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JAPAN

Wakayama

Sacred trails meet a shining sea.

Popular keywords#Nature & scenic views#Architecture#Culture & history#Protection from misfortune#Rebirth#Local sightseeing & town walks#Workshops & kilns#Hot springs & wellness#Sacred site
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Hidakagawa

Dojoji

The setting of the legend of Anchin and Kiyohime, which became a whole genre of Noh and kabuki plays.

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Tanabe

Kumano Hongu Taisha

The centre of the three Kumano shrines. There are almost no other cases in the world of a pilgrimage road itself becoming World Heritage. Being far from Kyoto and Nara is precisely where the value lies, because leaving the everyday world behind was the whole point.

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Tanabe

Nakahechi

The most walked of the pilgrimage routes. Small shrines called the ninety-nine oji line the way.

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Browse by area

Introduced by city, ward, town and village within the prefecture.

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WakayamaShrines & Temples, Art & Crafts · 16 entriesKoyaShrines & Temples, Architecture · 15 entriesIto & Mt. KoyaNature & Scenery, Historic Districts · 13 entriesNachikatsuuraShrines & Temples, Architecture · 7 entriesTanabeShrines & Temples, Museums · 6 entriesShinguShrines & Temples, Architecture · 6 entries
FEATUREWakayama now (autumn)Autumn colors make the Kumano Kodo and Koyasan especially rewarding.See the feature Naokijp · CC BY-SA 4.0
See Nachi FallsView the great waterfall cascading through Kumano's sacred forest.Explore the Kozagawa RiverPaddle and observe wildlife along the exceptionally clear Kozagawa River.Stay Overnight at KoyasanStay in temple lodging and experience Buddhist cuisine and morning prayers.

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JAPAN GUIDE

Things worth knowing about Japan

No worries even on a first trip to Japan. Useful things to know, explained clearly.

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Q. What do people get wrong about IC cards (Suica, PASMO) in Japan?

This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete. The answ…

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Q. What do people get wrong about coin lockers and luggage forwarding in Japan?

This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete. The answ…

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Q. What do people get wrong about Golden Week, Obon and New Year travel?

This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete. The answ…

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REGIONAL SPECIALTIES

Meet the Japan you don't know yet.

It is not only the big cities. The regions are full of charm, and special experiences you can only have in each place are waiting.

Kuroshio MarketKishu Binchotan CharcoalDanjo Garan

Value Village

Japan's value, to the world.

Regional culture, tradition, food, sightseeing, nature and people. A directory that delivers the appeal of each to the whole world.

About Value Village
Value VillageLocal Value, Global Reach.
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INSTAGRAM / 6

Official and local Instagram photos

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THINGS TO DO / 6

Things to do in this prefecture

Choose from what you can only do here.

01Walk the Kumano KodoFollow a World Heritage pilgrimage route through forests and stone-paved passes.See related entries →Vindlys · CC BY-SA 4.002Visit the Kumano SanzanVisit the three grand shrines at the spiritual heart of Kumano.See related entries →Utudanuki · CC BY-SA 3.003Stay Overnight at KoyasanStay in temple lodging and experience Buddhist cuisine and morning prayers.See related entries →Maarten Heerlien · CC BY 2.004See Nachi FallsView the great waterfall cascading through Kumano's sacred forest.See related entries →Utudanuki · CC BY-SA 3.005Relax in Shirahama OnsenUnwind in a historic hot-spring resort overlooking a white-sand beach.See related entries →DimiTalen · CC006Explore the Kozagawa RiverPaddle and observe wildlife along the exceptionally clear Kozagawa River.See related entries →Kansai explorer · CC BY 3.0

NEED TO KNOW

At a glance

  • AirportNearest: Kansai International Airport (Osaka)
  • ShinkansenNone (nearest: Shin-Osaka Station)
  • From TokyoAbout 3 hours 40 minutes to Wakayama Station by shinkansen and limited express
  • Best seasonMarch–May and October–November
  • Local specialtiesWakayama ramen · Mehari-zushi · Longtooth grouper cuisine
  • Typical temperatureSummer: around 28°C / Winter: around 6°C

See all 297 entries in this prefecture →

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

What each season brings

LOCAL FOOD / 12

Local food

What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.

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MICHI-NO-EKI / 36

Michi-no-Eki roadside stations

RestInformationLocal links

Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.

  • San Pin NakatsuHidakagawa, Hidaka DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
  • ShimizuAridagawa, Arida DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
  • Furusato Center OtoTanabeRegistered March 1994Official site
  • RyujinTanabeRegistered January 1995Official site
  • Inobutan Land SusamiSusami, Nishimuro DistrictRegistered April 1995Official site
  • Shihara KaiganShirahama, Nishimuro DistrictRegistered August 1995Official site
  • Kumano Kodo NakahechiTanabeRegistered April 1996Official site
  • Shirama-no-SatoAridagawa, Arida DistrictRegistered August 1996Official site
  • Minabe Ume ShinkokanMinabe, Hidaka DistrictRegistered April 1997Official site
  • Kishu Binchotan Kinen KoenTanabeRegistered April 1997Official site
  • Dorokyo Kaido KumanogawaShinguRegistered April 1998Official site
  • OkutoroKitayama, Higashimuro DistrictRegistered August 1999Official site

There are 36 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).

