Kumano Kodo Winery Guest House

Dal and his wife are so kind, and the food is fabulous. The place is cosy, making it feel like a perfect beginning to a pilgrimage walk. We stayed at Dal’s Guesthouse the night before setting out on the Kumano Kodo, and they drove us to Takigiri-oji the next morning. Our taxi driver got lost, but calling Dal sorted it out.

Giovani and yotaka were excellent hosts. They drove us where we needed to go and welcomed us into their home, sharing their way of life, their cute goats, and excellent food. We met other travelers there too. They also helped us get to the beautiful komano kodo trail. We highly recommend this place!

We had a room with a small sitting area and a dining area, and the hosts were friendly and communicated really well. The standard pilgrim dinner was delicious, served with a smile and presented like art as well as a satisfying meal. They suggested a way to add some distance to our Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage by walking from the guesthouse to our next destination. There’s an amazing sunset from the picnic table behind the house. An absolutely delightful place, highly recommend.

Dal really is a master chef. Dinner was Michelin-star quality, there was a good wine selection, and breakfast was fantastic too. We had a wonderful stay, and I’d highly recommend it if you want something different from the usual minshukan. The next day we stayed at Dal’s new in-home stay, Nonagase, and he came over personally to meet us there.