Shingu is a coastal town on the Kii Peninsula located where the Kumanogawa River meets the Pacific Ocean. It is the home of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, one of the three grand shrines of the Kumano Sanzan, and is considered the landing point of the Kumano deities in this area.
Shingu hosts an annual fire festival, features castle ruins, and has its fair share of restaurants and cafes. JR Shingu Station services limited express trains running north and south along the coastline to other destinations.
It is a historic town with lots to do if guests walking the Kumano Kodo have an extra day, especially for those who have taken the Traditional Boat Tour and disembarked at the banks of the river near Kumano Hayatama Taisha.
Whole Day in Shingu
Taking a day to visit Shingu is well spent.
This is for guests who have a free or “rest” day in the middle of their Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route itinerary with 2-night stay in Hongu, who may not have been able to book the Traditional Boat Tour which is completed in Shingu OR guests who walked to Nachi-Katsuura and use the next day to visit Shingu.
Suggested 1-day Plan
● Take an early bus from the Hongu Village/Onsen hot springs area (Hongu area to Shingu bus timetable) .
● Visit the Shingu Tourist Information Center
It is located in front of Shingu Station. They have maps and local information and have English-speaking staff.
● Visit Kumano Hayatama Taisha
● Visit Kamikura-jinja.
● Visit Tanpaku Castle ruins.
● Eat lunch in town at any number of Japanese or Western-style restaurants. Ask the Shingu Tourist Information Center for suggestions.
● Visit a cafe like TANPUKU CAFE.
● Return to Hongu area from Shingu by bus (Shingu to Hongu bus timetable) OR depart to next destination.
Koya-zaka Slope
The Koya-zaka is a section of the Kumano Kodo in Shingu that leads along the coast to Nachi station. Ojigahama is the name for the beach on the Shingu side of the Kumano-gawa River. Along the way are side trails to lookout points that whalers traditionally used.
Access is by local train to or from Miwasaki Station or by bus to the Miwasaki Station bus stop. The trailhead is a short walk from the stops.
Half-day Shingu Visits
Afternoon Shingu Visit (after Boat Tour)
For guests who have booked the morning Traditional Boat Tour operated by the City of Shingu down the last 16 km of the Kumanogawa River.
The morning boat tour finishes around 11:30 at the bank of the Kumanogawa River near Kumano Hayatama Taisha. Visitors can still have a half day to explore Shingu.
Half-day options include:
● Visit some of the same sites listed above being wary of afternoon bus departure times if staying in the Hongu area.
● Participate in a guided afternoon Shingu tour.
● Return immediately after the Boat Tour to Hongu from the nearby Hayatama Taisha-mae bus stop (take the 12:14 Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus #51 for Hongu).
● Stay in Shingu OR bus Shingu to Kii-Katsuura Station and stay in Katsuura.
Morning Shingu Visit
This might be for guests who either have an afternoon Traditional Boat Tour booked and can visit Shingu in the morning, or guests who just want to spend a half-day in the morning and will transfer to Nachi-Katsuura accommodation in the afternoon.
● Bus from Hongu area to Shingu.
● Visit Kumano Hayatama Taisha.
● Visit Kamikura-jinja if time available.
● It might be possible to have the Shingu guided tour in the morning before the boat tour.
● Have lunch in Shingu with suggestions from the Shingu Tourist Information Center.
● Bus: 13:25 Shingu Station to 13:54 Michi-no-eki Kumanogawa Boat Center.
● OR if no tour in the afternoon, possibly bus Shingu to Kii-Katsuura Station and stay in Katsuura.
Staying in Shingu as an Alternative to Koguchi
Shingu is a comfortable, seaside city with restaurants and a mild range of accommodations.
For guests who are having difficulty finding a place to stay in Koguchi for a 6-day model itinerary might consider Shingu as an alternative using public buses for access to the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trail.
Day 4
● Walk Kogumotori-goe section south from Ukegawa to Koguchi
● Bus: 16:12 Kowaze to 16:22 Kanmaru (Koguchi-to-Shingu access bus timetables)
● Bus: 16:40 Kanmaru to 17:14 Shingu
The bus transfer is easy, just talk to the bus driver and tell him where you want to go.
Kowaze is the stop for the Kogumotori-goe section.
● Stay in Shingu.
Day 5
● Bus: 7:10 Shingu Station to 7:44 Kanmaru (Shingu-to-Koguchi access bus timetables; earlier departure possible)
● Bus: 7:54 Kanmaru to 8:06 Koguchi
● Walk Ogumotori-goe section south from Koguchi to Nachi
The Ogumotori-goe trailhead is not far from the Koguchi bus stop.