Kumano, Coastal city in southern Mie Prefecture, Japan
Kumano is a coastal city near the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, spreading across mountains, dense forests, and rocky Pacific shoreline. The landscape combines highland terrain with ocean views that define the area.
The area was part of the Kii-Shingū domain during the Edo period before transforming into a modern settlement. The current city of Kumano came into being in 1954 when Kinomoto and surrounding villages merged together.
The Hananoiwaya-jinja Shrine with its sacred rock holds deep meaning for local spiritual practices and draws visitors throughout the year. People come to experience ceremonies that connect them to long-standing traditions of the region.
The city connects to major destinations through the JR Kisei Main Line, with regular train services reaching Nagoya and stations across the prefecture. Plan visits during drier months when mountain paths and coastal areas are most accessible for exploration.
Shichiri Mihama Beach extends along an expansive coast and ranks among the longest sand and gravel beaches in the nation. This shoreline displays unusual geological formations that reveal different layers of sediment and rock rarely seen elsewhere.
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