Last Updated: Jan 21, 2024

Visit Wakayama City

A Hidden Part of Wakayama Prefecture

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium

These days, Wakayama Prefecture really needs no introduction. Ever since the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range were lauded with their UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004, tourists have been flocking to the likes of Mt. Koya (Koyasan) and the Kumano Kodo. In fact, these days, overseas guests represent more than half of the number of occupants staying at the shukubo pilgrim lodgings on Mt. Koya. While there are still options for unmodified authenticity in Wakayama, the prefecture is slowly creeping towards the same kind of “cultural Disneyland” that Kyoto and Hiroshima have fallen victim to.

Despite all the tourists flocking to the solemn Buddhist bastion atop Mt. Koya, only a scant few ever stop at Wakayama City for anything more than a train transfer. Conveniently located only a few minutes south of Kansai International Airport, the capital city of the prefecture is actually a hidden treasure trove of all sorts of allures. Until recently, even I was unaware of all the amazing spots hidden away in this part of Japan before the Wakayama City Tourist Association invited me down for the weekend. As you’ll see in the coming sections, there’s a ton to see and do here.