Japan's Most Underrated Town Has a Twist You Wouldn't Expect (Close to Osaka via Public Transport)

I can't believe this is my first time showing you this part of Japan because I've been here probably about 8 times in just the past 3 years alone. 100% my favourite area accessible from Osaka - even with just public transport!
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:22 Dorokyo Gorge
04:17 Free Campsite
07:48 Kumano Hongu Taisha
08:55 Kawayuu Onsen
12:04 Yunomine Onsen
14:16 How to get there
Speaking of public transport, I lied! You CAN get to Dorokyo Gorge with a bus! It leaves from Totsukawa Village Office to Dorokyo Bus Stop (called Dorohaccho) with a bunch of other stops along the way. There are however, only 2 buses a day (12:08 & 16:03) going to Dorohaccho and 3 buses a day leaving from there (07:01, 13:14 & 14:25) so plan your route carefully. The bus takes 1 hour & 6 mins and costs 1,090yen.
Bus schedule to Dorokyo Gorge: www.navitime.co.jp/diagram/bu...
Bus schedule from Dorokyo Gorge:
www.navitime.co.jp/diagram/bu...
Bus to Hongu Taisha Mae (use the Kumano Hongu Line):
www.ryujinbus.com/busstop/7/
Bus to Kawayu & Yunomine Onsen via Hongu Taisha:
www.navitime.co.jp/diagram/bu...
only online in Japanese. Tip: open it in Google Chrome to translate it to your desired language
•
Visiting Japan and want to experience something different? You'll love my travel guide - Beyond The Tourist Trail. A comprehensive e-book for travellers filled with 120+ hidden gems in Japan between Tokyo and Osaka. Available on my website: geni.us/beyondthetouristtrail
Grab some merch:
geni.us/channel-merch
Support me on Patreon for extra content and early access:
www.patreon.com/currentlyhannah
Instagram:
@currently.hannah
Music from Musicbed:
geni.us/musicbedref
My filming gear:
kit.co/currentlyhannah
#currentlyhannah #japantravel #japanhiddengem

[@fumin8]

Hi Hannah, I'm a Japanese living in Tokyo, 75 years old. Very glad to know you love Wakayama, very knowledgeable about places where foreigners don't go. Most foreigners only know about Kumano Kodo, Kumano Taisha, Nachi fall, Koyasan, Kuroshio-ichiba(gourmet spot, fish market) and so on. We Japanese call people like you 旅の達人/Tabi-no-tatsujin. Well, Senninburo in Kawayu is 仙人風呂, not 千人風呂. Same pronunciation, 仙人 means hermit. It's large open-air bath, open only in Winter season and lanterns are lit on Saturday nights 8-10pm.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh I had no idea that the kanji was different! I guess my explanation was wrong then. Thank you for letting me know the correct kanji 😄

[@valetitauribe3445]

❤

[@user-wm3ie6ut5e]

日本らしい風光明媚な里山（人と自然が共生する山や森）は、海外の方々には魅力的に映るのでしょうね。 しかし日本の失われつつある自然でもあるので、ハンナさんの魅力的な紹介コンテンツに感謝したいですね。

[@takmonmon3454]

As a Japanese living abroad, I always love watching your videos because you guys show us things from different angles from us, and moreover, the quality of the video is just amazing. Please keep on creating beautiful pieces. Thank you

[@user-cw1jl9se8j]

十津川だ〜！子どもの頃、夏休みによくキャンプしに行ってました！紹介していただいてとても嬉しいです😊

[@CurrentlyHannah]

素敵な場所ですね＾＾見てくれてありがとうございます！

[@katherinetys]

When my family moved to Japan in 96, we lived in Shingu. It’s still the place I want to go back to live. It’s just simple and stunning. A lot of people don’t know much about Wakayama and it’s beauty and delicious food tend to stay in the area, but once you go your just mesmerized in a strange way☺️ so happy you love it too❤️

[@CurrentlyHannah]

It's criminally underrated in my opinion. I can see why you loved it so much! If I was going to choose any countryside are to live in, I think Wakayama and Nara would be up there!

