.

Turkish Memorial Museum

Have you ever heard of the “Ertugrul Incident“? It was the cornerstone of the friendship between Turkey and Japan that has continued to the present day. Recently, the incident has been published in elementary school textbooks and is gaining recognition. The Ertugrul ran aground and went missing on the island of Oshima in the town of Kushimoto in 1890. From there, a historical spectacle that took 100 years to unfold unfolds. The story of the ship’s wreck will move you to your heart’s content. We hope you will visit the Turkish Memorial Museum and feel more deeply the incident of the Ertugrul shipwreck.

Nanki-Kumano Geopark (Ichimai-iwa(Monolith), Hashigaiwa, Mushiguiwa)

The Nanki region is dotted with strange stones and oddly shaped rocks. The three types of landforms created by the meeting of plates have a variety of unusual characteristics. This is called the Nanki-Kumano Geopark, and the links below provide a summary of the geosites scattered throughout the area. The relatively famous geo-sites “Ichimai-iwa(Monolith)”, “Hashigui-iwa”, and “Mushigui-iwa” are located within a short distance from our inn. If you visit the geo-sites and follow the wonders of the formation of the landforms, you will be able to do free research during your summer vacation. Michi-no-Eki “Ichimai-iwa monolith”, where visitors can enjoy day camping and BBQ on the banks of the clear Kozagawa River (reservations are required and charged). For details, please visit the website of Michi no Eki Ichimaiwa monolith (Only Japanese).

Yukawa Onsen

Yukawa Onsen is located 25 minutes by car from our inn. Yukawa Onsen has a reputation for the quality of its hot springs. The manager of our inn also loves this hot spring. In my personal opinion, the quality of the hot spring is on par with that of Kusatsu Onsen. There are three bathing facilities in Yukawa Onsen. All of them have excellent spring water quality and are free-flowing hot-spring water. Kiyomon-yu This is a relatively new facility with a large space to rest after taking a bath. Private baths are also available, so families can enjoy the baths without hesitation. The bath fee is 500 yen. Yurinoyama Onsen This is a historic facility, with cars from far and wide noticeable in the parking lot. There is no soap or shampoo in the bathhouse, so please provide your own. You can also purchase them at the front desk. The bath fee is 400 yen. Shikinosato Onsen Compared to the other two facilities, this one is located a little further up the mountain. Please note that the reception building and the building where you bathe are separate. The bathing fee is 500 yen.

Taiji Whale Museum

This Taiji Whale Museum is especially recommended for families. Although its name is a “museum,” it also has an aquarium where visitors can get up close and personal with whales and dolphins. This aquarium is very service-oriented. The most recommended point is that visitors can feed the whales and dolphins with their own hands in the pool inside the cove where they are kept. There are also white whales, so children are guaranteed to be delighted. You can also see a whale show, which is rare in Japan. After the show, for an extra fee, you can touch the backs of the dolphins and have your picture taken!

Meal

Udon and eel Kozagawa

This restaurant, which utilizes an old private house that has been designated a registered tangible cultural property, serves eels from the Kozagawa River. You can dine in the magnificent building while enjoying a view of the Kozagawa River. Please check the restaurant’s website for the appearance and other details. Eels caught locally are exceptional! Be sure to visit during the summer.

Farmhouse Cafe Tsukuru

A farmhouse cafe featuring natural yeast bread. The new storefront is decorated with natural wood as the base tone. As the name “farmhouse café” implies, the lunch menu is full of vegetables. The restaurant is popular among women. Basically, it is open only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Please check the store’s website for the business days, as it is sometimes closed irregularly.

Taijima

This teishoku restaurant has an appealing, folksy atmosphere. This restaurant, loved by locals, offers simple and delicious meals despite its modest appearance. Particularly recommended are the simple but flavorful tuna bowl and the sweet and fresh fresh fresh shirasu (fresh young sardines) bowl. For the rest of the menu, please check the restaurant’s website.

Wakayama Ramen Ichirren

If you want to enjoy authentic Wakayama ramen, visit this restaurant. However, ramen is only served during lunch time, so it is best to visit during lunch. On the other hand, at night, the restaurant is open as a one-man yakiniku restaurant. The set of beef bowls is also excellent! This is unique to the yakiniku restaurant. After a day of fun at Hashigake Beach or in between sightseeing in Kushimoto, why not visit Ichi-Ren to taste delicious local ramen and yakiniku?

Mehari-zushi Nidaime

This restaurant is famous for “Mehari-zushi”, a local cuisine of Nanki. Mehari-zushi has such a long history that it has been documented as far back as the Nara period (710-794). Once you have tasted “Nidaime’s” mehari-zushi, you will never be satisfied with other mehari-zushi again. The taste is that outstanding. I highly recommend that you go there to try it. You will wonder why something that is just rice wrapped in takana tastes so good. You can also enjoy the delicious tuna from Nachikatsuura at the same time.

Sanma-zushi Jofuku Sushi

This is another restaurant serving Nanki’s local cuisine, Sanma Sushi. If you have come all the way to Nanki, we would like you to eat all the local cuisine of Nanki. To be honest, it takes 40 minutes by car from our inn to Shingu, so it is not easy to go shopping there. We hope you will be able to purchase some on your way to Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine or Hayatama Taisha Shrine.

