New Accommodation Facility "SEN.RETREAT HONGU" Opens in Kumano Kodo Hongu Area
Nihon Unist Co., Ltd. opened "SEN.RETREAT HONGU," a new unmanned accommodation facility utilizing trailer houses, near Kumano Hongu Taisha on May 11, 2026. This is the fourth location for the SEN.RETREAT brand, aiming to resolve the regional lodging shortage and revitalize tourism in the Kumano Kodo area.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 22:00
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Nihon Unist Co., Ltd. (Osaka City, Representative Director: Wataru Imamura) opened "SEN.RETREAT HONGU," a new accommodation facility and the fourth location for SEN.RETREAT, on May 11, 2026, near Kumano Hongu Taisha (Hongu-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture), which has long been revered as the center of the Kumano Sanzan.
The official website is here: https://sen-retreat.com/stay/hongu/
Background and Purpose of Opening
SEN.RETREAT HONGU opened near Kumano Hongu Taisha (approximately 2km away). Kumano Hongu Taisha is a sacred site that has long been revered as the center of the Kumano Sanzan (Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachi Grand Shrines) and is an important component of the World Heritage "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range." It is a place reached via the "Nakahechi" route, walked by many people among the Kumano pilgrimage routes, and is popular as a "land of rebirth."
In recent years, however, due to factors such as regional depopulation, there has been a shortage of accommodation facilities, leading to a situation where "people want to visit but have nowhere to stay." SEN.RETREAT addresses these regional issues and is working to enhance the lodging environment in the Kumano area.
As one of its bases, SEN.RETREAT HONGU opened near Kumano Hongu Taisha, which is visited by many pilgrims and tourists. It offers a peaceful stay that leads to the "regeneration" of mind and body for all travelers, not just pilgrims walking the Kumano Kodo.
Features of the Facility
SEN.RETREAT HONGU is an unmanned villa-type accommodation facility using trailer houses. This is the fourth facility opening for SEN.RETREAT, and it is the first time they have adopted 'trailer houses.'
The characteristic of trailer houses is that they can significantly shorten the period from planning and design to opening compared to conventional construction. Until now, opening an accommodation facility required a long time from planning to completion, but by adopting trailer houses, they have accelerated the opening speed and established a system that can respond more quickly to the increasing demand for accommodation in the Kumano area. Another major appeal is the ability to build a flexible supply system that responds to increasing demand, leveraging their easy relocation.
Furthermore, the compact and functional space unique to trailer houses ensures comfort while coexisting with nature, providing a calm and relaxing stay experience.
The guest rooms are equipped with two single beds, one sofa bed, a kitchen, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, toilet, and shower room, accommodating both Kumano Kodo walks and long-term stays.
"SEN.RETREAT HONGU" Facility Overview
Opening Date: May 11, 2026 (Monday)
Location: 336 Mimichi, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
TEL: 0739-64-0556
Rooms: 4 rooms, maximum 12 people
Facilities: 2 single beds, 1 sofa bed, kitchen, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, toilet, shower room
Access:
- 70 minutes from Kisei Expressway "Kamitonda IC" via National Route 311
- Via Totsukawa: Head south on National Route 168 to Hongu-cho. Immediately after entering National Route 311.
- Via Shingu: Head north on National Route 168 to Hongu-cho. Immediately after entering National Route 311.
"SEN.RETREAT" Accommodations Scattered Along the Kumano Kodo
'SEN.RETREAT' is an unmanned accommodation that offers a "retreat experience" to reset stress in the great outdoors. With the concept of "RETREAT - Walk, Play, and Rest with Passion," it provides travelers visiting the Kumano Kodo with time to restore their mind and body and positively embrace their future selves.
They plan to develop a total of six accommodations along the "Nakahechi," a major pilgrimage route of the Kumano Kodo, allowing for multi-day walks. By connecting these scattered accommodations as a "line," they aim to build a lodging environment that comprehensively supports travelers.
As the first phase, in October 2021, they opened "SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA," a renovated vacant house in Takahara, Nakahechi-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, a village located in the mountains at an altitude of about 300m. It now also has a private sauna, offering a stay that heals travel fatigue.
