To Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture

In my family, we do not have the custom of always going to Hatsumode on New Year's Day or Sangatsu (New Year's Day). All the shrines are crowded with worshippers on Sangahi, and until around the Taisho period, New Year's Day was celebrated in the Chinese New Year, and(This year's Chinese New Year is on February 5.)."If that's the case, why not take the time to pay a visit to Hatsumode in February?So, the other day, I finally got aA family of four went to Kumano Nachi-taisha, a World Heritage site, for Hatsumode (New Year's visit to the shrine).I went there.

In fact, soon after we were married, my husband and I went to Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine for Hatsumode.

(I remember this time I went to SLK and opened the roof)

At that time, even though we were both normal, ordinary people with no special abilities, both of us were "in the same boat.I have a feeling that there is some kind of God here.It was a magical experience. So I was eager to come with my family when my child was born.

However.Kumano is a very difficult place to get to.Since it is in the Kinki region, it seems close enough to see on the map, but in reality it takes 4.5 hours from my home even if I go smoothly. As one might expect, I have long been looking forward to going to theisolated island on landIt's just called "the best of the best".

But since it is in a hard-to-get-to location, there are not many tourists, and I guess you can visit the temple slowly.

There is a route to Kumano through the mountain roads of Nara Prefecture, which is more fun to drive. However, we thought it would be too much for the 5- and 2-year-olds in the backseat of the car, so we decided to take the road along the sea coast.

In other words, the route goes to the southernmost point of Wakayama and goes around in a circle.

First day of driving

The original plan was to use the "Leaving slowly on Saturday morning, stay overnight in Shirahama and visit Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine on Sunday.I had intended to go to the "Piazza del Mobile" on Sunday. However, I checked the weekly weather forecast in advance, and as usual, it was going to rain heavily on Sunday.(That's my girl in the rain!)The first day of the tour, we decided to change our plans and head first to Kumano on Saturday.

We were scheduled to leave at 7:00 a.m. that day, and I had woken up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready, but my daughters got up at the same time, so we didn't get ready at all... We ended up leaving the house after 8:00 a.m. My second daughter was reluctant to get in her car seat. I put my second daughter in her car seat, which she didn't want to be in.

Now it's time to go.

Even though it was a weekend and traffic was heavy, the Hanshin Expressway Bayshore Route was flowing relatively smoothly.

...Well, so far, so good, but the problem is...One-lane section of the Hanwa ExpresswayIt is. From the Arita Interchange on the Hanwa Expressway to Nanki TanabeA single lane section stretches for a whopping 50 km.The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.

Of course, there are a few sections along the way where the road becomes two lanes.That two-lane section is unusually short.The first is the overtaking lane, which is the lane in front of the car. Also, if there is a group of cars in front of you, it will be difficult to get back into the driving lane even if you get out into the overtaking lane and speed up. So, the result is that you may decide to stay in the driving lane and drive slowly.

."This road can no longer be called a highway...!It is a road that makes one want to ask the question, "What is the best way to go?

Once in the single-lane section, as expected, there was a slow car in front of us and the car following us was forced to drive at a slower pace.

My husband was the ACC of Panamera from beginning to end.(Adaptive Cruise Control)I was driving with the

This was never meant to come in a Panamera...
Japan is the only country in the world with such a single lane highway.I have heard this before. I think they prohibit overtaking at 70km/h for safety reasons, but if you drive a modern, comfortable car at a leisurely pace on a road like a railroad track like this, you will get sleepy and it will be dangerous!

I was mumbling to myself. Nevertheless, it is convenient at times like this to have an automatic driving function even in a sports car.

."doze alertWhen I woke up, the car had already turned off the highway and was proceeding along the seaside road.

It was a beautiful day, so the ocean was a bright blue and the scenery was very beautiful.

However, it seemed to be a road used by the locals as well, and there was a lot of traffic, and I couldn't even drive the Panamera fast enough... my husband was

The scenery is very similar to that of Shikoku. But for some reason, the roads along the sea in Shikoku have fewer cars, are wider, and are very pleasant to drive on, but not so here.

