I got here dusty and tired after a long backwards Kumano-Kodo with an extra day walking from Takajiri-oji to the winery. I was very glad the walk here was my final day and would recommend it as such for any other backward pilgrims. It was considerably harder to navigate the trail than the Nakahechi route and at times very steep - there's one section where you have to pull yourself up with a knotted rope attached to a tree. It is not a well travelled path at all but it was peaceful and beautiful and I'm glad I gave the day to the walk. (I started in Takahara at kiri-no-sato, so the day was down to Takajiri-oji and then back up. My map was in Japanese but the woman in the tourist bureau was very helpful. Yes you do have to walk up the steepest path at the start, not the road - (it feels like a storm drain) - and then there's a tiny tiny way into the trees otherwise you end up in someone's backyard.) I just wanted a boozy drink, and all the food I could eat. I was not disappointed on either front. I was fed in my room and it was an expensive meal before the booze, and all the more expensive as I was thirstier than I needed to be. Incredible Valpolicella red wine imported by the host from Italy, priced reasonably but you pay for what you get. It really is a GUEST HOUSE. You are in their house. They are making an incredible thing though, farming as they can, hosting as they can around it, employing locals, making this obscure part of an old Kumano-Kodo into a really positive place either to gather before you start or to decompress when you are finished.

I had got the breakfast time muddled by half an hour in my head. They've got a farm to run. They needed me out now now now. A wonderful meal the night before but a suddenly stressful morning when they had made the breakfast and I wasn't up. Suddenly I was sitting half asleep having been jostled up, in the most beautiful place in the world with a plate that had more green on it than I had seen for a month and I was happy to forgive a really rude awakening. I wish the drive back to Kii-Tanabe had been less expensive after all the money I blew, but maybe I was spoilt by Myoho Mountain Lodge in Kii-Katsuura doing it as part of the service.

This guesthouse offers breakfast and dinner. The chef/owner possesses advanced cooking skills and uses local ingredients including goat cheese made onsite. Guests feel as if they are dining in a high end restaurant. The hosts wholeheartedly look after guests, are open to sharing experiences and entertain without intrusion. Despite our late arrival, they provided a warm welcome and delicious dinner.

Recommend that guests who are driving get explicit directions from the hosts rather than rely on Google maps. Access to the shared bathing facilities may be a consideration for older guests.

Wow 🤩…for me, this accommodation was all about the staff and the cuisine. Giovanni, was super kind and courteous and delivered a meal that was, by far, the best I had in 21 days in Japan (and I was eating 2-3 dinners a night 😉). I had the 7 course local beef meal. Each plate was delightful, creative, with well-sourced ingredients, and incredibly tasty. Highlights were the laurel smoked and charred fish (something like a Bonito), and the Wagyu Beef. My goodness, the beef was one of a kind and perfect. Definitely don’t miss out on the outstanding wine from the Gerona region of Italy. The wine and beef as a pairing was unforgettable. Giovanni also drove us to the kumano starting point following breakfast 🙌. Yukata, was super kind and courteous, and delivered a breakfast that hit all marks. Fresh greens from a garden, perfectly cooked eggs, delightful homemade bread. Thank You. Viktor, from southern Germany, was super kind and courteous, eager to help you feel comfortable, great energy and neat conversation. Thanks. Best team and meal in Japan. 👍👍👍 Super value for the quality, sourced ingredients, professionalism, and care. If offered, seize the opportunity for the beef, and multi-course meal.

Hard to say anything, as the people and food were so memorable (reliving the memory now now on my sofa in Florida). The accommodation was Japanese futon style, room was spacious and linen super crisp and clean. I would say the space lacks just a touch in privacy (the sliding partitions, and the 80+ year original home make up for that..), and the toilet and shower are down a step or two and through the living room and entryway. Only an issue if you are prone to multiple night visits to the WC. As mentioned, the authentic home, amazing team, and the insanely memorable cuisine make up for any possible inconveniences!

The owners were very kind and made us feel at home immediately. Giovannis passion about his guesthouse can be felt very easily. The dinner we had was one of our best we had in three weeks Japan, if not the best. With the kids we liked to spend time with their goats. This was a special experience for them which they enjoyed a lot.

Our room (for four people) had steep stairs to climb to, which was a bit difficult as we had a lot of luggage, and no door that you can close. It's totally ok for one night, but if we had spent more time there, we would have preferred a room on the ground level with a door that can be closed.

A unique experience in a mountain home, with a family that serves excellent meals, featuring cheese from their goats (you may have a chance to milk them). The house is old and drafty, but authentic and lovingly maintained. It is a very remote spot but the host will pick you up from the local train station (for a very modest fee) and drop you off at the Kumano Kodo trailhead. If you like this place, try the Nongase Guest House (13km hike on the trail), which is owned by the same family.

The owners are just fantastic people. This was much more than a stay, this was an experience. We scheduled pick up from Kii-Tanabe station and drop off to SHM airport. Of course we also ordered dinner and breakfast. Giovanni is a Michelin star chef and it really shows. Meals were so fantastic and the wine too. It was also baby goat season. Not one or two, but dozens of baby goats we were able to interact with. The views from the terrace were so beautiful. If you don’t stay here, you are really missing out.

This property is exceptional.

Brilliant stay. Farm to Table concept where almost everything is produced locally. The amount of work that Giovonni puts in to make everything is mind boggling. The other thing of interest to me is that the Japanese are really talented at is taking foreign ideas and "improving" them, for example, food. I'm Japanese, and accustomed to traditional Japanese cuisine, so a lot of my food interest is in clever fusions. Order the beef for dinner, even if you usually don't -- It's astonishing! Another nice thing about this stay is that there is some self-selection on who books here -- the couple who were also staying here were lovely. Yutaka kindly picked us up at Kii-Tanabe and dropped us off at the trailhead.

We had a fabulous stay here. As many have said Giovanni and Yutaka are wonderful hosts and the setting of the accommodation is stunning, with a phenomenal view from the table at the top of the property. We were able to be dropped off and picked up from a leg of the Kumano Kudo trail, which was a great walk, and it was lovely to come back to the hospitality and wonderful food of the Kumano Winery Guest House - the meals we had here were some of the best we’ve ever had. You need to come and stay here!

A traditional Japanese farm-house transformed into a welcoming guest house by the skill of the owners Giovanni and Yutaka. We stayed two nights and were treated to amazing food: Giovanni is a chef and he prepared the most delicious evening meal, featuring produce from his farm: delicious goat cheese, fresh vegetables and delectable fresh pasta hand made that day. And my favourite cake, a cheesecake, made by Yutaka, with homemade blueberry jam. What a treat :-). And talking of goats, we went with Giovanni in the morning to feed and milk his herd: beautiful white goats, with baby goats as well. A great experience we all enjoyed and especially the kids. I highly recommend this place for the charm of the house, the delicious food and the experience of living in the countryside.

Everything was perfect.

Giovanni and Yutaka are lovely kind people, we have never met more hospitality. You feel completely at home, but then with the most delicious dinner and breakfast. What a talented cooks both Giovanni and Yutaka are. What a nice place to stay. Although most travellers choose to stay only one night during the Kumado Kodo hike, we highly recommend staying more nights to relax and enjoy the beautifull place, food, goats and hospitality.