[@biteofdog]

Beautiful town, love the cozy river onsen experience. I was super impressed by the drone footage of it diving through the trees over the river. I'm happy that you are still having adventures in Japan.

[@bohnestiel]

Saw you hiking on the NHK Japan broadcast recently. So cool!

[@dsalangsang]

My family and I are visiting Japan for the first time next month and we love your videos. Please never stop making vids! We especially love your Japanese phrases videos. Please make a part 3 and more!

[@kwanglinpark]

Hey Hannah! I'm traveling to Japan in April/May and your guide has helped me plan an awesome itinerary. Can't wait to hike around Kamikochi and Shirouma. Thanks for sharing all your adventures and your detailed guide! Can't wait!

[@lainiesmajovits3754]

Yea! Another Hannah video! My day is complete!

[@calcon11]

Beautiful scenery

[@user-ow9ru9fs6y]

Even though I am Japanese, you always tell me about the wonderful regions of Japan.😅😅😅

[@user-ij2pv3qu6k]

Thank you for beautiful nature videos in japan

[@LetsgowithHyro]

Thanks again Hannah, loved this!

[@bawintermage8351]

While living in Japan I spent most of my time in major cities but I had the opportunity to vacation near Hokkaido. Next time Id like to explore more off the beaten path. Thank for this video, looks like you all had a blast

[@perseph1]

Thanks so much for this idea. Always looking for good places to go with my grandkids when I visit them in Shiga.

[@editorjohn8803]

Your videos are always so beautiful and inspiring. I can't wait for my next trip to Japan

[@LagoonOut]

Love the video Hannah, thanks again for sharing this with us. I'll have to consider this place for when I go back to Japan. You're awesome!!

[@nirsommer]

I knew it was the dorokyo and kumano area just by the thumbnail. Great area, been there once years ago and definitely recommend, I'll be back for sure

[@thomasharrisjr.3250]

ハンナちゃんの穴場の秘境紹介は、本当に信頼できる。ありがとう。

[@NHB74]

Checking all these out on my next visit for sure!! Awesome!

[@MrUser1million]

So happy for you both living over there

[@calcon11]

Beautiful scenary

[@whitetshirrt]

Watching you laugh is so soothing!!!

[@panchert5732]

関西の海辺は綺麗な海が多いし、和歌山なら白浜をすぐに連想しますが、川って海とはまた違った良さがありますよね。このような渓谷は特に私も好きです。温泉が湧いてるとこがユニークですね！

[@peterg1753]

We spent a few days in that part of the Kii Peninsula (including Nachi Taisha) in the winter of 2014. Had forgotten how beautiful it is. May be time for a revisit. Great production as usual Hannah.

[@unetudiantsurterre6630]

Vidéo pertinente et très bien menée, bravo pour votre travail !

[@KillerTacos54]

Beautiful!

[@shinjichie]

Wow what a nice place Good impression Thank you

[@YukkuriSansou]

Hannah this is amazing! this place & the onsen has been on my list for an age! thanks for the video! 😍

[@romerort]

Love your positivity! ❤❤

[@aRVeesBlog]

wow very interesting content and experience friend

[@frasermackie19]

watching these videos during a long and boring Dayshift cheers me up, Ill say that. Helps a bunch seeing all those great places! awesome as always. There's no stopping Kris from jumping in the water haha, right in there! No fear

[@CurrentlyHannah]

He's nearly always the first one in!

[@itmebakadesu]

Have missed your videos! This was a beaut!

[@jamierose1384]

Please make a video on driving in Japan. Particularly driving through the moutain roads of Wakayama. It would make a great video if you could get a first time tourist driver in Japan from Australia and get their experiences as they experience driving in Japan. After 10+ years of driving in Japan i still get challenged by some of the roads.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

I’m actually already in the process of making that exact video!! I think it’s the kind of advice that would be most helpful 🥰

[@ryanmckayw]

Oh man, I'm gonna be in this area in the fall, adding all this to the list! Great vid!