He was a little disappointed. The driving was too monotonous.Try turning on the sport exhaust, driving in sport mode, andWe drove the Panamera for an hour while trying various things.

Finally, we parted from the coastal road and headed for the mountain road.

As I approached Nachi-taisha shrine, I had a strange feeling as if the entire mountain was inhabited by God and the whole area was a very sacred place. In the old days, the roads were not as well maintained as they are today, and it must have been extremely difficult to go on a Kumano pilgrimage.

Upon arrival, we first parked at a nearby parking lot and decided to go see Nachi Falls.

Nachi Falls itself has long been revered as an object of worship, and the waterfall's drop is said to be 133 meters.

When we saw it, there wasn't much water in it.A waterfall that feels more like a sacred air than a powerful oneIt was. If you go to see it when the water volume is high, you will probably see a totally different look.

(My daughters are very interested.)

Afterwards, we drove up to the free parking lot near the main shrine to(It cost 800 yen for a toll to get to the main shrine)I decided to go to the shrine for a visit. When I came here before as a couple, we hiked up the mountain path, which was a good workout, but with children, it was easier to drive up to the parking lot.

Personally.I like Kumano Nachi Taisha because it is not that touristy.It is. Souvenirs and Kumano specialties are sold there, but there are only a few stores, so I was able to visit the shrine quietly and slowly.

To Shirahama

We walked around leisurely, and my husband was excited to make a monetary offering, so the family of four worshipped together, and then we returned to the road we came from, and I drove to the inn in Shirahama.

When I tried to run in sport mode, it was just like normal mode.Instead of immediately going up to 6th gear, the car maintained 4th gear, and the sound became high pitched and sports car-like, allowing the driver to enjoy a nimble ride.I guess it was like getting a little taste of the Panamera for a short time with no car in front of us. My husband, once again, was

The Panamera is a car that should be driven in sport mode. That way you can enjoy driving like a sports car.

I felt the same way. Less than two hours after leaving Kumano, we finally arrived at the hotel. My husband went to park the car for us.The 997 was parked farthest from the hotel entrance.So. When my husband returned, he was

Tonallah (brand-name breath mint marketed as having various medicinal properties)(I'm talking about people who go out of their way to park their car next to yours, even though it's completely empty.)I didn't do anything like that, I parked them side by side with one car open!

He was satisfied with the w

But afterwards, I looked from my room at the parking lot below.There is a minivan parked perfectly between the 997 and the Panamera... (explosion)I wonder why they dare to park there when there are other places available... I hope they can understand our feelings, even if only a little (-_-).

To get back on track, the sunset at Shirahama on this day was very beautiful.

The next morning we went to Shirahama beach in the morning and

I took a few pictures of the Panamera and

We went to the famous tourist site of Senjyoshiki.

Again, I had parked my car at the end of the parking lot, but when I came back, there was still a ton of people w(Well, it's a tourist town, after all.), ,

The weather was gradually getting worse around there, so we headed home and drove slowly down the single lane of the Hanwa Expressway again.(Again, I had a blast.), ,

She returned home safely. Upon returning home, my husband

If only there were better access to Wakayama.There are many good roads in Wakayama, such as the Ryujin Skyline.But it's hard to get there, so I can't bring myself to go.

He said. I wondered if that was so... and then I looked online.Construction is underway to make the Hanwa Expressway a four-lane highway by 2021.It seems!＊To eliminate fatal accidents and traffic congestion, the four-lane Hanwa Expressway is being widened.

That would make Wakayama much easier to get to.

I went to Wakayama in the Panamera this time.

If you are going on a touring or road trip, you need to consider not only the local roads, but also the access to them.

I felt it again. The slow driving on the highway from Wakayama to Shirahama was really helped by the ACC, so if I had come in a Boxster or air-cooled, it would have been very difficult!(But that doesn't mean we'll all be able to ride.)

Also, the Panamera can be driven in sport mode, etc., once you get there, so you can enjoy the driving experience.Good to come in a Panamera that combines driving and comfort.It was a trip that made me think again.

When the Hanwa Expressway becomes a four-lane highway (laughs), I would like to visit Wakayama more often.