Takada Greenland and Kumotori Onsen is a nature-rich hot spring facility located beside the Takada River in the mountainous area of Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. Surrounded by deep green mountains, the facility offers visitors a peaceful escape where they can enjoy the sound of flowing water and birdsong while experiencing the natural beauty of Kumano.
The facility lies roughly halfway between Nachi Mountain and the Kumano River, in an area associated with the sacred landscape of the Kumano Sanzan, the three grand shrines of Kumano.
It takes approximately 20 minutes by car from central Shingu, making it a convenient place to relax during a trip around the region. Visitors can combine a stay here with sightseeing at Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, Kamikura Shrine, and other attractions in Shingu and the wider Kumano area.
In addition to overnight stays, the facility welcomes visitors for day-use bathing, making it an easy place to enjoy a traditional Japanese hot spring experience while exploring the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage region.
One of the greatest attractions of Kumotori Onsen is its unusual bluish-white, milky-colored water, a distinctive feature that is relatively rare in the Kii Peninsula.
The water has a smooth texture and feels gentle on the skin. The spring is classified as an alkaline simple spring and has traditionally been enjoyed for its soothing effects on conditions such as nerve pain, muscle aches, and joint discomfort.
The outdoor bath is surrounded by natural rock formations, creating an open-air bathing environment where visitors can feel close to the surrounding landscape.
The Takada River flows directly in front of the facility, and the sound of running water and birds in the forest creates a peaceful atmosphere.
Each season brings a different character to the landscape. Fresh green foliage brightens the mountains in spring, deep greenery fills the scenery in summer, autumn brings colorful leaves, and winter offers crisp air and a quiet mountain atmosphere.
Soaking in the hot spring while looking out over the surrounding natural landscape is a particularly relaxing way to experience the changing seasons of Kumano.
The indoor baths offer another distinctive experience: herbal baths made with plants associated with the history and legends of Kumano.
One of the best known is the Tendai Uyaku herbal bath.
Tendai Uyaku is an evergreen tree belonging to the camphor family and has traditionally been used in Chinese herbal medicine. According to local legend, it was discovered in the Shingu area by Xu Fu, the legendary Chinese expedition leader who is said to have traveled to Japan more than 2,000 years ago in search of an elixir of immortality for the First Emperor of Qin.
Tendai Uyaku has traditionally been associated with various health benefits, including supporting vitality and digestion and helping relieve nerve pain. The plant has long been familiar to communities in the Kumano region.
Visitors can also enjoy a herbal bath using kihada, or Amur cork tree, another plant traditionally valued in Japanese and East Asian herbal medicine.
These baths offer an experience that goes beyond a conventional hot spring, allowing visitors to discover the relationship between Kumano’s natural resources, traditional herbal culture, and local legends.
In recent years, another popular feature of Takada Greenland has been its sauna experiences surrounded by nature.
Visitors can choose between two types of sauna: a barrel sauna and a tent sauna.
The barrel sauna is a cylindrical sauna inspired by the sauna traditions of Finland. Its rounded shape allows heat to circulate efficiently, creating a comfortable environment in which visitors can warm themselves thoroughly.
With the use of löyly, the traditional practice of pouring water over heated sauna stones to create steam, the sauna can become particularly warm and refreshing.
The tent sauna offers a more outdoors-oriented experience. A wood-burning stove provides warmth inside the tent, allowing visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of camping while surrounded by the forests and mountains of Kumano.
One of the most distinctive aspects of the sauna experience here is the opportunity to cool down beside the Takada River.
A simple cold-water bath is also available, but being able to cool off while feeling the natural environment of the river and surrounding mountains creates a memorable outdoor sauna experience.
After warming up in the sauna, relaxing in the fresh mountain air while listening to the river is an ideal way to experience the Japanese concept of “totonou”—a deeply relaxed state often associated with alternating sauna heat and cooling.
Takada Greenland is more than a hot spring facility. It also functions as a nature-oriented accommodation and training center.
The grounds include an all-weather recreational sports facility, tennis courts, a baseball field, a soccer field, meeting rooms, and large multipurpose spaces. These facilities make the complex suitable for sports camps, training programs, group trips, and other organized activities.
For individual travelers, outdoor experiences such as barbecues and E-bike rentals provide opportunities to explore the surrounding countryside at a relaxed pace.
Riding an E-bike along the Takada River allows visitors to discover the peaceful mountain scenery, traditional rural landscapes, and clear waters of Kumano.
Spending time outdoors in such a quiet environment can provide a refreshing break from the pace of everyday life.
Guests staying overnight can also enjoy meals featuring ingredients from the mountains and sea of Kumano.
Depending on the season, meals may include fresh seafood, mountain vegetables, and other locally sourced ingredients. These dishes provide an opportunity to experience the region’s rich food culture alongside its natural scenery.
Enjoying a meal in the peaceful surroundings of the mountains adds another dimension to the experience, allowing visitors to appreciate the relationship between Kumano’s landscape and its local cuisine.
Takada Greenland and Kumotori Onsen is an excellent place to combine sightseeing with relaxation during a trip through Kumano.
Its location makes it convenient for visiting Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, Kamikura Shrine, Nachi Mountain, and other attractions associated with the Kumano Sanzan and Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes.
From JR Shingu Station, the facility can be reached by a Kumano Kotsu bus bound for Takada, taking approximately 38 minutes.
For travelers exploring the spiritual and natural landscapes of the Kii Peninsula, a stay here offers a chance to slow down after a day of sightseeing.
Surrounded by mountains and the clear waters of the Takada River, visitors can soak in the distinctive milky-blue hot spring, experience a traditional herbal bath, enjoy a sauna surrounded by nature, and taste local Kumano cuisine.
Takada Greenland and Kumotori Onsen is a peaceful retreat where the natural beauty, legends, traditions, and healing culture of Kumano come together. For those seeking a quieter side of the Kumano region, it offers a memorable opportunity to relax and reconnect with nature.