Japan City Guides: Wakayama Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Attractions | Getting To Wakayama

Wakayama 和歌山

situated south of Osaka on the coast of the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai.
population approximately 387,000.
ferries to Tokushima in Shikoku and Awaji.
access from Namba Station, Shin-Osaka Station and Kyoto Station.
main attraction is Wakayama Castle.
food specialties are Chinese-style noodles, mikan oranges and pickled plums (umeboshi).
pleasant beaches nearby and onsens in Shirahama to the south.

Things to see and do in Wakayama

Wakayama, is a pleasant coastal city south of Osaka, one hour by express train from Namba Station.

Wakayama Castle is Wakayama's main sightseeing attraction. The castle, on Mt. Torafusu, was first constructed on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) in 1585. Most of the buildings you see today were rebuilt in 1958 after the castle was badly damaged in World War II. The main entrance gate of Wakayama Castle, the Otemon Gate, was rebuilt in 1989. Only the Okaguchi Gate and the impressive stone walls remain from the original castle.

The castle grounds are Wakayama's most popular spot for cherry blossom viewing (hanami) and also contain the Nishi-no-Maru Garden (Momijidani) built by Yorinobu Tokugawa in the early 17th century. The garden has a pond, a waterfall and is famous for its autumn leaves. The garden was adjoined to the Nishi-no-Maru palace of the domain lord.

South of the castle park is the impressively-designed Wakayama Museum of Modern Art (Tel: 073 436 8690) with a collection of both Western and Japanese contemporary art, including works by Picasso, Nonagase Banka, Tanaka Kyokichi, Mark Rothko and George Segal. There is also an extensive display of modern prints. The museum has a spacious restaurant and was designed by the celebrated Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, who also designed both Oita and Toyota stadiums, Kuala Lumpur Airport and the New Wing of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Wakayama Marina City is a "resort town" a short bus ride from Wakayama with restaurants, a hotel and Porto Europa amusement park.

Momijidani Garden, Wakayama Castle Park.

Getting Around Wakayama City

It is fairly easy to get around Wakayama on foot but there is a good municipal bus service with many buses departing from JR Wakayama Station and Wakayama-shi Station.

The small Tourist Information Center (Tel: 073 422 5831) is outside JR Wakayama Station and you can pick up a map from the booth near the bus stops at Wakayama-shi Station.

Nankai Wakayama-shi Station, Wakayama Prefecture.

Shopping/Eating in Wakayama

The underground arcade at JR Wakayama Station has a number of restaurants and izakaya. There is a department store and food hall/supermarket at the station.

Wakayama Access

Train

Wakayama is easy to reach from both Kyoto and Osaka. There are JR express trains to JR Wakayama Station from Kyoto Station and Shin-Osaka Station. Alternatively, take a local train from Tennoji Station on the Hanwa Line (1 hour). There are also trains from Osaka Namba Station on the Nankai Line to Wakayami-shi Station (1 hour). The JR Kisei Line links JR Wakayama Station to Wakayama-shi Station. For Koyasan there are trains from JR Wakayama Station to Hashimoto (1 hour), then change to the Nankai Line to Gokurakubashi.

The ferry port to Tokushima on Shikoku is on the Nankai Line or take a taxi from town. Nankai ferries (Tel: 073 422 2156) take two hours. Boats to Awaji leave from Fuke-ko Port to the north of Wakayama.

Wakayama Castle is a 20 minute walk from JR Wakayama Station or a 10 minute walk from Nankai Wakayami-shi Station. There are buses from both places to the castle park entrance. Get off the bus at Koen-mae.