WAKAYAMA, JAPAN Travel Guide | Happy Trip

Wakayama Japan
Wakayama Travel Guide

00:00 Introduction
00:30 How To Get Around
01:28 Momijidani Teien Garden
02:43 Wakayama Castle
03:41 Wakayama Marina City
05:03 Kimii-dera Temple
06:17 Kishu Toshogu Shrine
07:21 Back To Wakayama Station

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Located within Japan’s Kansai Region, the city of Wakayama is only 40 minutes away from Kansai International Airport and about an hour away from Osaka, making it an ideal day-trip. Visitors will enjoy interesting historical sites, cultural landmarks and delicious food offerings; especially for individuals looking to get away from the busy crowds of Osaka and Kyoto. The easiest and cheapest way to get around Wakayama City is by using the local bus. We recommend purchasing the 1-day bus pass, which allows whole-day unlimited bus rides during your visit. Upon exiting the central gate at JR Wakayama Station, you will find the Bus Information counter at the left-hand side; where you can purchase the 1-day pass for ¥1,000. Using the local bus service is easy. Passengers usually board the bus at the rear, and exit at the front. While inside the bus, the next stop is displayed on a screen. Press this button to notify the driver that you would like to get off. Upon alighting, simply show the bus driver your 1-day pass. Check out this 1-day itinerary for Wakayama City. Our first stop is Momijidani Teien Garden. Upon arriving at Wakayama City, you will find the bus terminal just right outside JR Wakayama Station. You can take Bus No. 23, 25, 121, 272 or 273. Get off at Shiyakusho Mae bus stop. Momijidani Teien was constructed in the early Edo Period by Yorinobu Tokugawa, who was the first Kishu-Tokugawa feudal lord. The garden is situated near Wakayama Castle and features a charming Japanese landscape complete with dense trees, wooden bridges, a pond and a teahouse. The area is relatively small compared to other popular Japanese gardens around the country, but offers a serene and beautiful environment that visitors will appreciate throughout the year, particularly during the autumn season. For a minimal fee, visitors can also enjoy matcha tea and traditional sweets at Koshoan Teahouse, located within the garden. Next is Wakayama Castle. From Momijidani Teien Garden, Wakayama Castle is only about an 8 to 10 minute walk. Follow the signs to the castle grounds. Wakayama Castle was originally built in 1585 and features several exhibits of Samurai culture, as well as numerous articles from the Kishu Tokugawa family. The castle opened to the public in 1901 and was established as a national historic sight in 1931. The main tower along with numerous buildings were destroyed in World War II, and was rebuilt in 1958. Visitors will also enjoy the observation deck at the top of the castle which offers stunning panoramic views of the city. Next, we headed to Wakayama Marina City for lunch. From Wakayama Castle, you can walk to Kencho Mae bus stop. Take Bus No. 117 or 121, and get off at the Marina City bus terminal. Wakayama Marina City is a resort complex built on an artificial island in 1994. Food lovers will enjoy the delicious food offerings at Kuroshio Ichiba, a Japanese market that features fresh seafood as well as local snacks and delicacies. We enjoyed our lunch by choosing from a decent selection of meat and seafood, and grilling it at the seaside barbecue area. The main highlight is the tuna cutting demonstration, which showcases the different cuts of this popular fish used for sushi and sashimi. Just beside the main building, visitors will also find a farmers market that sells fresh fruits and vegetables. Visitors will also enjoy Porto Europa, a European-style theme park filled with shops and amusement park rides. After lunch, we headed to Kimii-dera Temple. Head back to the Marina City bus terminal and take Bus No. 42, 117 or 121. Get off at Kimiidera bus stop. From here, the temple grounds are about a 10-minute walk. You can either climb the 231 steps to reach the temple complex, or take the self-service cable car for a minimal fee. Kimii-dera is a Buddhist temple founded in the year 770. This area is a popular place to visit in Wakayama City, particularly during spring as it’s known for its early-blooming cherry blossoms. Kimii-dera is also the second temple to visit (out of 33) for those following the Saigoku Pilgrimage, which is the oldest pilgrimage route in Japan. Visitors will enjoy walking through the temple complex, which offers fantastic views of the city and beyond. You can also see the eleven-meter tall statue of Senju Kannon, which is the largest standing wooden statue in Japan. After spending some time at Kimii-dera, we made our way to Kishu Toshogu Shrine. Head back to Kimiidera bus stop where you got off. Take Bus No. 117 or 121 and get off at Wakaura bus stop. From here, the shrine complex is about a 10-minute walk. There are 108 steps that visitors need to climb to get to the top. Upon reaching the gate, you will be treated to a magnificent view of the city and ocean; along with the vermilion gate set against the lush green trees and blue sky. Kishu Toshogu is a Shinto shrine built in 1621, and enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu. The beautifully decorated main hall has been designated as an important cultural property by the Japanese government. After exploring Kishu Toshogu Shrine, we headed back to JR Wakayama Station. Head back to Wakaura bus stop where you got off. Take Bus No. 23, 24 or 121; which will all stop directly at JR Wakayama Station. We hope you find this travel guide useful. Thanks for watching and we’ll see you on the next video.