Highlights
- Delicious slow-food meals made using vegetables grown on-site
- Walk on a section of the Kumano Kodo trail not featured on our regular tours
- Enjoy picking various types of seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Cycle around the peaceful town and visit a local farmers market
- Learn how to cook traditional Japanese dishes
- Join an early morning zazen meditation at nearby Senko-ji Temple
The Kamiakizu area on the fringes of the provincial seaside town of Tanabe in the Kumano region is surrounded by mountains, and full of orchards where Mikan (mandarin oranges), Ume (Japanese plums) and other fruits grow.
The former elementary school of Kamiakizu, an atmospheric building made of cedar and cypress, was renovated to serve as an education and experience center with a focus on sustainable tourism, established as a collaborative project by local farmers to support the revitalization of this rural community. A wooden lodge was added later to offer accommodation for overnight visitors. There is also a slowfood restaurant on site, where local farmers' wives come together to cook delicious meals using vegetables grown locally. Here you can try your hand at various agricultural experiences: fruit picking, vegetable harvesting and cooking with friendly locals.
Enjoy strolling or cycling around this peaceful community, and visit a local farmers cafe and market selling fresh produce. You can also join an early morning meditation session at the nearby Senko-ji temple, before heading onwards to walk the Shiomi-toge Pass, a section of the Kumano Kodo trail not featured on our regular tours.
This experience is an Add-on package
Include this experience in your own custom tour or self-guided Kumano Kodo tour
