Wakayama Hidden Gems
The spiritual Kii Peninsula — a mountaintop monastic town, pilgrimage trails through cedar forest, and hot springs on a warm Pacific coast.
4 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
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…
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…