Wakayama, located near Osaka, is an area chosen by many travelers who want to leave downtown Osaka and experience the quiet side of Japan. Wakayama attractions are natural scenery and religious sites. This is a place full of natural beauty and cultural history.
Among the most famous spots are Koyasan, where you can experience temple stays, and the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage route that has existed for a long time. The Kumano Kodo is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting many practitioners from far away. Suppose you feel unsatisfied after visiting Kyoto and Osaka and want to get away from the city’s hustle and bustle and experience Japan’s traditional culture. You might want to travel to Wakayama Prefecture.
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Hotels in Wakayama
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Transportation to Wakayama
JR Hanwa Line
Take the Midosuji Line to Tennoji Station, then transfer to the JR Hanwa Line to Wakayama Station. The entire journey takes about 90 minutes.
If you take the JR limited express train Kuroshio, it may only take 1 hour.
Nankai Koya Line
Take the Nankai Rapid to Namba Station on the Midosuji Line, then transfer to the Nankai Koya Line to Wakayama City Station.
Shirahama
Shirahama is in the southwest of Wakayama Prefecture and is a famous tourist destination in Japan. This is a famous scenic spot that often appears in calligraphy paintings, photos, and commemorative stamps. This is a natural landscape area far away from the city, with Shirahama Onsen (one of the three ancient springs in Japan, the other two are Arima Onsen and Dogo Onsen), Engetsu Island, Sandanbeki Cave, Senjojiki, etc. Among them, Senjojiki and Engetsu Island are highly recommended to be included in the itinerary.
The most convenient way to get from Osaka to Shirahama is to take the JR limited express train Kuroshio, which takes about 2 hours.
Then transfer to Shirahama Meiko Bus. For Meiko Bus schedule details, please visit the official website:
https://meikobus.jp/en/scheduled/shirahama/free
Senjojiki (Wakayama)
Senjojiki is a huge bedrock with vast area of bedrock that can almost accommodate a thousand tatami mats. Senjojiki means “one thousand tatami” in Japanese. Legend has it that in ancient times a general laid out a thousand tatami here for a banquet. Strange rock formations stretch along the coastline, giving you a sense of being on another planet.
In the evening, the uniquely shaped rocks form silhouettes against the setting sun, making this a famous spot for viewing the sunset and selected as one of the “100 Best Sunsets in Japan”. Walk on the layers of rocks, enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Pacific Ocean, and watch the charming sight of the sunset gradually sinking into the ocean. There are restaurants nearby where you can enjoy seafood dishes while admiring this breathtaking view.
Engetsu Island
The official name of Engetsu Island is “Taka Island”. There is a circular hole in the center of the island formed by erosion by waves, so it is called Engetsu Island. The water around the island is extremely transparent. During the day, the island floats on the sea reflecting the sky, like a landscape painting on a piece of blue cloth.
The sunset view of Engetsu Island was also selected as one of the “100 Best Sunsets in Japan”. At sunset, the scenery changes constantly over time. Looking towards Shikoku, the sunset is slowly falling into the horizon. The best place to watch the sunset over Engetsu Island is at the “Rinkai (Engetsu Island)” bus stop. You can also take a glass cruise out to sea and watch tropical fish and coral reefs under the afterglow of the sunset.
The time to watch the sunset through the circular sea cave in the center of the island is very short in a year, only about two weeks from March 20 to April 5, and around September 23. In addition, when the tide is gone, the huge rocks hidden around the island will be exposed to the sea, and the scenery is very spectacular. In the past, people could take walks on the island, but as the number of tourists continued to increase, to protect the island’s environment, tourists were temporarily prohibited from landing on Engetsu Island.
Wakayama Castle
Wakayama Castle is one of the 100 famous castles in Japan. It is in the center of Wakayama City. This is the residence of the Kishu Tokugawa family, the Three Houses of the Tokugawa. Although the castle was designated a National Historic Site in 1931, the original Tenshu and buildings were all destroyed by US bombing campaigns during the Pacific War. The current structures were rebuilt in concrete in 1958. Besides the beautiful castle scenery, Wakayama Castle also has many other attractions and activities worth visiting. Part of the area around the castle has now been turned into a park, which includes gardens, a history museum, a zoo, and other tourist attractions.
The Wakayama Castle Tenshu was built as a Connected Tenshu, with the large and small Tenshu connected by a defensive arrow tower on the stone wall called “Tamon Turret”. Himeji Castle and Matsuyama Castle are also a Connected Tenshu. There is no gate leading directly to the large Tenshu, and you must pass through the small Tenshu to enter. The Japanese garden path paved with white stones is a beautiful photo spot. From Tenshu, you can have a 360-degree view of the entire Wakayama city and feel the vitality of this city.
