Things to do
NATURE
There’s a sense of truly stepping back in time as you lace up hiking boots and take to Wakayama’s renowned pilgrimage routes: the Kumano Kodo. These are the paths that the imperial families and samurai once took. Now, drawing the adventurous (and energetic) into an extraordinary web of trails that wind their way past sacred shrines and Shinto sites, around mist-capped mountains and to Japan’s tallest waterfall, Nachi Falls. Time your trek to end at traditional onsen, to refresh in the hot springs.
WATER
Bathtime is an unforgettable experience in Wakayama. Sink into the onsen here, rich with minerals and warmed by nature. There’s nothing quite like the alfresco rotenburo, with the frosted mountains as your backdrop – or the briny ocean air washing over you. Or immersing in Tsuboyu, an unassuming spot that’s home to the world’s only UNESCO-listed hot spring. To dive deeper into Wakayama, head to Kushimoto where you’ll find vivid coral reefs and sea turtles riding the wave of the Kuroshio Current.
CULTURE
Spring in Wakayama feels a little like stepping into a painting, as Ume and ‘weeping cherry’ blossoms transform the landscape into blush tones. Visit Wakayama Castle to see (and smell) this captivating spectacle. Though, anyone choosing to come in autumn is in for a treat, too. This is when the maple trees of Doro-kyo Gorge unveil a canopy of amber and gold, a striking sight against the sparkling blue of the water. Meanwhile, the summer season lights up the coastline, as Shirahama’s firework displays bring kaleidoscopic colour to the skies.
