Kumano Nachi Taisha

Plan extra time here. Nachi Falls, at 133 meters, sits right beside the shrine and is tied to worship at the nearby Hiryū Shrine, so the waterfall and the sacred grounds feel like one continuous site rather than two separate stops.

Between the shrine's heiden and Seigantoji temple, look for the 850-year-old Sacred Camphor Tree. You can step inside its hollow base, where a small altar lets you leave an offering.

If you're walking the Kumano Kodō, Kumano Nachi Taisha is one of four UNESCO-listed pilgrimage sites on the route and is typically visited alongside the other two Kumano Sanzan shrines, so factor that into your overall itinerary.