The area surrounding Wakayama City offers tourist attractions such as Momogen-go, Tomogashima, and Wakayama Castle; sightseeing events such as Tenjin Festival, Hatsuuma, and Hari Kuyo; and local delicacies such as Wakayama ramen, shirasu rice bowl, and kakinoha sushi.
Speaking of Wakayama, the seaside area offers an abundance of seafood from the good fishing grounds of the Pacific Ocean where fresh fish can be caught. On the other hand, the mountainous areas are famous for persimmons and mikan oranges, and as for wild vegetables, they are delicious and suitable for sightseeing. In summer, many bathers come to the area to swim in the sea, and you will surely enjoy the tropical atmosphere of the area.
Wakayama Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ordered his younger brother Hidenaga to build the castle, and it has a castle tower. This area was originally ruled by the Zoga clan, but was destroyed by Hideyoshi. After Hideyoshi's death, the Tokugawa family ruled Wakayama Castle for a long time. This was the beginning of the "Kishu Tokugawa Family," one of the "Three Families of Tokugawa," as it is commonly called.
This area is characterized by many shrines and temples with a long history. The "Koyogei Garden Benishoan" was built by the Tokugawa family. It has a tea ceremony room for enjoying tea, which was later donated to the city by Konosuke Matsushita, an honorary citizen of Wakayama Prefecture, who acquired the facilities.
Kankai-kaku" was also built by the Tokugawa family and stands facing "Kimiidera Temple" on the opposite side. Famous for its early-blooming cherry blossoms, Kimiidera was sent by the Tokugawa family to pray for the prosperity of the Tokugawa family in Kishu.
Off the Pacific Ocean near here is a good fishing ground called "Kata," which is especially famous for "sea bream single hook fishing" that produces beautiful reddish sea bream.
Tomogashima," located in the South Sea, is the name given to a group of islands: Jijishima, Torashima, Kamijima, and Okinoshima. This is a place with very beautiful tropical scenery and well-developed walking trails. It is the most beautiful island for a family vacation in summer.
The area surrounding Wakayama City is very popular for its marine facilities such as Marina City, and there are many fun events such as fireworks displays at night.
At the nearby Kuroshio Market, you can see a tuna dismemberment show, making it a resort where you will never get tired of eating and strolling. The outlets and hotels are also beautiful and make this a place where everyone wants to stay at least once.
Tomogashima is a group of uninhabited islands located in the Kitan Strait off the coast of Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. The group consists of four islands: Jinoshima, Torajima, Kanashima, and Okinoshima. As part of Setonaikai National Park, Tomogashima offers a fascinating combination of rich...»
Wakayama Castle is one of Japan’s most impressive historic castles. Located in central Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, the castle stands on Mount Torafusu, a small hill rising approximately 48.9 meters above sea level. Built as a hirayamajo, or castle on a hill surrounded by relatively flat land...»
Kimiidera Temple, located in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the region's most historic Buddhist temples. It is especially famous as the second temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a traditional pilgrimage route visiting 33 sacred sites dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist deity of co...»
A Scenic View Overlooking Wakaura Kishu Toshogu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Wakaura-nishi, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. It is closely associated with the Kishu Tokugawa family, one of the three major branches of the Tokugawa clan that ruled important domains during the Edo ...»
Three National Treasure Buildings Chohoji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Belonging to the Tendai school of Japanese Buddhism, the temple is also known by its mountain name, Keitokuzan. Its principal object of worship is Shakyamuni Buddha. Founded ...»
Kuroshio Market is a popular tourist market located within Wakayama Marina City, a resort complex in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Known as one of the area's premier destinations for local food, the market offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy Wakayama's rich seafood culture through a combin...»
A Sacred Place of Faith and Tradition by the Sea Awashima Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Kada, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. It is widely regarded as the head shrine of the many Awashima, Awashima, and Awaji shrines found throughout Japan. For centuries, Awashima Shrine has be...»
Wakaura Tenmangu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located halfway up Mount Tenjin in Wakaura-nishi, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a renowned scholar and statesman who is revered in Japan as the deity of learning, the shrine attracts students, families, and...»
Porto Europa is a Mediterranean-themed amusement park located within Wakayama Marina City, a large resort complex built on an artificial island in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Designed around the atmosphere of a European port town, the park combines beautiful streetscapes inspired by medieval...»
Onzanso Garden is one of Japan's notable modern Japanese gardens, located on the shores of Kuroe Bay in Kainan, Wakayama Prefecture. Created from the Taisho period to the early Showa period, the garden is renowned for its unique design, which incorporates the area's natural terrain and beautiful coa...»
Nishinomaru Garden, also known as Momijidani Garden, is a historic daimyo garden located in the western section of Wakayama Castle in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Created in the early Edo period, this beautiful garden is designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. Know...»
