Kii Peninsula — Ise Grand Shrines to NachiFalls.

Distance

380 km

Duration

2 days

Climb

3,200 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Kii Peninsula — Ise Grand Shrines to Nachi Falls.

Two days riding Japan's sacred Kii Peninsula: from the sun goddess's shrine at Ise south along the dramatic Pacific coast on Route 42 to the Kumano Sanzan pilgrimage country. Day 2 visits Kumano Hongu Taisha deep in the cedar mountains before ending at Nachi Falls — Japan's tallest waterfall, framed by a vermilion pagoda against ancient forest cliffs. The route threads three UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance380 km

Days2

Total climb3,200 m

Fuel stops1 along route

DifficultyModerate

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Day-by-day

2 days, 2 moods.

A suggested split across 2 days with 9 waypoints to discover along the way.

DAY 01

Ise → Shingu

6 stops

IseStart · Start in Ise. Fill the tank — fuel stations thin out sharply on the southern coast road below Owase.

Ise Grand Shrine — NaikuPhoto Spot · Japan's holiest Shinto site, dedicated to Amaterasu, goddess of the sun. Rebuilt entirely every 20 years for 1,300 years using 16,000 hinoki cypress logs. No cameras past the outer torii gate. The cryptomeria avenue at dawn is extraordinary.

Ago Bay — KashikojimaScenic Point · The drowned-river ria coastline is studded with Mikimoto pearl-oyster rafts — cultured pearls were first developed here in 1893. Views across Ago Bay from the cape overlooks are superb on a clear morning.

OwaseFuel Stop · Fuel and water here. South of Owase, Route 42 hugs a narrow shelf between mountains and the Pacific with no services for 60km. This section is among the most dramatic coast road in Honshu.

Kumano CityRestaurant · Stop for sanma-zushi — salted Pacific saury pressed with vinegar rice, wrapped in persimmon leaves. A local specialty unlike anything sold in the cities. Dorokyo Gorge boat trips depart 10km south.

More routes in Japan

Tsuwano & Iwami Ginzan — Shimane Heritage Highland LoopJP · 155 km Sado Island Circuit — Niigata Gold Mine & Senkaku BayJP · 270 km Mt Daisen & Sakaiminato — Tottori Sacred Mountain LoopJP · 115 km Aizu Wakamatsu & Mt Bandai — Lake Inawashiro Caldera LoopJP · 165 km Echizen Coast & Tojinbo — Fukui Sea of Japan CliffsJP · 190 km Shodoshima Island Circuit — Olive Island & Kanka-kei GorgeJP · 85 km

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DAY 02

Kumano Hongu Taisha → Nachi-Katsuura

3 stops

Kumano Hongu TaishaScenic Point · Head inland on Route 168 along the Kumano River into cedar forest. The Hongu Taisha is Japan's most venerated forest shrine. At Oyunohara (the old flood-destroyed shrine site) stands the world's largest wooden torii at 34m. Return to Shingu takes 40 minutes.

Nachi Falls & Seiganto-jiPhoto Spot · Japan's tallest single-drop waterfall (133m) falls year-round from sacred Mt Nachi. The three-storey vermilion pagoda of Seiganto-ji temple framed against the white cascade is one of Japan's most iconic photographs. Afternoon light falls directly on the falls. Short stone-step walk from the road.

Nachi-KatsuuraEnd · End in Nachi-Katsuura on the Kumano coast. The port hosts one of Japan's major bluefin tuna markets. Kuroshio Limited Express runs to Osaka in 3 hours; continue south toward Kushimoto for further riding.