[@Hans-gb4mv]

If you want more ideas, I highly recommend her book.

[@NeoStar]

This looks amazing. Defo have to check these out next time I’m in Japan. I love how your personality comes across on camera! I really relate to your relaxed but quirky vibe. Anyway really enjoyed watching this. Hope to see another video soon.

[@maryannkeith4062]

This video makes me want to book my next trip to Japan! Hopefully next year...

[@mariojsworld]

Great trip from Japan.

[@_spartan11796]

It’s so nice!

[@dynamic_united]

Love your videos!

[@magnuslilja2906]

Great video! After watching your previous visit to Kawayu Onsen we decided to visit it last summer. It was indeed an amazing place, well worth the detour! As a Swede I was a bit surprised to see that they have Swedish torches in Japan, never heard of it before. Not sure why Sweden has been honored to name a log that is put on fire. 😄

[@Forreng]

That drone shot at 4:00 is so incredible!

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

I LOVE Kawayu! It's a lovely area. I know that they regularly empty those tubs to clean them out... so perhaps that's why the water level was so low when you were there.

[@aquamarine0309]

Hi Hannah, I'm living in Nara, so I’m very grateful to you for introducing the hidden areas of Nara. Nara is spread out from north to south, and there are no trains running south of Yoshino, making it a very difficult place to access. There are other hidden places in Nara that I highly recommend you to go. For example, Dorogawa Onsen.That villege flourished as a mountain climbing base for mountain priests to climb Mt. Omine. Women are still not allowed to enter Mt. Omine. Instead, you can climb Mt. Inamura, though. I think you can enjoy two limestone caves and the beautiful Mitarai Gorge.

[@Youwishyouknewwhohuh_]

I cannot wait to go to Japan I am most defiantly buying your guide ❤ thanks for sharing your adventures with us

[@CurrentlyHannah]

My pleasure! And thank you for the support

[@Tea-Spin]

​@CurrentlyHannah Hi, after buying it, if you ever updated the guide, will we receive the updated version also? If yes, how? Thanks

[@user-zj9rl4uh3g]

今回も、ありがとうございます🙏‼️日本には、日本で生まれ育った日本人でも行ったことが無い(大阪に住む私も😅)美しいエリアや興味深いエリアが沢山あります。これからも、そのようなエリアを紹介して下さいね🙏‼️ 残念ながら、このそば🤔😅❓での３月９日に予定されていたロケット発射が中止(延期)になってしまいました😓

[@huno4725]

素晴らしい場所でビックリした。

[@kurofune.uragabay]

That part of the Kii peninsula, with the mountainous relief natural hot springs and the mild climate is definitely special (japanese river valleys in general are just the $#%t imo) Gorgeous photography, thanks for taking me back there, Hannah 🙏 (that camping spot... 😍)

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Couldn't agree more! The rivers here are what every Australian dreams of hahah

[@kurofune.uragabay]

In mine for sure. (Kayaking like you guys did is one of the _funnest_ ways to enjoy them btw) Tassie ones are supposedly not too bad (haven't checked them out yet though) 🔽🙇‍♂

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Agreed! I'd love to check out Tasmania one day too :)

[@kayteeflick]

Unreal! Paused the video, looked at plane tickets...I can't believe how much more there is to see in this area! I need to go back!

[@CurrentlyHannah]

That makes me so happy you thought so too! So so stunning.

[@monyetkecil4107]

I was just there doing the Kumano Kodo hike around the same time that you were there! I stayed in Yunomine Onsen and regretted not going to the Kawayu Onsen because I was too tired from the hike. I would definitely go back again just to sit in those hot springs. I hope I could do the log rafting in Dorokyo Gorge next time.

[@Brainstorm411]

Living the dream!!

[@nirsommer]

I rented a car from Mie Prefecture when I visited Ise Jingu, and drove to Doro hotel (now Cafe) and then to Yunomine and Kumano Hongu. It was an absolutely beautiful drive! Also rented a car again in Karuizawa years later and drove around there too, definitely recommend driving in Japans countryside areas! But if you're not used to driving on the left side and to Japans traffic rules, driving in towns and cities can be a bit challenging.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Hard agree! Not only does driving make your travels easier and faster, but it's also usually a really stunning drive through the countryside!

