Wakayama / Kinokawa

Top Things to do

• Porto Europa

  3.5

  184 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Kemi 1527

  These theme park, located on the manmade island “Wakayama Marina City” in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture is modeled after a European port town. It is comprised of two zones: The “Porto Europa” and the “Park Pacific” amusement park. The Porto Europa zone features a French and Italian port town, buildings modeled after old Spanish castles, and other exotic elements. The amusement park has a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, water slide, and more. Entry is free.

• Tama Museum Kishi Station

  4.5

  163 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."

• Awashima Shrine

  4.0

  144 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Kada

  "This is the head shrine of the more than 1000 Awashima shrines in Japan. Known for offerings of dolls, it is characterized by the many Japanese dolls that fill the shrine. As the birthplace of doll offerings and the birthplace of the Hinamatsuri Festival, over 300,000 dolls are offered every year. The god of medicine, Sukunahikona no Mikoto, is the shrine deity. In particular, women come for divine help with women's diseases, having children and marriage. ""Hari-Kuyo"" (a service for broken needles) is held on February 8th, ""Nagashi-bina"" (Floating Ceremony of Paper Hina Dolls) on March 3rd, and the ""Amazake Matsuri"" (Sweet Sake Festival) on October 3rd."

• Kokawa-dera Temple

  4.0

  61 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.

• Ramen Marui (Juniban-cho)

  4.0

  52 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Junibanchou 87 Le Chateau Yodocho 1F

  The second location of the popular Ramen Marui situated in Nakanoshima, Wakyama City, the Juniban-cho shop is just a 10 minute walk from Wakayamashi Station. Making use of select ingredients such as chashu pork fillets made from Kagoshima Sanmi-ton pork, used in high class inns, the shop is particularly famous for using ryokuho kuronegi green onions, a type of kujonegi onion. The springy homemade noodles, tonkotsu broth slow-stewed over a two day period, and heaping helping of chopped spring onions whets the appetite. The shop also offers a full lunch weekday set menu; the half-sized ramen and rice set is particularly popular with women.

• Osakaya Hiina-no-Yu

  4.0

  54 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi 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.

• 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.

• Yamatame Shokudo

  4.0

  47 Reviews

  Wakayama Pref. Wakayamashi Fukumachi 12

  This ramen restaurant is known as the representative of Wakayama ramen and is so popular you will always find a long line at peak times. This long-established restaurant has kept the taste of its Yamatame Ramen since its founding in 1953. Their special Chuka Soba (Chinese noodles) has a rich taste with thick noodles in pork soy sauce broth. The noodles soak up the taste when they’re put in the broth and warm up. The counter seating makes it very easy for single patrons to enter. The nearest train station is Wakayama City Station.

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

  4.0

  42 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."