Top Things to do in Wakayama Prefecture
Top Hotels in Wakayama Prefecture
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Wakayama Prefecture, Kinki
Discover the best top things to do in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan including Koyasan Okunoin, Mt. Koya, Kumano Hongu Taisha Kyushachi Oyunohara, Kamikura Shrine, Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, Nachi Mitaki Falls, Seigantoji Temple, Kumano Nachi Taisha, Shirarahama Beach, Daimonzaka.
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. Mt. Koya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 818 reviews
Wooden temples hidden among the trees, mist-covered mountains, smooth-headed monks in colorful robes--all the Buddhist film archetypes are alive on Mt. Koya. A deeply sacred place, central to the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Mt. Koya is also a World Heritage Site due to its more than 1000-year-old teaching and meditation sites.
Reviewed By epicure49
We stayed with the young monks at Yochi-In and absolutely loved walking around this stunning mountain-top enclave of Buddhist temples. This is surely what all we tourists expected and wanted of Japan. Peace and quiet in a remote wooded area... beautiful shrines and temples with an other-worldly quality so far removed from the hubbub of your normal lives. I took too many photos to show here but have included just a few... A very definite MUST VISIT place.
3. Kumano Hongu Taisha Kyushachi Oyunohara
4. Kamikura Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 200 reviews
Reviewed By PeterthePauper - Ulsan, South Korea
Intending to visit the Kii Peninsular for a few days in mid-July, I initially toyed with the idea of walking the full Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage. Given my age (late 60's), a lack of overall fitness following some serious medical issues and the prevailing heat and humidity at this time of year, common sense eventually prevailed and I opted for a few less strenuous days in Wakayama and Takamatsu respectively. Not prepared to give-up entirely on the Kumano; whilst in Wakayama, I thought I would extract some value from my 5-day JR Rail Pass and make the lengthy (3-hrs each way by Limited Express Kuroshio) but very scenic journey to Shingu. Arriving in Shingu, I first called-in at the Shingu City Tourist Information Centre (located immediately opposite the entrance to the JR Station) and picked-up a very useful 'Walking Map of Shingu' (available in various languages) which suggested a walking route which takes in all three Shingu Shrines. The suggested route of approx. 6km has an estimated completion time of 80mins, and talks in terms of 40mins to ascend/descend to/from the Kamikura Jinja Shrine. With temperatures in the 30's (deg C) and my phone app reading "feels like 43 deg", I opted to tackle the 'difficult' climb up to the Kamikura Jinja Shrine first. The description of "538 steep stone steps" is slightly misleading in that rather than even, consistent steps, these are rough hewn stones where the rise can vary anywhere from 100mm to 400mm. For me the ascent was beyond 'difficult', through 'gruelling' and into the 'brutal' category! You definitely need to make use of one of the walking sticks kindly left at the base by other travellers. With frequent stops every few metres to towel-down, take-on water or converse with other foreigners (I think everybody I met took the opportunity to stop and talk a while .... anything to take a break from this arduous climb!), the ascent alone must have taken the best part of an hour. On reaching the top, although only around 100m above the starting point, I felt the tremendous elation of a full cardio workout with tremendous views as a bonus. By the time I had carefully descended, it was time to head back to the JR Station to catch my train back to Wakayama. Although I missed out this day on the other Shingu Shrines, I was hardly disappointed after such a challenging experience.
5. 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
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. Seigantoji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 276 reviews
Reviewed By Brisbane41 - Newcastle, Australia
This place encompases many to see in one day and they are all close together and can be done in 2 to 3 hours easily with good fitness. To get here from Kii-Katsuura Station just walk to the bus shelter and purchase a round ticket to Nachi-San and the bus will take you directly here. There are many nearby walking trails and other religious shrines that all share the backdrop of Nachi Falls. It is a photographers dream and is the place where you get all those stunning photos that make your friends at home jealous. It is also a peaceful and serene place. There are food stalls and souvenir shops also available.
8. Kumano Nachi Taisha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 634 reviews
Reviewed By WarnerL_12 - Pasadena, United States
If not coming from Wakayama, it can be a full day to get here, BUT worth it if (as I had) not much tourists and a beautiful day. Wear comfortable shoes if you want to see more than the view off the bus.
9. Shirarahama Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 677 reviews
Reviewed By EuroEri - Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
We visited during the typhoon — water was rough the first few days but the last two days it was so smooth and great for swimming, snorkeling and finding shells. Beautiful, clean, easy feet washing stations and toilets.
10. Daimonzaka
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 289 reviews
Reviewed By bearykim - Singapore, Singapore
lovely walk.. abit challenging as there’s lots of steps, i took the bamboo sticks available along the way which helps the ascend.. quite a magical walk up the stone steps with rows of very majestic trees..