[@MrKiyoshi007]

紀伊半島一周キャンプツーリングで何度も川湯を通りましたが（川湯キャンプ場でキャンプした事もあります）色々素晴らしいスポットがあることを知り感謝。今度ドライブキャンプしたいです。

[@mintq]

Thank you for liking it. If you like the nature of Wakayama, please visit and enjoy it.

[@WyndoMitraBuwana]

All these places are accessible and on route for kumano kodo. I went there last Oct. If anyone wants to experience hiking in mountains, visiting small villages, having onsen, try to do Kumano Kodo instead. You dont need a car at all but can still enjoy all the nature mentioned on the video.

[@Walking_around_the_World.]

Japan is an amazing and incredible country!

[@kojiyoshida3836]

Thanks for coming to our area. My name is Koji Yoshida. I am sometimes a guide of Kumano Kodo. I am happy you enjoyed staying around my area.

[@eltontth]

You can get a cheap Swedish torch like ¥500 in Wakayama~ (I got one in Daiso). This mountain area, together with the coastal area alongside are good for hiking and camping. I went there for 7 days’ trip alone last year, enjoyed the camping at a coastal camp site and some others in the mountain area. Adequate spots for getting food and drinks, Mandy onsens along the trip. Good for both amateur and advanced camping.

[@zakarykphoto]

Thanks to your videos in November last year we hired a car from Overland Japan and drove from Tokyo to Wakayama and back over 2 or so weeks. I spent hours on hours researching autocamps it was very difficult honestly but it all paid off. It was an incredible experience. I wouldn't have known about travelling Japan in this way if not for your videos. Just wanted to say thanks for that and for sharing this. Everytime I tell someone that we camped in Japan they seemed baffled. People outside the country really don't realise how popular activities involving nature are in Japan - they just assume it's all like Tokyo or Kyoto.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

Maybe I should just rent a car when I come back to Japan in April.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

I can't recommend it enough!

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

Definitely. We did a road trip on Hokkaido and it was amazing. So flexible, can go anywhere anytime. I'll do that on the main island next time also. Public transport really adds up if you go around a lot, and it just isn't as fast or convenient. Esp if you've already seen the main cities (Kyoto, Tokyo) and want to start exploring more.

[@nataliepriddle9909]

Do it! I've driven my last 4 trips and it is amazing!

[@investwithpete]

love the music!! Hannah please share the song titles!

[@WizardOfOss]

Cool places! I've been 18 times to Japan so far and have visited 42 of the prefectures, but somehow still have never been to Wakayama. That has to change.....

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Criminally underrated prefecture. You'll love it!

[@simon-croft]

Hannah try Inunakiyama, I think it’s the closest onsen to Kansai Airport. When I worked in Kansas Airport and lived in Senshu for 6 years, it was the thing that I loved to do after work to relax. The onsens are traditional, but the walk up to the waterfall by the temple is beautiful.

[@kurofune.uragabay]

I just looked up the waterfalls (Gyojano?) and they do indeed look stunning, thank you for the pointer.

[@simon-croft]

@@kurofune.uragabay yes correct, there are many nice places mountainside of Izumisano that people miss. It was peaceful & quiet, that’s what I liked and access was easy. You can get a bus from Izumisano Station. Do your nice walk to the temple and waterfalls, then onsen on the way back. I think I used Minamitei. Tanoshii mi ne !

[@AuthorTinaMoss]

I rented a car for the first time this trip. Drove around Okinawa. And then rented again to go around Kyushu. So much easier than I thought, and it let me see a ton more places. Love it!

[@trimmtrabb8755]

Absolutely love this area! We've been camping there last summer and it was amazing. Kawayu Onsen does get packed during Japanese school summer holidays (maybe it was a weekend?) though. When we went there it was full(!) with families and nearly impossible to get a spot 😅. Still beautiful and fun!

