Featured Hotels Near Kumano Shrine

Stay at Mikawa Machiya Ryokan, where select rooms face east with direct, unobstructed views of the Kumano Shrine’s vermilion torii gate framed by ancient cypress trees. The property offers a sunrise meditation tea ceremony and complimentary access to nighttime lantern tours that highlight the shrine’s spiritual atmosphere. Just a 5-minute walk away, it’s ideal for early risers seeking both serenity and photography opportunities.

Mikawa Machiya Ryokan provides a pre-dawn shuttle service departing daily at 6:30 AM, ensuring guests arrive in time for the first morning purification rites at Kumano Shrine. Guests also receive a personalized shrine etiquette workshop, teaching proper bowing, hand-washing, and prayer techniques. Afterward, enjoy a traditional kaiseki breakfast featuring local ingredients like biwa lake carp rice and seasonal vegetables, setting a mindful tone for your day.

Mikawa Machiya Ryokan offers family-friendly rooms with children’s bathrobes, slippers, and a dedicated garden play zone. Families can participate in child-friendly shrine rituals, learn how to write prayers on ema boards, and take part in handmade washi lantern workshops. The hotel partners with local farms to provide a nature discovery pass, including guided forest walks and lotus harvesting by the river—perfect for educational and memorable experiences.

Mikawa Machiya Ryokan collaborates with local lacquer artisans to host on-site lacquerware workshops, where guests craft small trays or hanging ornaments using natural urushi lacquer from Shiga Prefecture. The hotel also organizes evening light-guided tours through the shrine grounds, blending storytelling, ambient lighting, and historical narratives. Limited to 12 participants per session, these intimate events are best booked in advance via the HopeGoo app.

From Mikawa Machiya Ryokan, a 10-minute walk leads to the Yahata River Bamboo Grove Trail, a secluded path winding through towering bamboo stands beside a clear stream. Here, you may spot egrets gliding above the water, while a centuries-old stone bridge bears the inscription "Bridge of Dreams," said to inspire poets. The ryokan provides a guided nature map with folklore and plant identification, enriching your journey through this quiet, poetic landscape.

Choose the east-facing view rooms at Mikawa Machiya Ryokan, offering a perfect frame for the first golden rays hitting the Kumano Shrine’s torii gate, with the distant hills of Lake Biwa and misty river valley as backdrop. The hotel provides free rental equipment including tripods and intervalometers, plus expert guidance from their staff. After capturing the moment, unwind with a sunrise Zen tea ceremony, blending mindfulness with the beauty of dawn—a truly transformative start to your journey.