Activities

Kozagawa River Rental Canoe

Canoe rentals are available at the Nanki-Kushimoto Tourist Association Koza (formerly Koza Tourist Association), which is attached to JR Koza Station. Advance reservations are required during the summer season, as it gets crowded. Courses for small children are also available. For details, please contact the Tourist Association. At Kozagawa River Rental Canoe, you can call for a “canoe cab,” which is rare in Japan. It solves the problem of what to do on the way home, which is always a problem when playing canoeing down the river.

BBQ for free and without reservation

At Shojoho, visitors can enjoy free BBQ on the banks of the clear Kozagawa River! Although BBQ equipment is not available for rent, you can easily enjoy your BBQ without making reservations. You can spend a wonderful time with beautiful scenery while listening to the murmuring streams. https://kozagawakanko.jp/tourism/162/ (Only Japanese)

Fishing

Nanki is the Pacific Ocean and the Kuroshio Current. Please swing your fishing rod into the Kuroshio Current that spreads out in front of the inn. You can also enjoy embankment fishing, and you can also enjoy boat fishing as the Fujita ferry and the Ocean Field fishing boat are located within a 5-minute walk from the inn.

Bicycle rental (Michi-no-Eki “Ichimai-iwa monolith”, Michi-no-Eki “Mushigui-iwa”)

Michi-no-Eki Ichimaiwa monolith and Michi-no-Eki Mushiguiwa offer a bicycle rental service. What’s more, you can drop off your bike and ride it back to the station! (Reservations required) The distance from Ichimaiwa monolith to Mushiguiwa is about 12 km, and you can start from either place. You can start from either point and enjoy a refreshing ride along the mountain path! For details, please visit the Kozagawa Tourist Association website. Rental bicycles are also available for foreign tourists. If necessary, our inn will assist you with the reservation procedure, so please feel free to contact us by e-mail or message on the reservation website.

Whale watching

Koza once prospered as a whaling center. As the whaling town of Taiji is located nearby, whales can be seen directly in the surrounding waters. Fujita Ferry also offers whale-watching tours.

Diving

The sea in Nanki is relatively warm, and diving can be enjoyed throughout the year. There is a diving store called DIVE KOOZA located about a 15-minute walk from our inn. There are courses for beginners and courses with babysitters (reservations required), so please come and experience the Nanki Sea.

Walking on the sea with dolphins and whales

Michi-no-Eki Taiji is located about 20 minutes by car from our inn. In 2020, a new off-site facility, the “Marine Walkway” (free admission), was completed at the roadside station. Here, dolphins and whales can be seen up close. Walking on the swaying floating pier, you will feel like you are taking a walk on the sea. There is also a field kayak in Taiji where you can play on the sea with dolphins and whales by kayak, although you need to pay a fee and make a reservation in advance.

Community Facilities

Guest House Nanki-Kuma-no-Ie

少人数でリーズナブルな価格で宿泊したいならば、南紀くまのいえがオススメです。 ホストの平松さんはとても話しやすい方なので、一人で宿泊する方にもピッタリです。 またホストご自身が自転車のご趣味を持ち、地域のロードレースにも参加されています。そのため、宿も自転車旅をする方にとって優しい配慮がありますよ。 また、平松さんは南紀ジオパークガイドもされています。周辺の地形や成り立ちなどを交えた観光ガイドもお願いすることができます。 If you are looking for a small group of people to stay at a reasonable price, Nanki-Kuma-no-Ie is the place for you. The host, Ms. Hiramatsu, is very easy to talk to, so it is perfect for those who stay alone. The host himself has a hobby of bicycling and participates in local road races. Therefore, the inn is also friendly to those who travel by bicycle. Ms. Hiramatsu is also a Nanki Geopark guide. You can ask him for a sightseeing guide that includes information about the surrounding topography and its formation.

Koza MORI

当宿から歩いて10分程度のところに、古座MORI（goo地図 ）があります。 古座エリアを盛り上げる活動を積極的に行ってらっしゃいますので、もし古座エリアにご興味がある方は一度門戸をたたかれてはいかがでしょうか。 Koza MORI (goo map ) is located about a 10-minute walk from our inn. If you are interested in the Koza area, why don’t you come and visit us?

Communicate a wide range of local attractions

The Kii Peninsula has numerous tourist resources, but the Koza area is by no means a dominant spot.
The former town of Koza had more than 10,000 residents in 1955. However, the number has continued to decline and now stands at around 4,000.
There are many good things in the area, but …….

We want to communicate as broadly as possible the attractions within this Koza area.
We hope that by informing you of the charms of the area, we can lead to repeat visits to the Koza area.

It does not have to be a repeat visit to our inn. It is our hope that our guests will stay at other hotels in the Koza area.
We believe that the revitalization of the region will increase the attractiveness of the Koza area and ultimately lead to more visitors to our inn. We hope that we can contribute to the revitalization of the area by making as many people as possible aware of the area’s charms.

Therefore, we are willing to make introductions to local lodging businesses with whom we might have a competing relationship. We hope that each of our clients will be able to use our services according to their own needs.
Please read more about the charms of the Koza area on our “If you are in Nanki!” page.