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh really? It’s hard to imagine it busy haha

[@tadahiromurooka]

Hello. I missed Kumanokodo area in Wakayama. And I would like you to go Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Pre. The sunset there is breathtaking.

[@Tea-Spin]

I actually planning to go to Ise then Kumanoshi/Shingu (basically Kisei line) this May for a quick anime pilgrimage, this video gives me idea on what to do around that area

[@sokorahennokusao]

Thank you for always providing beautiful images. 😁Have you ever been to Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture? If you haven't done so yet, please leave it on video.🎥

[@johnacharice]

Hi Hannah! An absolute fan of your videos and work! Love them so much! Im a solo traveller from Sydney that flies frequently to Japan to hike, thinking og hiring a car from now on, how easy is it to drive and navigate around if im by myself? The mountainous roads are not too scary of a drive are they? :')

[@CurrentlyHannah]

No not at all! I understand it feeling intimidating but honestly, I’ve always found Japanese drivers to be quite kind and gentle drivers (in comparison to Aus) so it helps a lot! The mountain roads are narrow and winding sometimes but just take it slow like everyone else and you’ll have no problems!

[@inkh]

Aww, Chris got friend zoned in the intro 😂

[@slab_bulkhead_]

This part of Wakayama is unreal. I stayed in Kawayu for about three days walking the Kumano Kodo and it was like 100x better than anything I did in Osaka or Hiroshima. You can catch a bus all the way through to Shingu. The bus stops at like 20 different places along the way so it's really easy to access everything. The onsen in the river (and hotels) is amazing plus you can catch Ayu in there really easily. I used a spinnerbait and folding rod. Some wood, alfoil and a box of matches and you could cook up a feed on the riverside :) Hongu Taisha and Tori Gate weren't very interesting places for me plus it was fairly packed with people which was a total change of pace after coming off a days walking on the Kumano Kodo. The actual Kumano Kodo was pretty insane. It's etched into the side of a hill in a lot of places and has been traversed for a very long time. It's all singletrack made with hand tools and maintained over hundreds of years. You get another feeling up there. It was actually a more intense feeling than I get out in the Kimberley/Pilbara/Top End in Australia. Really felt at one with nature up on the ridges with no one else around.

[@Nynke_K]

Just 😍

[@ashe1317]

i dunno, making a literal onsen egg sure sounds like MY idea of a party hahahahaha every time i watch one of your vids i get like good ptsd lol like the memories come back and i'm like, "oh yeah i actually went there wtf" 🤣

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Hahaha good ptsd 😅

[@mystorymedias5094]

Is May a good time to enjoy the onsen?

[@theblastedfrench]

help, what was the first place called where they paddle board? looks amazing

[@KorbinianMuc]

Please do that video on car driving. Like are you able to navigate without being able to read signs or do you suddenly find yourself on a toll road like you would in the US.

[@ice_coffee46]

川が綺麗な場所ですね〜。 都会の方はキャンプ場で金取るとこ多いんですかね。田舎の方は持ち込みのテントであれば無料なとこが多いのでオススメですよ。

[@Tea-Spin]

I'm torn between kawayu onsen or nachi waterfall since I only have like 1 day in kumano area, which one should I go for?

[@akane856]

love u hannah🌸🩷so jealous of your adventures 🩷

[@maiy8786]

Something important to note is that theres a sign at Kobune Camping ground which states that camping is prohibited from december til april (01.12. - 31.03.).

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh I had no idea! This was back in October but good to know!

[@player2952]

Riley San's Chinpo is bigger than that torii gate?

[@hitbos6904]

Kumano kodo is kind of Sandiago pilgrimage in Spain

[@user-ic6qn1vd1m]

改めて日本の自然に感動、素晴らしい、いい所ですねいろんな人に来てもらいたいけど、有名なれば人でイｯパイになるし、難しいですね。😂

[@annikajh71]

Hey Hannah, have you considered getting professional closed captions or doing them yourself so the Deaf audience (including myself) can have full access to your content? And for the ignorant hearing people who always comment: I do NOT mean the shitty auto-generated ones that are inaccurate, censored, and completely without punctuation to make it make sense.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh, that's weird! I've made subtitles for this video and had some translated to Japanese (as I do for all of my videos). Are you not seeing them for some reason? I'd love to know so the hours spent making them weren't wasted!

