Southern Kansai region is rich and harsh in nature. The nature has entertained pilgrims who go to grand shrines of Kumano in the south of Wakayama Prefecture. I’ll show you six spots on the map below.
南紀には、厳しくも豊かな自然があり、熊野詣でが盛んになった平安の昔から、人々を楽しませてきました。そのうち、上の地図の6カ所を紹介します。
Demon’s castle、鬼ヶ城
The legend says that a boss of pirates stationed here; people were terrified of him like a demon. Emperor Kanmu (737-806) ordered the general to conquer him. There are actually many caves in which pirates seemed to hide.
ここには、桓武天皇(737-806)の命を受けた坂上田村麻呂が鬼と恐れられた海賊・多娥丸(たがまる)を征伐したという伝説があります。確かに、海賊の隠れ家になりそうな洞窟がたくさんあります。
There was a teahouse for visitors. Japanese tourism industry has a long history.
ここに茶屋がありました(水谷茶屋跡)。日本の観光産業は、昔から盛んだったのですね。
It is said that even dogs cannot pass through. Salt attached my hands because I had to hold the handrail.
犬戻し。手すりに頼るので、手が塩っぽくなります。
The lion rock is near the demon’s castle.
鬼ヶ城の近くには獅子岩があります。
Nachi Waterfall、那智の滝
The waterfall (drop 133 m) is a highlight of Nanki Kumano Geopark. The place is considered where the deity resides.
ジオパーク巡りから、落差133mの那智の滝は外せません。信仰の対象です。
参考記事:Kumano Nachi Taisha (shrine)、熊野那智大社
Hashigui-iwa Rock、橋杭岩
“Hashigui” means a pier and “iwa” means rocks. It was formed by the waves cutting the soft mudstone in the hard igneous rock. It is considered that tsunami brought the stones in front of "Hashigui-iwa".
泥岩が浸食され、火成岩が残りました。手前の岩は津波で運ばれたと考えられています。
Sandanbeki Rock Cliff、三段壁
Senjojiki、千畳敷
“Senjojiki” means a thousand of tatami mats; it is a vast rock plateau. The place is less than 1 km away from Sandanbeki Rock Cliff. I was moved that the nature created the different landscapes.
岩畳です。三段壁から1kmも離れていないのに、よくできたものです。自然の造形に感心します。
Engetsu Island、円月島
“Engetsu” means a round moon. It is an icon of Shirahama hot-spring resort. I visited here several times since I was a pupil; I think the circle is becoming larger and larger.
温泉地で海水浴場の白浜のシンボルです。小学校時代の臨海学校以来、何度か来ましたが、だんだん円が大きくなっているような気がします。
The white beach is also a tourist spot. The shower is a dolphin shape; the kind of jokes is popular now.
こちらも白浜の名所、白良浜。イルカ型のシャワーがありました。今風ですね。
I ate Shirahama-ramen noodle which soup was made from a tai fish (sea bream) stock. The other one (lower left) is Wakayama-ramen noodle. Both of them were good!
「和ん」さんで食べた元祖白浜ラーメン。鯛の出汁だけを使っています。左下は和歌山ラーメン。いずれもレベルが高いです。
Official
website: https://nankikumanogeo.jp/eng/
https://nankikumanogeo.jp/ (in Japanese), accessed in November, 2023
Visited in
March, 2023
Previous post (museum in the same prefecture): Taiji Whale Museum、太地町立くじらの博物館
Next post (museum in the same prefecture):Minabe town Japanese plum promotion center、みなべ町うめ振興館
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