They stayed in livable homes, hiked in the mountains, picnicked by the sea at night, and experienced set-net fishing in the ocean by day.
Here are some of the work-stay experiences in Kumano where we stayed in Abuden and were introduced to many experiences and people.
Accommodations are at Abuden
We stayed at the Abuden.
It is a 10-minute walk from JR Kumanoichi Station and a 3-minute walk to a convenience store, making it easy to visit even without a car.
The landlord is Yuko Inoue.
Ms. Inoue specializes in languages.
Fluent in English and Chinese.
It has been roughly two years since I started my lodging business with Abuden.
The mainstay of its business is the operation of lodging facilities for foreigners, and the "Abuden" website is entirely in English.
In addition, as a green tourism instructor, she opened "irokuma" a year and a half ago to provide a playground where children can play with their hearts' content, and is making efforts to make the most of Kumano's nature.
During this work-stay, we visited Inoue-san's daily life and introduced many people and experiences.
Ms. Inoue said that staying at "Abuden" was like a homestay, and after experiencing it firsthand, I now understand what she meant.
Here's what "Abuden" is all about
Accommodation "Abuden".
Accommodation rooms are located on the second floor.
The room has a pleasant smell of tatami mats, and is well ventilated by the sun and wind.
Between the sliding doors and the exterior windows is a right-angled corridor with a quaint atmosphere.
Every room was cleaned without a speck of dust. The bathroom and kitchen were also very clean.
Every room has a gripping detail that would appear in a search for "old house design stylish.
Work Environment
I was told that I was free to use any room except the landlord's room, so I spread out my PC and worked outside of the room where I stayed.
Wi-Fi is available in every room, and there is no need to worry about responding to emails, saving manuscripts to the cloud, and other tasks.
The room was equipped with a desk, chair, extension cord, and table lamp, all of which were very helpful.
On the first day of my stay, I worked in the morning and started in the afternoon.
・Matsumoto-toge Pass
・Ruins of Onigajo Castle, Onigajo Observatory Deck
・Onigajo
We headed for a hike around the
Shake shop with a fun retro atmosphere.
Before our hike, we stopped at the Kataoka Shake Shop, a three-minute walk from Abuden.
They often open in the afternoon so that students can drop by after school.
A thick, creamy shake.
I drank it all at once.
I gave up after this because I had to climb the Matsumoto-toge Pass, but I also wanted to eat a burger.
I was anxious before going up the pass, but I was able to talk with the friendly owner, which eased my nerves.
Hiking starting from Matsumoto-toge Pass
First, we set out for Matsumoto-toge Pass.
On the way to the top, since we could not reach the summit easily, we decided that we might have lost our way and descended once.
I asked for directions and was told, "There are many side streets, but don't go in them; go straight down the cobblestones." I was told, "There are many side streets, but don't go in them.
The steep uphill climb on the cobblestone pavement, which is called a mountain pass, was quite tough, and we were out of breath, but we climbed up toward the top with the mind to "go straight on the cobblestone pavement. I was out of breath, but I kept this in mind as I climbed toward the summit.
At the top of the pass, there was a Jizo (guardian deity).
From here, we will head for the ruins of Onigajo Castle.
After climbing up the pass, we continued on, descending and ascending repeatedly.
Continue on a path with exposed tree roots.
Because you step on the craggy roots with your soles, it feels as if you are being pressed on foot pressure points.
Along the way, there are gazebos and benches to rest and relax.
This pavilion offers a panoramic view of the Shichiri-Mihama coastline.
You have arrived at the Onigajo Ruins and Onigajo Observation Deck.
Take a break at the "Onigajo Lookout" right next to the "Onigajo Ruins and Onigajo Observation Deck."
After this, we went downhill quickly to Onigajo (Onigajo Center).
The cherry blossoms along the "Sakura Road" that we passed along the way were not yet in bloom, but I can imagine how good it would feel to walk through a forest of cherry trees facing the sea when they are in full bloom.
Onigajo
Arrive at Onigajo (Onigajo Center).