Kuroe is a historic town in the northern part of Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture, and is famous throughout Japan as a center of Kishu lacquerware. For more than 400 years, the town has preserved the craftsmanship and culture of this traditional Japanese art. Kishu lacquerware is considered one of ...»
Wakaura, also known as Wakanoura, is a scenic coastal area in the southwestern part of Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Surrounded by the sea, mountains, islands, and tidal flats, this beautiful landscape has fascinated people for more than 1,300 years. Wakaura is especially famous for its conne...»
Roadside Station Shiki-no-Sato Park FOOD HUNTER PARK is a large recreational complex in Myojoji, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, where nature, local food, agriculture and outdoor activities come together in one destination. Renovated and reopened as a roadside station in 2020, the facility has a...»
Saikazaki is a beautiful cape and fishing district located on the western edge of Wakaura in the southwestern part of Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Designated as a Special Protection Area within the Setonaikai National Park, the area is known for its spectacular coastal scenery and distinctive...»
Kamayama Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, with a long history and a distinguished status. The shrine is particularly famous throughout Japan as a place associated with the blessing of choosing names. Families from across the country visit to seek advice on na...»
The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama is a major cultural institution in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, featuring an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art. Its collection ranges from works by artists connected with Wakayama to important works by renowned artists from across Japan and...»
Yosuien Garden is a magnificent traditional Japanese garden located in Nishihama, Wakayama City. Created during the late Edo period by Tokugawa Harutomi, the 10th lord of the Kishu Tokugawa family, the garden covers approximately 33,000 square meters and has been designated as a Place of Scenic Beau...»
Hinokuma Shrine and Kunikakasu Shrine are historic Shinto shrines located in Akizuki, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Known collectively as Nichizen-gū, the two shrines are regarded as the Ichinomiya, or highest-ranking shrine, of the ancient Province of Kii. One of the most distinctive feature...»
Rokusan-en is a historic villa in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, where elegant modern Japanese architecture meets a beautifully landscaped traditional Japanese garden. Officially known as the Former Matsui Family Villa, the property preserves a valuable example of the residential culture of mod...»
Elegant Sweetness, Fragrant Aroma, and Juicy Flesh Wakayama peaches are one of the region’s signature summer fruits, prized for their elegant sweetness, rich fragrance, and exceptionally juicy flesh. Wakayama Prefecture is one of western Japan’s leading peach-producing regions, thanks to its warm c...»
A Local Specialty of Wakayama City Wakayama Ramen is a beloved local specialty from northern Wakayama Prefecture, particularly around Wakayama City. Locally, it has traditionally been called “Chuka Soba” or simply “Chuka,” rather than ramen. It has long been enjoyed as an everyday meal by local res...»
Zenpuku-in Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Shimotsu Town, Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. It belongs to the Tendai school of Japanese Buddhism and is officially known by the mountain name Hōyūzan. Surrounded by lush greenery and a peaceful natural landscape, the temple offers visit...»
Cha-gayu is a traditional Japanese rice porridge cooked with bancha or hojicha tea. In Wakayama Prefecture, it is affectionately known as “okai-san” or “okayusan,” and has been enjoyed by local families for generations. In particular, cha-gayu became an important everyday food in mountainous areas ...»
Shiogama Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Wakaura-naka, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Affectionately known by local people as “Shiogama-san”, the shrine has long been associated with blessings for safe childbirth, conception, and longevity. One of the shrine's most distinctive fe...»
Chokyu-tei is a historic residence and Japanese garden located in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Situated within the grounds of Nakano BC Co., Ltd., a long-established Japanese sake producer, the site is known for its beautiful traditional garden and connection with the region's brewing culture. ...»
Suzuki Residence is a historic site in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture, known as the ancestral home of the Suzuki surname. The surname is one of the most common family names in Japan, and it is estimated that around two million people in Japan are named Suzuki. The residence stands in Fujishiro, a...»
Fujishiro Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Fujishiro, Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Situated along the Kii Route of the Kumano Kodo, the ancient pilgrimage network leading to the sacred sites of the Kii Peninsula, the shrine has played an important role in the history of pilgrimage ...»
Bandoko Garden is a beautiful seaside garden located on the tip of Bansho-no-Hana in Saikazaki, Wakayama City. Surrounded by the sea, greenery, and rugged coastal rocks, the garden offers a spectacular landscape where nature and history come together. Overlooking the Kii Channel, the area has long b...»
The Wakayama Prefectural Museum is a history museum located in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. It introduces the long history, diverse culture, religious traditions, arts, and everyday life of the region from ancient times to the modern era. Established in 1971, the museum moved to its present ...»
The uninhabited islands of Tomogashima, located in the Kitan Strait between Wakayama and Awaji Island, are home to numerous remains of modern military facilities built during the Meiji period (1868–1912). Among them, the Third Battery Ruins of the Yura Fortress are particularly impressive for their ...»
