A guesthouse in Nachikatsuura town where you can enjoy food, hot springs, and a world heritage site.

Nachikatsuura-cho boasts one of the largest catches of fresh tuna in Japan, and WhyKumano is located near the port in the town, with a train station and restaurants nearby. A wide variety of hot springs are open for one-day bathing. Delicious cuisine made from the sea and mountains. The town attracts many tourists and travelers from home and abroad, seeking relaxation in its rich natural environment. Among them, the Kumano Kodo (Kumano Kodo Trail), a World Heritage Site, has been attracting increasing attention in recent years. The Kumano Kodo is the general name for the pilgrimage routes leading to Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha), which have welcomed pilgrims from all walks of life for over a thousand years.

The name of our guesthouse, WhyKumano, means “Why Kumano? By visiting Kumano and experiencing the daily life of the area, you can think about why you came to Kumano and what Kumano means to you. This will lead you to think about what your region is and your identity. With this in mind, WhyKumano was started by the owner, Takaya Ushiro, aka Goro-chan, who has traveled all over Japan himself.

WhyKumano is located in front of JR Kii-Katsuura station (15 second walk from the station) and has both private and dormitory type rooms. The lounge has a cafe & bar, which is also used by non-guests, making it a place where locals and travelers can mingle. The Cafe & Bar offers a selection of coffees carefully selected by Mr. Goro, as well as a selection of Kumano and Wakayama sake. One of the concepts of WhyKumano is to allow visitors to experience the everyday life of Kumano. They will introduce you to spots that are unique to the local area and are not listed on tourist maps or guides.

The private rooms on the second floor behind the reception desk have two beds, a private washbasin, toilet, and shower, while the dormitory space on the third floor is made of local wood to resemble a grove of trees along the Kumano Kodo trail. The space is larger than usual, and the bedding is made with the owner’s special care, so you can relax after your trip.

Knowing the outside world helped me get to know my hometown.

After graduating from university, Mr. Ushiro once worked in Tochigi Prefecture before returning to Kumano and Nachikatsuura Town. He used to have a negative impression of his hometown, which was gradually declining due to a decrease in population, as “a boring and uninteresting town. After leaving Tochigi, Goro traveled around the country visiting guesthouses. In the process, he realized that Kumano had a unique charm that could not be found in other areas. He has been organizing various events and community activities in addition to running guesthouses.

When he refrained from operating due to the Corona disaster from 2020, he started online lodging using the web conferencing system “Zoom” and the photo sharing service “Livecanvas. In response to the requests of those who wanted to visit Kumano and travel around, we were one of the first to launch such an initiative at a time before the “online 〇〇” craze had even begun to take off, and it attracted a lot of attention.

Because of this experience, Mr. Goro has a wide range of friendships not only locally but also throughout Japan. He has welcomed many visitors and guided them around Kumano. In his mind, he has a map of Kumano from major tourist attractions to local spots.

What is your reason for traveling? In search of new landscapes, new encounters, and comfortable places. Searching for your future career path or your own identity. Whatever your reason may be, we hope that your trip to Kumano will be an opportunity for you to find answers. And when you come to Kumano, please talk with us at WhyKumano and heal the fatigue of your journey.

*Opening hours are subject to change due to Corona measures.