[@annikajh71]

@@CurrentlyHannah Oh it looks like these captions are good! I've been bingeing your old videos and the captions were missing a lot--glad to see the improvement now but would recommend working on your backlog for others who want to binge your content! 😊

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh I'm glad to hear these are working alright for you! Yes, I only really started doing them properly in the last 2 years or so. I'll definitely consider fixing previous videos' captions!

[@user-binten]

Totsukawa Village is said to have been the place where Japan's first Emperor, Jimmu, passed through when he left Kyushu to conquer the Nara Basin eastward, and has served the Yamato court continuously since ancient times. Therefore, the residents of this area were called ``Totsukawa goshi'' and were the only armed force that the imperial family could mobilize. It is also considered a sacred place for Shugendo. The roads are narrow in places, so please drive with extreme caution.

[@taiyoomaru01]

無料のキャンプ場は、意外とありますよ～

[@AngelunaLovegood]

10:09 I imagine Chris like a lil capybara with a yuzu on his head

[@CurrentlyHannah]

😂 I can totally see that and I love it.

[@honestymonk]

The public onsen is also free?

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Yep!

[@Evidently-hd4hs]

この動画がきっかけで、瀞峡や湯の峰温泉に観光客が殺到し、紀伊半島が復興するとは、今はまだ誰も予想すらできないのであった...。 Hannahさん、紀伊半島に来てくれてありがとう！！！

[@edithgarcia9970]

Can you make a video on Tattoo friendly onsens?

[@CorgiFlops]

Renting a car was definitely the best decision I made when I visited Japan. I went to so many unexpected places because I could stop whenever I wanted. It’s pretty affordable, if you drop the car off at the same location.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

100% agree!

[@Manulajes]

Not a fan of the new aspect ratio but hope I'll grow to like it!

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Oh interesting! Mainly trying it out cuz it looks great on a smartphone but would love to hear what you don't like about it?

[@SimpleGuy_o]

Have you named your car yet or have you given up the idea of naming it?😅

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Ah we tried a name but nothing really stuck!

[@raghavendra4633]

Hai and Hello from INDIA

[@user-sm6wz7hp9r]

"woo."

[@viajaconamelia3596]

Algún dia visitare Japon mientras tanto estaré conociendo Estados Unidos. Por lo menos tenemos todo tipo de comida. Hasta onigiris y ramen con bambú he podido degustar

[@Soul_Donkey]

Japan has Baked Beans? 🤯

[@CurrentlyHannah]

We bought them at Costco 😅

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

It's not that popular with foreign tourists because it's pretty annoying to get to by public transport, especially when there's so many other great places in Kansai to get to more accessibly. If you have two weeks in Japan, this place has to beat out the entirety of Kyoto, Himeji, Kobe, Osaka, Koya-san and on an on... Definitely a car is the way to go for places like this.

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Honestly though, once you’ve been to those places and you wanna see something different, this is the place to go!

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

@@CurrentlyHannah Absolutely! Or instead of those places. But I guess that's like everywhere. Popular places are popular for a reason, but the gems that require just a little bit of effort are well worth it. Another place you should check out is some places in East Nara/Mie prefecture. There's this magical place in the autumn to go to, called Soni Kogen. it's this bowl of golden Japanese pampras grass that looks spectacular right at sunset... There's an onsen there as well (of course) with a spectacular open air rotemburo that overlooks valleys. And if you want some place closer to Osaka, the Oishi highland area is smaller scale but the pampas is beautiful there as well. It's south of Kimino, East of Wakayama. Need a car there as well. Akame48 waterfalls is pretty as well in autumn.

[@andrewholloway8518]

is it tattoo friendly ?

[@CurrentlyHannah]

Yes!