Wakayama Hidden Gems
The spiritual Kii Peninsula — a mountaintop monastic town, pilgrimage trails through cedar forest, and hot springs on a warm Pacific coast.
8 spots
Climate & Best Season
One of Japan's wettest areas; warm and humid, with mild winters on the coast and cold nights on Koyasan. Spring and autumn suit hiking.
Famous For (Food)
- Mikan oranges
- Umeboshi
- Wakayama ramen
- Maguro (Katsuura tuna)
Signature Sights
- Koyasan temple lodgings
- Kumano Kodo (UNESCO)
- Nachi Falls
- Shirahama beach & onsen
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails — UNESCO Sacred Walking Routes
The Kumano Kodo is 70 kilometers of stone path through the Kii Mountains, connecting Kyoto to the three Kumano Sanzan sh…
Koyasan Temple Town — Sacred Mountain & Temple Stays
Koyasan sits at 900 meters, a temple town of 117 buildings founded in 816 by Kukai (Kobo Daishi) as Shingon Buddhism's h…
Wakayama Castle — Tiger's Den Fortress & Ninja House
Wakayama Castle (和歌山城) is a hilltop fortress built in 1585 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's brother, later ruled by the powerful…
Yuasa Soy Sauce Town — Birthplace of Shoyu
Yuasa (湯浅) is a small coastal town credited as the birthplace of Japanese soy sauce (shoyu, 醤油), where Buddhist monks in…
Okunoin Cemetery Night Walk — 200,000 Lantern-Lit Tombs
Okunoin (奥之院) is a 2-kilometer path through 200,000 moss-covered tombstones and memorial monuments beneath towering 500-…
Shojin Ryori — Buddhist Vegetarian Temple Cuisine
Shojin ryori is what Buddhist monks eat: no meat, no fish, no eggs, no onions or garlic (they're thought to stir up desi…
Kongobu-ji Temple — Shingon Buddhism Headquarters
Kongobu-ji (金剛峯寺) is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism and the administrative center of Koyasan's 117 temples, founded…
Kumano Nachi Taisha Fire Festival — 1,400-Year-Old Torch Ritual
The Nachi-no-Hi Matsuri (那智の火祭り, Nachi Fire Festival), held annually on July 14th, is one of Japan's three great fire fe…