The picture says from "Onigajo West Entrance" to "Onigajo Center."
As indicated by the current location, we walked around Onigajo Castle with the start at the Onigajo Center and the goal at the Onigajo Castle West Entrance.
Onigajo is a quay carved by waves and stretches 1.2 km.
The quay is like a beehive.
We went slowly, up and down steep, craggy rocks.
It took us roughly one hour to reach our goal, Onigajo West Entrance.
We departed from "Abuden," where we were staying, and hiked for a total of three hours, passing Matsumoto-toge Pass and Onigajo before returning.
I walked slowly while taking pictures, but the path was not level and had many ups and downs, so I was out of breath.
I was tired because I don't usually exercise, but I was able to enjoy the scenery the whole way, so I never got tired of walking.
I was tired but satisfied with a good sense of fatigue.
Sneakers were a must, as we had to walk on cobblestones, tree roots, and the craggy rocky paths of the beach.
It was sunny and hot that day, so I was glad I brought a hat and water as well.
Walking in Shichirimihama at night
This is Naoko-san, who is registered with the Kumano City Tourism Association as a Kumano City "Regional Development Cooperation Corps" member.
During our stay, he taught us everything we didn't know about Kumano and anything we had questions about.
Mr. Inoue, the owner of Abuden, introduced me as a friend who knows a lot about history. He knows more than just history. He knows the details of the area, identifies issues, and creates paths for the future.
Thanks to Ms. Inoue and Ms. Naoko, we are certain that this was a fruitful workcation that made us feel that Kumano is a great place to live.
A five-minute walk from Abuden is Shichirimihama, a sand and pebble beach.
Inoue-san and Naoko-san invited me for an evening walk.
You can recognize where the horizon is by the light of the fishing boats in the distance.
Check the high tide time and make sure it is safe.
We lay down on the slightly thicker leisure sheets and enjoyed a cup of warm tea while lounging around and chatting.
The gravel hitting my back is very comfortable.
The decrease in gravel on Shichirimihama beach.
Shichirimihama beach is closed to swimming. The reason is that when people come out of the sea, their feet get caught in the gravel and they cannot come back on land.
It is about how children in Kumano naturally see the stars.
Naoko spoke about such things.
After our walk cum picnic, we returned to "Abuden," flanked by a shopping street with warm, dimly lit streetlights.
Confectionery wholesaler Shimizu Seika
About a one-minute walk from "Abuden" is the confectionery wholesaler "Shimizu Seika".
I was walking by the store and saw a huge amount of candy and had to go in.
Opportunities to visit wholesalers are rare.
They have had a store in this area for 100 years.
Being surrounded by so many sweets makes me feel good.
Both candy and sweets commonly found in supermarkets were on sale.
We enjoyed hearing that the ladder has been in use since the company's founding, and that no nails are used in its construction.
Fixed net fishing experience
In the afternoon, we experienced set-net fishing.
Kumano City plans to provide opportunities for visitors to experience set-net fishing as one way to show them the good qualities of Kumano.
The set-net fishing experience is conducted by each fisherman, so the content of the experience plan varies depending on the leader.
I experienced the small set-net fishing experience plan of GATE Co.
We departed from Ho-Bo fishing port in a small boat and headed for a fixed net set in the sea, which took about two to three minutes to arrive.
A rope is pulled to pull up the net that has been set in the sea.
It's crazy heavy.
The nets are then pulled back to the boat.
It must have taken every muscle in his body to pull the net up by the rope.
The entire body must be used to pull up the net.
When the net is pulled overboard, fish gather and are scooped up with the tamo net.
This time we caught Itohiki horse mackerel, spearfish, sea bream, squid, and more.
Fish are placed in ice-lined barrels and transported to the fishing port.
The weight of the nets, the weight of the fish, the way the scales get tangled in the nets, the difficulty of working on the boat.
There was much to learn by actually doing it, and I was reminded of the importance of experience.
The fishing port provides us with space and equipment such as tables, knives, and cutting boards, so we can process fish there.
This is Keiko Kachi, who participated in the set-net fishing experience with us.
