Kimino, town in Kaisō district, Wakayama prefecture, Japan
Kimino is a small town in Wakayama Prefecture spread across several villages in the Kii Peninsula with approximately 8,600 residents living in houses with gardens. The landscape features green fields, rice paddies, the Kishi River running through the center, and forests that line quiet roads and create a peaceful setting.
Kimino was established in 2006 when the two former towns of Misato and Nokami merged. The area served as the Nishi Koya Kaido pilgrimage route connecting Kyoto to Koyasan, with temples like Kamataki Yakushi Kongo-ji dating back to 830 during Japan's Heian period.
Kimino preserves traditional practices through local festivals held at the shrine and farmer's markets, where people gather to share community meals and celebrate seasonal rhythms. The town maintains old crafts like handmade washi paper and natural hemp brooms, which visitors can purchase or learn to make themselves.
Kimino has no train station, so a car or bus is needed to explore the town and its surroundings. The nearby National Route 370 connects the town to other regions, and the closest station is in neighboring Kainan, about one hour from Kansai International Airport.
The historic Kamataki Yakushi Kongo-ji temple dating to 830 sits in a quiet valley and operates a guest house offering meditation and sutra copying experiences. Nearby is the Ōketsu, a natural stone basin formed in the river thousands of years ago that locals traditionally use for eel fishing.
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