Top Things to do in Wakayama Prefecture
Top Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in Wakayama Prefecture, Kinki
Discover the best top things to do in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan including Koyasan Okunoin, Adventure World, Tomogashima Island, Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, Wakayama Dentetsu, Nachi Mitaki Falls, Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes, Hashigui Rock, Wakayama Castle, Kimiidera Temple.
Restaurants in Wakayama Prefecture
1. Koyasan Okunoin
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,261 reviews
Reviewed By ggm96822 - Honolulu, United States
A place to let your soul re-awaken. Having last stayed in a monastery here 19 years ago, before it was added to the World Heritage list, I was apprehensive about returning, having heard of busloads of noisy tourists overunning everything, but it defies defilement; one of the world's truly sacred spaces. Early morning and dusk are the best time to visit, early there are monks chanting, at dusk as the shadows fall the 200,000 tombs of the cedar forest begin to stir quietly.
2. Adventure World
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,421 reviews
Reviewed By Bishop-angelmacfire - Nishinomiya, Japan
I have watched the TV news that a baby panda was born last year. When I saw the baby, I have decided to see the panda. My high expectations have not been betrayed. The name of the child panda is “Saihin” She is a girl and so active! So cute! So lovely! You must see her. Now the crazy fever of baby panda boom has been calmed down, you can watch her very well without any clouds on week days. The adult pandas except the mother of “Saihin” was not active, just sleeping. So the timing is now to watch the lovely active child panda!
3. Tomogashima Island
4. Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 545 reviews
Reviewed By Maya762015 - Le Havre, France
This shrine is very nice and even 3 of 5 parts are from origin (saved by the flood) , this worth it to come. You can smell the tree odor in this shrine. Roof are amazing
5. Wakayama Dentetsu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By PeterthePauper - Ulsan, South Korea
Having seen a frequent 'spot' on CNN titled "60-Second Vacation" which featured Wakayama Prefecture, I decided to make the short hop from South Korea across to Osaka and spend a few days exploring Wakayama and the Kii Peninsular by train. The 5-day JR-West train pass I purchased on arrival at Kansai Airport for my travels also included travel on the Wakayama Electric Railway (Wakayama Dentetsu) - Kishigawa Line, so I was able to spend a few hours traversing the 14.3km line getting on and off trains at the main intermediate stop (Idakiso) in order to try each of the 4-themed trains ('Strawberry', 'Plum', 'Toys' and 'Tama'). The narrow gauge single track railway is wonderfully retro as it rattles and rolls its' way through the Japanese countryside and although there is no particular reason for travelling to Kishi, the experience is all about travelling on these wonderfully unique trains.
6. Nachi Mitaki Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 709 reviews
Reviewed By AhasverSaoPaulo
Best accessible by car or bus. Also a popular pilgrimage if you are still fit enough. First stop is usually a parking lot on a slope opposite the falls from where you walk down many stairs of old stone slabs (handrail) to a platform below the falls. The torii of the small Shinto Shrine there is the standard fpto backdrop for the tour group. Tipp: at the rightmost window of the Shrine there is a little door. For a spiritual contribution of only ¥300 you can from there coimb up some additional steps to two platforms mich closer to the falls and with VERY few tourists (the groups don't have the time). As a matter of fact, for more than ten minutes we were there alone! After that you have to climb up back to the parking lot. From there it is strongly recommended to go up further to both the Buddhist Temple with its beautiful Pagoda and to another (bigger) Shinto Shrine. The view if the falls from there is piceless (If you cannot or do not want to climb up there, parking is available for ¥800)
7. Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 298 reviews
Reviewed By pjbphd - Albuquerque, United States
I used OkuJapan and Jack Eves to set up the trip. One important note is we started the hike a few days after a massive typhoon hit Tokyo and eastern Japan and while we were hiking a second typhoon arrived. Nevertheless, it was a spectacular hike with amazing food and accommodations. I highly recommend OkuJapan for foreigners considering this trip. We chose a trip of eleven nights and ten days on both the Nakahechi and Kohechi trails, but shorter options are available. OkuJapan rates the hikes as “Challenging”, their most difficult rating. I concur with this not because the trails are technical but when they say it will take 6 hours to complete, it will take at least that. Furthermore we hiked in October and the sun set between 5:00 and 5:30 so we had to complete the walk in the allotted time. One evening we had some issues and came in late using headlamps. Fortunately the Inn where we were staying was concerned, called OkuJapan who in turn contacted me on the trail. The owners of the Inn then drove out to meet us on the road saving us considerable time and distance in the dark. Another issue was the wet conditions we encountered following and during a typhoon. In certain areas the trail consists of cobble stones and they could be very slippery requiring much care and slow going.
8. Hashigui Rock
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 346 reviews
Reviewed By AFitnessFoodie - Barbados, Caribbean
This place is a natural wonder and always a good place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. If the tide is low, you can actually walk out onto the rocks and if you happen to visit in December, the rocks are likely to be illuminated. Well worth a visit.
9. Wakayama Castle
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 693 reviews
Reviewed By WarnerL_12 - Pasadena, United States
This is a very beautiful sticking up through the fall colors, the interior like so many other is devoted to its history. If seen from the right vantage point it is as impressive of any other well known castles.
10. Kimiidera Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 244 reviews
Reviewed By AnnK169 - Sydney, Australia
It's a short distance walk from the Kimiidera train station to the base of the temple. It was drizzling when we go there, so the temple was a bit isolated, but it was so peaceful and tranquil around the temple area. Be prepared to walk up hundreds of steps up to the temple and around the area, so it's a bit hard for those with walking difficulties to walk up to the temple. At the top of the temple you can have a great view of the town. After visiting the temple, just walk out straight, cross a railway track crossing and take a bus from the main road to Marina City.