TAKAHARA
As the second phase, "SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU" opened on April 28, 2022, in Chikatsuyu, Nakahechi-cho, which has long flourished as a post town for Kumano pilgrimage. The concept is "A place to play, smile, and connect." It offers rooms where guests can stay with their beloved dogs, a private garden for barbecues, a terrace for bonfires, and a pizza oven. Also, since each container is a single guest room, guests can spend time without worrying about other guests. They aim to change the current situation where "tourists visiting Kumano Kodo = only for trekking" and create an accommodation that can be enjoyed by people with various tourism purposes.
The official website is here: https://sen-retreat.com/stay/hongu/
Background and Purpose of Opening
SEN.RETREAT HONGU opened near Kumano Hongu Taisha (approximately 2km away). Kumano Hongu Taisha is a sacred site that has long been revered as the center of the Kumano Sanzan (Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachi Grand Shrines) and is an important component of the World Heritage "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range." It is a place reached via the "Nakahechi" route, walked by many people among the Kumano pilgrimage routes, and is popular as a "land of rebirth."
In recent years, however, due to factors such as regional depopulation, there has been a shortage of accommodation facilities, leading to a situation where "people want to visit but have nowhere to stay." SEN.RETREAT addresses these regional issues and is working to enhance the lodging environment in the Kumano area.
As one of its bases, SEN.RETREAT HONGU opened near Kumano Hongu Taisha, which is visited by many pilgrims and tourists. It offers a peaceful stay that leads to the "regeneration" of mind and body for all travelers, not just pilgrims walking the Kumano Kodo.
Features of the Facility
SEN.RETREAT HONGU is an unmanned villa-type accommodation facility using trailer houses. This is the fourth facility opening for SEN.RETREAT, and it is the first time they have adopted 'trailer houses.'
The characteristic of trailer houses is that they can significantly shorten the period from planning and design to opening compared to conventional construction. Until now, opening an accommodation facility required a long time from planning to completion, but by adopting trailer houses, they have accelerated the opening speed and established a system that can respond more quickly to the increasing demand for accommodation in the Kumano area. Another major appeal is the ability to build a flexible supply system that responds to increasing demand, leveraging their easy relocation.
Furthermore, the compact and functional space unique to trailer houses ensures comfort while coexisting with nature, providing a calm and relaxing stay experience.
The guest rooms are equipped with two single beds, one sofa bed, a kitchen, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, toilet, and shower room, accommodating both Kumano Kodo walks and long-term stays.
"SEN.RETREAT HONGU" Facility Overview
Opening Date: May 11, 2026 (Monday)
Location: 336 Mimichi, Hongu-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
TEL: 0739-64-0556
Rooms: 4 rooms, maximum 12 people
Facilities: 2 single beds, 1 sofa bed, kitchen, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, toilet, shower room
Access:
- 70 minutes from Kisei Expressway "Kamitonda IC" via National Route 311
- Via Totsukawa: Head south on National Route 168 to Hongu-cho. Immediately after entering National Route 311.
- Via Shingu: Head north on National Route 168 to Hongu-cho. Immediately after entering National Route 311.
"SEN.RETREAT" Accommodations Scattered Along the Kumano Kodo
'SEN.RETREAT' is an unmanned accommodation that offers a "retreat experience" to reset stress in the great outdoors. With the concept of "RETREAT - Walk, Play, and Rest with Passion," it provides travelers visiting the Kumano Kodo with time to restore their mind and body and positively embrace their future selves.
They plan to develop a total of six accommodations along the "Nakahechi," a major pilgrimage route of the Kumano Kodo, allowing for multi-day walks. By connecting these scattered accommodations as a "line," they aim to build a lodging environment that comprehensively supports travelers.
As the first phase, in October 2021, they opened "SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA," a renovated vacant house in Takahara, Nakahechi-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, a village located in the mountains at an altitude of about 300m. It now also has a private sauna, offering a stay that heals travel fatigue.
TAKAHARA
As the second phase, "SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU" opened on April 28, 2022, in Chikatsuyu, Nakahechi-cho, which has long flourished as a post town for Kumano pilgrimage. The concept is "A place to play, smile, and connect." It offers rooms where guests can stay with their beloved dogs, a private garden for barbecues, a terrace for bonfires, and a pizza oven. Also, since each container is a single guest room, guests can spend time without worrying about other guests. They aim to change the current situation where "tourists visiting Kumano Kodo = only for trekking" and create an accommodation that can be enjoyed by people with various tourism purposes.