Wakayama / Kinokawa

Top Things to do

• Kuroshio Market

  3.5

  17 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Kemi 1527

  You’ll find this seafood market on the manmade Wakayama Marina City island in Wakayama Bay, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. The building has a retro Showa-period atmosphere complete with a fresh fish market with catches from the nearby sea and all over the world, a food court where you can enjoy a seafood rice bowl and sushi, and restaurants with tons of seafood options. There’s also a spectacular tuna slicing show held three times a day, not to mention a seafood barbecue area where you can feel the sea breeze and see the ocean while grilling fresh fish you bought at the market.

• Kokawa-dera Temple

  4.0

  65 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Kinokawashi Kokawa 2787

  This temple is located in Kokawa, Kinokawa City. It is the third pilgrimage site of the “Saikoku Sanjusansho” pilgrimage that takes visitors to various holy sites associated with Kannon. It was constructed at the end of the Nara period in 770 by Otomo no Kujiko. The main temple building was rebuilt in 1720, and it features a very rare design that combines a single-roof worship hall with a double-roof main hall, making it an Important Cultural Property.

• Wakayama Castle

  Wakayama prefecture Wakayama city 1-3

  This famous castle belonged to the Kishu Tokugawa family, one of the “Tokugawa Gosanke” families. It has been beloved by many as a symbol of Wakayama for ages. The Okaguchi Gate, which was made a Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property, as well as the stone wall constructed with Kishu-specialty blue stone (chlorite-schist) in the Nozura-zumi style, still maintain their original structures. From the castle tower constructed by citizens in 1958 after the war, you can see the Kinokawa River, the Wakayama cityscape, and more. Many visitors come during the cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons as well. Inside the castle tower, many items associated with the Tokugawa family are on display.

• Wakayama Marina City

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Kemi 1527

  An artificial island floating in Wakayama Bay in Wakayama City, Wakayama which was completed in 1994 in line with the World Resort Exhibition. The island hosts a variety of leisure facilities, including Porto Europe, a theme park modeled after a European port town; a resort hotel; a marina; market; fishing park; day trip hot spring bath facility; and activity-oriented pavilions which present the appeals of Wakayama. The Kuroshio Market sells everything from offshore catches to international seafood, and here you can enjoy watching a tuna butchering show, various events, and seafood barbecuing.

• Osakaya Hiina no Yu

  4.0

  56 Reviews

  Wakayama Wakayama-shi Kada 142

  A hotel facing Kada Fishing Port at the westernmost point of Wakayama Prefecture. Guests entering the hotel are greeted by a display of traditional hina dolls from which the hotel derives its name. The hotel’s vaunted hot spring baths are also open to non-guests. The baths are fed by a sodium carbonate chloride spring whose viscous waters are said to beautify the skin. The hotel’s outdoor bath looks out over the Kitan Strait and the islands of Tomogashima floating in the bay, a view which resulted in the hotel’s inclusion in a list of 100 Japanese hotels with the best sunsets. After your bath, you can enjoy tasty strips of tokoroten jelly made from Kada red algae provided by the hotel. In the lobby, the hotel rents over 30 different colors of yukata robes for women free of charge. The hotel boasts a variety of other women-friendly services, as well, such as discount room prices for women on the third of every month.

• Wakayama Castle Park Zoo

  3.5

  81 Reviews

  Wakayama Wakayama-shi Ichibancho 3

  "This zoo is approximately ten minutes on foot from Nankai Wakayamashi Station and 15 minutes by car from Wakayama Interchange. Located on the premises of Wakayama Castle, it is one of Japan's unusual zoos. Built in 1915, it mainly consisted of the Deer, Monkey, and Waterfowl Breeding Center. It closed for a time due to the influence of World War ll and resumed operations in 1970. Today they breed 30 kinds of animals, including 13 mammal and 17 bird species. In addition to its ""Bear Hut"" populated by moon bears, the zoo's sectioned into a Fairy Tale Garden and a Waterfowl Garden where you can take a stroll and try feeding some of the animals."

• Itakiso-jinja Shrine

  4.0

  46 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Idakiso 558

  A Shinto shrine dedicated to Isotakeru-no-mikoto. This shrine is ancient and its name in an entry dated 702 in the “Shoku Nihongi” imperial history anthology. The shrine was moved to its current location a three-minute walk south of Idakiso Station on the Kishigawa Line in 713. In addition to the main shrine building, there is also a Miisha Shrine dedicated to gods of water and wells, and a boulder known as the “Monkey Rock” which is said to cure any diseases from the neck up when rubbed; both of these have gained popularity in recent years as mystical “power spots.” The Uzue Festival held here each year on the date of the Little New year attracts many visitors. During the festival, bowls of azuki-gayu rice gruel with azuki beans are handed out and eating this is said to guarantee sound health for an entire year.

• Tama Museum Kishi Station

  4.0

  48 Reviews

  Kinokawa City Kishigawa-cho, Wakayama Prefecture

  "The terminal station of the Wakayama Electric Railway Kshigawa Line, it is looked after by the honorable permanent station master ""Tama"" who has become a daimyojin (god). Currently, calico cats (three-colored), ""Nitama (Tama II"" and ""Yontama (Tama IV)"" are in charge. The cute-looking catshaped station building is characterized by its great use of natural materials, such as Kishuwoods in the cypress bark roof. It also features ""Tama Cafe"" and ""Tama Shop"" where original goods are sold. The line is said to have been laid for ""Three-Shrine Visits"" to Nichizengu Shrine, Kamayama Shrine, and Itakiso Shrine sitting quietly aside the tracks. And there are unique trains, such as the ""Ichigo(Strawberry) Train"", the ""Omocha(Toys) Train"", and the ""Tama Train"", which have particular about the design of details. Overall, it's a fun local line to ride."

• Hinokuma Jingu Shrine and Kunikakasu Jingu Shrine (Hinokuma Jingu Shrine Office)

  4.0

  43 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Akiduki 365

  "These shrines are about one minute on foot from Nichizengu Station, and about five minutes by car from Wakayama Interchange. Founded more than 2,600 years ago, they honor the Shinto gods Hinokuma-no-Okami and Kunikakasu-no-Okami. Worshiping there is thought to be helpful for matchmaking and household security. They hold a ceremony called ""Nichizengu Ebisu Mairi"" from January 9 to 11 when they offer lucky items like kumade and fukudawara amulets. It's the only time the approach to the shrine is lined with red banners lit up at night. On July 26, their kagura hall hosts a performance of Noh theater by firelight."