If you have researched the Kumano Kodo, you have probably heard of the Kumano Sanzan, the three grand shrines at the heart of the Kumano faith: * Kumano Hongu Taisha * Kumano Hayatama Taisha * Kumano Nachi Taisha But there is another shrine that many international travelers overlook. It is Tokei Shrine (闘鶏神社) in Tanabe, Wakayama.

For this adventure, our coordinates were set right next to the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route—a trail steeped in thousands of years of spiritual history. Our destination? Sam’s Camp. What followed was an incredible Wakayama road trip blending wild mountain camping, fresh Kuroshio ocean delicacies, and Japan's most dramatic coastal geology.