Kii Peninsula
Go to the Kii Peninsula for the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, the temple town of Kōyasan and the beaches and hot springs of Shirahama.
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The Kii Peninsula covers most of Wakayama Prefecture and parts of Mie and Nara, reaching south into the Pacific Ocean. The Kumano Kodo is the main draw: old pilgrimage routes through cedar forest, river valleys and small villages. On Mount Kōya, the temple town of Kōyasan has been a Shingon Buddhist center since Kūkai founded it in the early ninth century, and its temples take overnight guests.
Shirahama, on the Pacific coast, has sandy beaches and hot springs. Getting around takes more planning than in Kansai's cities, since trailheads and villages can be far apart. A trip that covers the trails and Kōyasan needs several days. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking. Summer is hot and humid, and the rainy season in June and early July can make paths slippery. Book lodging early, especially along the trails.
Kii Peninsula in five
- Book Kumano Kodo inns firstReserve about six months ahead for spring and autumn. The Tanabe bureau's Kumano Travel site stops taking requests 20 days before check-in.Four days on the Kumano Kodo
- Add the luggage shuttle to your bookingDaily luggage forwarding can be added when you book, so you walk with a day pack between inns. Takahara, Chikatsuyu and Koguchi fill first.
- Sleep a night at KōyasanTemple lodgings (shukubo) include vegetarian meals and morning prayers. From Namba it is about 80 minutes by Nankai plus a 5 minute cable car.
- Walk in spring or autumnMarch to May and October to November are the best months. June is rainy, summer is hot and humid, and typhoons can close sections in late summer.
- Ride the Kuroshio to the coastThe JR limited express runs from Shin-Osaka to Kii-Tanabe in about 2 hours, Shirahama in roughly 2.5 hours and Kii-Katsuura in 3.5–4 hours.Is a Kansai pass worth it?
Things to do in Kii Peninsula
See all attractions in Kii Peninsula
Need to know
- Getting there
- Nankai to Kōyasan; JR Kuroshio from Shin-Osaka to Tanabe, Shirahama
- Getting around
- Trains on the coast; infrequent buses inland; plan around timetables
- Best base
- Tanabe for the trail, Kōyasan for temples, Shirahama for beaches
- Time needed
- 2 days for Kōyasan and the coast; 3–5 nights for the Nakahechi route
- Booking
- Inns fill about 6 months ahead in peak; Kumano Travel closes 20 days out
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cold, clearFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
- MarchRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Walking startsMarchRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 175 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Walking starts
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Blossom, greenAprilRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 206 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom, green
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Golden WeekMayRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 293 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Golden Week
- JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Good
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 401 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Hot, humidJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 383 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustRain19 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Hot, typhoonsAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 312 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, typhoons
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 317 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Clear, mildOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 269 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Autumn colorNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Cold, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Tanabe, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kii Peninsula
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 24 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Kii Peninsula
05:38 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today19°10°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed17°10°88%Wednesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Thu18°15°90%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Fri19°10°24%Friday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Sat12°6°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun14°6°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Mon14°7°7%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 7%.
Updated 05:27 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Namba to KōyasanAbout 80 min plus a 5 min cable carOkunoin cemetery and temple lodgings.
- Osaka to NaraAbout 40 min by KintetsuA half day at the deer park and Tōdai-ji.Read the guide
- Osaka to Kyoto15 min shinkansen, about 30 min JRKyoto pairs well before or after the peninsula.Read the guide
Before you go to Kii Peninsula
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kii Peninsula, checked
- Kumano Travel stops accepting web reservations 20 days before check-in, and popular inns fill about six months aheadChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
All Kii Peninsula guides
Plan around Kii Peninsula
The Nakahechi route inn to inn, with luggage sent ahead.
Read the guideKansai pass or notWhy a pass rarely covers the Kii Peninsula.
Read the guideJR Pass or notPrice your route before you buy anything.
Read the guideBest time to visitTrail months, rainy season and typhoon risk.
Read the guideMoney in JapanCarry cash for small inns and rural buses.
Read the guideeSIM for JapanData plans, and where mountain coverage drops.
Read the guideKii Peninsula FAQ
How many days do you need for the Kumano Kodo?
Three to five nights covers the Nakahechi route from Takijiri-ōji to the Hongū and Nachi shrines. A short version with a single walking day fits two nights if you take buses between sections.
Do you need to book the Kumano Kodo in advance?
Yes. Book inns about six months ahead for spring and autumn, and use the bureau's Kumano Travel site, which closes 20 days before check-in.
Is Kōyasan worth an overnight stay?
Yes if you want the temple lodging and Okunoin at dusk. Day trippers see the main sights in 4–6 hours from Osaka but miss the evening and morning prayers.
How far is Shirahama from Osaka?
About 2.5 hours by JR Kuroshio limited express from Shin-Osaka. It works as a beach overnight, not a day trip.
When is the best time to walk the Kumano Kodo?
March to May and October to November. June is rainy, July and August are hot and humid, and typhoons can close trail sections in late summer and early autumn.