Source: MLIT register of Michi-no-Eki

LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 2

People posting this area

Japanese-language accounts that post about this area.

These are third-party accounts. They are not affiliated with Value Village and this is not an endorsement.

CITIES & TOWNS / 25

Find by city or town

Sorted by number of entries. Start from the name of a town.

Wakayama 16Koya 15Ito & Mt. Koya 13Nachikatsuura 7Tanabe 6Shingu 6Shirahama 6Kudoyama 3Minabe 3Kainan 3Tanabe and others 2Iwade 2Kushimoto 2Hashimoto 2Hidakagawa 1Kinokawa 1Hirokawa 1Katsuragi 1
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INTERESTS / 13

Find by interest

Only the interests found in this prefecture.

Koyasan Kongobuji · DimiTalen · CC0

Shrines & Temples35 entries

Koyasan Kongobuji ／ Kumano Hongu Taisha

To the list Shirahama · Pauloleong2002 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Nature & Scenery24 entries

Shirahama ／ Okunoin Path

To the list Koya-Ryujin Skyline · Ｋｓ · CC BY-SA 3.0

Hot Springs10 entries

Koya-Ryujin Skyline ／ Ryujin Onsen

To the list Nanko Ume · 農林水産省近畿農政局 · CC BY 4.0

Historic Districts13 entries

Nanko Ume ／ Shirarahama Beach

To the list Kumano Kodo · CC BY-SA 2.0

Castles & History1 entries

Kumano Kodo

To the list Wakayama-jo · kikuko yamada · CC BY 3.0

Architecture14 entries

Wakayama-jo ／ Kongobuji and the Danjo Garan

To the list Adventure World · nakashi · CC BY-SA 2.0

Museums12 entries

Adventure World ／ Wakayama Prefectural Museum

To the list The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama · 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0

Art & Crafts24 entries

The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama ／ Koyasan Reihokan Museum

To the list Hashiguiiwa · 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0

Contemporary Art6 entries

Hashiguiiwa ／ Wakanoura

To the list Tsuno Food Industrial Head Office Factory · Tsunopr · CC BY-SA 4.0

Craft Experiences54 entries

Tsuno Food Industrial Head Office Factory ／ Umeboshi-kan

To the list Shionomisaki Lighthouse · BUNBUN · CC BY-SA 2.1 jp

Culture & History16 entries

Shionomisaki Lighthouse ／ Inamura-no-Hi Museum

To the list Sekai Itto · Ujigis · CC BY-SA 4.0

Food & Markets30 entries

Sekai Itto ／ Nakata Foods Head Office Factory

To the list Wakayama Prefectural Natural History Museum · Totti · CC BY-SA 4.0

Experiences14 entries

Wakayama Prefectural Natural History Museum ／ Shirasaki Ocean Park

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HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of this prefecture

From entries with clearly licensed photos.

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Shrines & Temples
Koya

Koyasan Kongobuji

The head temple of the Shingon school, opened by Kukai. Along the approach to the inner sanctuary stand some 200,000 graves, from Sengoku warlords to ordinary townspeople. Lords who were enemies in life sometimes lie side by side.

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SMILE NEWS / 136

Smile news from Japan and the world

Stories that lift your spirits a little, collected with their sources.

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Wakayama

Two king penguin chicks go on view at Adventure World

At Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture, two king penguin chicks hatched on July 17 and August 4 have been on public view on the second floor of the Marine Mammal House since September 25. Visitors can see them covered in fluffy brown down.

source: Adventure World
Patagonia National Park, Chile

Women rangers return Darwin's rheas to the wild in Chile

In Chile's Patagonia National Park, a women-led ranger team returned 13 Darwin's rheas to the wild in April 2026. Working with the Rewilding Chile Foundation, they care for the birds around the clock; surveys once estimated only about 11 to 15 remained.

source: Mongabay

INSTAGRAM

Explore on Instagram

Hashtags often used for this area. Each opens the tag page on Instagram.

#和歌山県Wakayama Prefecture

SEASONS & EVENTS

Seasons & events

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BEFORE YOU GO

Before you go

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Q1Q. What do people get wrong about IC cards (Suica, PASMO) in Japan?Q2Q. What do people get wrong about coin lockers and luggage forwarding in Japan?Q3Q. What do people get wrong about Golden Week, Obon and New Year travel?

TRAVEL

Transport & stays

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Photos of Wakayama

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WakayamaIndiana jo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image and source ↗Display size adjusted. The enlarged view shows the whole photo.
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WakayamaIndiana jo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image and source ↗Display size adjusted. The enlarged view shows the whole photo.

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Indiana jo · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