Wakayama Castle Park Zoo is a unique small zoo located within the grounds of Wakayama Castle Park in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. It is one of the rare places in Japan where visitors can enjoy seeing animals within the grounds of a historic castle. Established during the Taisho period, the z...»
Kii Fudoki-no-Oka is a prefectural museum and historical park in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, where visitors can explore the region's archaeology, history, traditional culture, and natural landscapes. The facility was established in 1971 to preserve, research, and introduce the Iwa-se Senzuka...»
Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Natural History is a natural science museum located in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. The museum offers visitors an opportunity to discover the remarkable natural environment of Wakayama, including its marine life, freshwater ecosystems, plants, animals, geology, an...»
Miyama No. 1 Battery Ruins are the remains of a military fortification from Japan's Meiji era (1868–1912), located in the Miyama area of Kada, Wakayama City. The battery was once part of the Yura Fortress, an extensive coastal defense system constructed to protect Osaka Bay from potential attacks by...»
Furobashi Bridge is a graceful stone arch bridge located in Wakanoura, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Known as one of the signature landmarks of Wakanoura, the bridge attracts visitors with its elegant design and beautiful surroundings. The gentle curve of the stone arch blends harmoniously wi...»
Saikazaki Lighthouse stands dramatically on the steep cliffs of Takano-su at Saikazaki in Wakayama City, overlooking the beautiful waters of Wakanoura. The brilliant white lighthouse contrasts beautifully with the blue sky and ocean, while the panoramic views of the Kii Channel make this one of the ...»
Itakiso Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Itakiso, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. It has long been revered as the Ichinomiya, or highest-ranking shrine, of the ancient Province of Kii. The shrine is also listed among the important shrines recorded in the Engishiki, an early tenth-ce...»
Wakayama City is the capital of Wakayama Prefecture and the largest city in the prefecture. Located in northern Wakayama, the city stretches across the mouth of the Kinokawa River and faces the Kii Channel. Its landscape is remarkably diverse, combining an urban center with beautiful coastlines, gen...»
Kishu Lacquerware Traditional Industry Hall “Uruwashikan” is a cultural facility in Kuroe, Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture, dedicated to introducing the history, craftsmanship, and beauty of Kishu lacquerware. Kuroe has developed as a center of lacquerware production for more than 400 years. A vis...»
The Sawako Ariyoshi Memorial Museum is a cultural facility dedicated to the life and literary achievements of Sawako Ariyoshi, a celebrated Japanese novelist born in Wakayama City. Opened on June 5, 2022, the museum recreates the author's former home in Suginami, Tokyo, where she wrote many of her b...»
Kitsumoto Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. The shrine is dedicated to Tajimamori, a legendary figure said to have brought tachibana, an ancient Japanese citrus fruit, to Japan. Because of this tradition, he has long been revered as the "deity of mikan" ...»
Kataonami Beach is a popular seaside destination in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, located in the scenic Wakaura area. This beautiful coastline has been celebrated since ancient times and is mentioned in the Manyoshu, Japan's oldest surviving collection of poetry. With its combination of beaut...»
Wakayama Marina City is a large man-made resort island located in Wakayama Bay in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Developed for the World Resort Expo held in 1994, it has grown into one of Wakayama's most popular destinations, bringing together entertainment, dining, hot springs, accommodation, ...»
Tamatsushima Shrine is one of Wakayama's most historic and culturally significant shrines. Located in Wakaura-Naka, Wakayama City, the shrine stands at the heart of Wakaura, a scenic coastal area that has captivated emperors, aristocrats, and poets since the age of the Man'yōshū, Japan's oldest majo...»
Kurosawa Ranch & Kurosawa Highland is a beautiful highland recreation area located at an elevation of approximately 509 meters in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Surrounded by wide open grasslands, fresh mountain air, and spectacular views, it is an ideal destination for visitors looking to re...»
Kameike Pond is a large irrigation pond in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Today, the area around the pond has been developed into Kameike Park, a peaceful green space where visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery, walking, and the changing seasons. With its broad expanse of water and surrounding na...»
The Great Buddha Head at Muryokoji Temple is an exceptionally unusual Buddhist statue located within Muryokoji Temple, a Jodo Buddhist temple in Fukiage, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. Unlike most Great Buddha statues, which are represented as complete figures, this remarkable statue consists o...»
Manyo Museum is a cultural facility dedicated to the Manyoshu, Japan's oldest known anthology of poetry. It is located within Kataonami Park in the scenic Wakaura area of Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. With its beautiful coastline, pine forests, islands, mountains, and tidal flats, Wakaura has...»
Kasuga Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture. Revered by local people for centuries, the shrine has played an important role in the religious and cultural life of the region. Its high status is reflected in the ancient Kii-no-Kuni Shimmeicho, a historical record of S...»