Kii Peninsula — Ise Grand Shrines to NachiFalls.
Distance
380 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
3,200 m
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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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 9 waypoints to discover along the way.
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.
ShinguOvernight · Overnight in Shingu. The city centres on Hayatama Taisha — second of the Kumano Sanzan shrines — where the Kumano River meets the Pacific. Riverside ryokan serve kaiseki with local river trout and mountain vegetables.
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.
More routes in Japan
Nihonkai Ororon Line — Otaru to Wakkanai CoastJP 01 · 330 kmMitake Shosenkyo Gorge — Kofu to Sengataki FallsJP 19 · 40 kmMikata Five Lakes Rainbow Line — Wakasa Bay PanoramaJP 18 · 55 kmCape Irago & Atsumi Peninsula — Toyohashi to IragomisakiJP 23 · 65 kmIse-Shima Skyline — Ise to Toba via Mt AsamaJP 24 · 35 kmEchigo-Akiyamago Gorge — Sakae to the Nakatsugawa WildernessJP 20 · 90 km
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