Special Campaign in Mie Makes For Fun Trip in Kumano

It is a smallish “michi no eki” but one of the first things I noticed was that they had racks for parking road bikes! I realized that this entire area is ideal for cycling trips and it was nice to see warm, country-side hospitality extend to even this small detail.

“Kurobe no Sato Michi no Eki” is a typical roadside stop with all the things you need – a bit of food, some snacks, and some souvenirs.

The flyer was inside and I was able to easily scan the QR code and answer the few necessary questions. The perk here was another bottle of a locally made citrus drink. All I had to do was answer the questions and show the confirmation screen to the staff!

I spoke with the manager, Mr. Kuramoto, and he highly recommended the local “jidori ramen” or locally grown chicken ramen. So I ordered a bowl and it was pretty good! I recommend putting in half a boiled egg for aesthetics, taste (and a bit of dark humor.) Kumano jidori ramen is the no. 1 item here. It’s all made and grown locally.

After checking out the various souvenirs, I decided on getting some nihime, a kind of citrus fruit that can only be found in the Kumano area. There’s even a little guidebook that shows you how to use it for different kinds of foods and drinks! Mr. Kuramoto shared a few of them with me. I’ll be sure to use them to spice up my food when I get home!

Mr. Kuramoto explained more about “Michi no Eki Kumano Itaya Kurobe no Sato.” This rest area was named after Tamaki Kurobe who lived 330 years ago in the Edo period. He was a peacemaker in this area. Kurobe helped get a copper mine started in the area. He was a great man and widely loved, but sadly, his story ends in a tragedy. He accidentally shot his wife with a rifle and when she died, he tried to bury himself beside her body. The people in the area forgave him and insisted he stay alive. His wife Okiku is buried about a five minute hike up the mountain, across the river. Kurobe is buried in another location nearby, but it’s not known why they were not buried together.

Looking for a modern Japanese getaway out in the country? Want to enjoy amazing food and local rice wine, beer and other drinks in a chic lounge looking out over a beautiful mountain range? How about a unique hot spring with tatami-like mats instead of stone floors both inside and outside? Then visit Kumano Club just 15 minutes from the beach in Kumano City!

Set on what used to be part of Kanayama Pilot Farm out in the valley northwest of Shichiri Mihama, Kumano City, and spread out over an area about three times the size of Tokyo Dome, Kumano Club is designed to be like a Japanese shuuraku, or small village.

The hotel has a lounge is a relaxing and spacious room with a great view of the mountains. In the evening they play relaxing jazz music etc. and sometimes host live performances from local artists. Here, guests can also enjoy a variety of alcoholic beverages on tap, as well as dried fruits and unique fish rolls - all complementary, and can interact with each other in the jazzy lounge.

Mr. Naito, the hotel manager, explained that it was their goal to make Kumano Club a place where guests can relax and enjoy many activities for free, with the goal of making the resort an all-inclusive facility with many more activities for guests to enjoy. Currently, they offer free yoga programs, free cycle rentals, and the lounge with free drinks.

Koku, Kumano Club’s main restaurant is a chic, modern Japanese style restaurant with a cozy atmosphere and mostly private tables. There are even tables for couples where they can sit side by side while they gaze out the window and enjoy their quiet meal. Most of their food is locally grown.
The hotel were recently awarded 4 Michelin stars!

Koku is also the name of a sake that is sold only here. You can find it in the gift shop. Koku means “May rain.”

Kumano Club has seen a sharp increase in visitors. They are currently operating at 91% occupancy, with foreigners accounting for nearly 10%. Many of them are from Taiwan, but I noticed some English speaking guests checking in during my visit. The staff was able to assist them with very good English. Guests from Osaka account for approximately 20%, and those from Aichi for nearly twice that.

Despite the spacious layout of the hotel, there are small buses circulating the five bus stops around the grounds throughout the day from 7AM to 8PM, so the elderly, the handicap, or anyone who simply wants a ride, can get around easily. You can even call the front desk and arrange a pick up from your room 24 hours a day.

Kumano Club is a fantastic place to stay as you tour the Kumano area, or even just to take it easy and relax all day at the hotel. Learn more about this fantastic resort here: https://www.kumanoclub.jp/  I had a great time and I’m sure you will too!

Oh, and the Mie Prefecture Perks Campaign flyer was located in the souvenir shop. Again, it was super easy to answer the questions - it took less than a minute. And the perk? A free glass of freshly squeezed orange juice! According to Mr. Naito, these are the best (possibly second best to oranges in Ehime Prefecture) and after drinking the juice, I had to agree!

So while you’re out enjoying the many beautiful sites and delicious tastes that Mie has to offer, be sure to participate in the Perks Campaign. You’ll get lots of free or discounted items - AND I haven’t even mentioned the best part! Each time you answer the questionnaire, you get a point. As you get more points, you are able to participate in a drawing for really cool prizes! Check out their website for details.

Answer to Win! Mie Perk Smartphone Campaign