There are “hospitality ninjas” hidden throughout the park. The ninja’s mission is to help travelers. If you need to take commemorative photos or need an introduction to the park, the ninjas will provide help. They usually hide in front of the park’s stone walls but also roam around the park. Ninjas are protected by labor laws in Japan. They are “modern ninjas” who take Mondays and Tuesdays off.
Address: 3, Ichibancho, Wakayama
Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:30
How to get there: A 20-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station.
A 10-minute walk from Nankai Wakayama-shi Station.
Kumano Kodo
If you want to have a thorough spiritual cleansing, be sure to explore the Kumano Kodo. The Kumano Kodo is an ancient pilgrimage route, which is the only way to visit shrines and temples. You can wander in mysterious vibes and rich natural scenery while visiting historical sites. It is still visited by many practitioners who come here for pilgrimage. The Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range are registered as World Heritage Sites.
The Kumano Kodo crosses five prefectures: Wakayama, Osaka, Mie, Nara, and Kyoto. However, its destination, the Kumano Sanzan, is in Wakayama Prefecture. Kumano Sanzan includes the three shrines of Kumano Hongu Shrine, Kumano Hayatama Shrine and Kumano Nachi Shrine, and two temples of Seiganto Temple and Fudarakusan Temple.
There are 5 routes in the Kumano Kodo, each with a different level of difficulty and time required. The shortest complete route requires at least 4 days of walking. Therefore, the general way to experience it is to hike along some of the routes and visit the famous attractions.
The trail on Middle Road is always maintained by staff and runs parallel to the bus lane, making it the most recommended route for beginners. Walking on the ancient trail, you can admire the lush towering trees on this holy mountain. Feeling the solemnity and quiet of this Buddhist holy land. If you are a novice in hiking, you can choose the 3 km route that goes through Kumano Nachi Shrine to Kumano Falls. Otherwise, you can choose to go to Daimonzaka of Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine. This is the approach to the Kumano Nachi Shrine.
Koyasan (Mount Koya)
Koyasan is not the name of a mountain. It refers to a flat area surrounded by mountains located in Koya Town, Ito District, Wakayama. This is one of the most important Buddhist temple complexes in Japan. It consists of 117 temples dedicated to the study and practice of Esoteric Buddhism: The Shingon Sect was introduced to Japan by a monk named Kukai (posthumously named Kobo Daishi). In 806 AD, Kukai returned to Japan from China, which was then in the Tang Dynasty, and began to promote Shingon Buddhism. Ten years later, he obtained permission from the imperial dynasty and slowly developed this remote area into today’s Koyasan.
The most sacred areas in the temple complex are Danjo Garan and Okunoin Temple. Danjo Garan is the first temple in Kukai. Okunoin Temple is located east of Danjo Garan and is believed to be the place where Kukai meditated forever and where his mausoleum is located.
52 of the 117 temples offer temple accommodation where travelers can stay overnight. You can join a tour to visit Okunoin Temple at night and participate in the chanting and worship activities in the morning. Through various experiences, you can calm and relax your mind.
Recommended Stay
Koyasan Rengejoin
English-friendly and most foreigners stay in Koyasan.
Address: Koyacho, Itogun, Wakayama
How to get there: Take the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Station, then take the Nankai Koyasan Cable Car to Koyasan Station.
Dentetsu Kishigawa Line
This is a regional tram line connecting Wakayama Station and Kishi Station, with a total length of 14.3 kilometers. It was originally operated by a railway company but was discontinued due to years of losses. Driven by the enthusiastic activities of residents to keep the line alive, the administrative authorities actively recruited successor operators, and finally in 2006 it was operated as the Dentetsu Kishigawa Line to this day.
The Kishigawa Line selling point is Tama, the first Cat Stationmaster of Japan’s private railways. Tama was originally a stray cat but was later adopted by the station staff and became the Stationmaster of Kishi Station. After that, Tama was gradually promoted to acting president, Wakayama Prefecture Honorary Lord, Tourism Recruitment Daimyojin, and other positions and honors. However, Tama passed away in 2015 due to heart problems. Currently, Nitama and Yontama (the second and fourth Tama) are on duty at two stations on the Kishigawa Line.
Kishi Station
The line has a total of 14 stops, and travelers usually aim to reach the final stop – Kishi Station. There are some small surprises at each stop, such as a cute cat shrine, or seal that can be collected at each station. There are residences along the route, and the railway is rarely used, mostly by travelers.
To take the Wakayama Kishigawa Line, you can board at Wakayama Station. Since trains run infrequently, remember to check which train you want to take and its departure time before boarding. When you arrive at Wakayama Station, you can see signs for Stationmaster Tama everywhere. Just look for Platform 9 to Kishi inside the station. Please note that the duty hours of Stationmaster Nitama and Yontama are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, with recess on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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