He is a former fishmonger and is currently working as a community development cooperative in Kuki Town, Owase City. Ms. Kachi taught us how to process fish.
We were taught how to handle the fish when it is alive, when it is to be made into sashimi or boiled, etc., depending on the condition of the fish and the dish.
I would be happy if more fish were distributed and if the number of fish lovers increased. I would be happy if more fish were distributed, and I would be happy if more people liked fish.
He simply told us which parts of the fish to handle and how to eat them.
I was ready to try my hand at cooking from raw fish.
The processed fish will be taken home and cooked. From here, Inoue-san's "irokuma kids" will be an optional program for the set-net fishing experience. (Don't worry, they accept children as well as adults only.)
GATE Corporation does everything from fishing to processing in Kumano, and also makes pet food using fish.
Additive-free pet food made only from natural fish caught in Kumano.
Since it is for pets, it is not flavored, but it is safe for people to eat.
Itohiki horse mackerel, sea bream, sea bream, and other fish are prepared as sashimi, simmered, etc.
All the food was delicious.
Thanks to the instruction on how to handle the fish, I am now ready to try cooking from raw fish by myself.
In addition to the processed fish, the participants cooked rice with dried fish.
Dried boneless dolphinfish is used.
This is a recipe to keep in mind.
I bought some delicious dried fish.
Before heading home, I bought some dried fish at Uosaku Shoten.
It is a 6-minute walk from JR Shinshika Station, and the Kumano Shinshika IC boarding gate is also nearby.
When I heard from Inoue, the owner of Abuden, that the dried fish here was delicious, I couldn't resist.
Mr. Takeuchi of Uosaku Shoten, a limited company established in 1920.
We visited the store just before it closed, and they kindly offered to pack it for us, which was very helpful.
I had an image of dried fish being hard.
When I ate the dried fish at home, it was not hard at all, but fluffy and delicious.
This time, as an experience, we requested to stay at "Abuden" for one night and two days.
Mr. Inoue, the owner of the house, suggests a plan of at least two nights and three days for a longer stay, such as one week or longer, to enjoy the daily life in Kumano while also doing some work.
Hiking, night walks, and fishing experiences are all extensions of daily life in Kumano.
I thought that this is an experience that is deeply rooted in the life of Kumano.
What we experienced this time is not set as a standard plan.
It was a Kumano-style work vacation, where we worked together to come up with a plan that incorporated Inoue-san's daily life and the daily life of Kumano, while taking into account the schedules of those who stayed.
I met places and people that I would definitely like to visit again, this time for a longer stay.
I would like to thank everyone in Kumano for their help and support.
An example of how to spend your time
Day 1
11:30 Check-in
Work
13:30 Kataoka Shake Shop
Hike around Matsumoto Pass, Onigajo Ruins, Onigajo Observatory, Onigajo
18:00 Dinner
21:00 Walk to Shichirimihama beach
22:00 Return to Abuden
23:00 Bedtime
Day 2
11:00 Work
Check out
Confectionery wholesaler Shimizu Seika
12:00 Fixed net fishing experience, cooking, etc.
16:30 Purchase dried fish at Uosaku Shoten
Head home
Facilities
Abuden
Kumano Playground irokuma kids
554 Kimoto-cho, Kumano-shi, Mie 519-4323, Japan
Phone number: 090-9267-5710
Kumano Playground irokuma kids
Kataoka Shake Shop
114 Kimoto-cho, Kumano-shi, Mie 519-4323, Japan
Onigajo
Confectionery wholesaler Shimizu Seika
486, Kimoto-cho, Kumano-shi, Mie 519-4323, Japan
Gate Inc.
Gate Niki Island Lab (beach house)
Fish and rice from the Sea of Kumano-nada
530-3, Nigishima-cho, Kumano, Mie 519-4204, Japan
Fish and rice from the Sea of Kumano-nada
Uosaku Shoten Co.
630 Shinshika-cho, Kumano, Mie 519-4206, Japan
Phone number: 0597-86-0001
Open Hours: 9:00 - 18:00 [weekdays].