Wakayama · Things to do
Things to Do in Wakayama: 17 Places from Wakayama City to Koyasan and Kumano
17 things to do · checked October 23, 2026
17 things to do in Wakayama, from the city to Kumano
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 23, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Wakayama Castle和歌山城
Castle · Wakayama city centre
A castle built in 1585 under the command of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The keep has views over the city, and the grounds hold about 600 cherry trees.
- Access
- Wakayama Bus from JR Wakayama Station to the Koen-mae stop. By car, about 6 km on Route 24 from Wakayama IC on the Hanwa Expressway.
2Kishi Station and the cat stationmasters貴志駅
Railway station · Kishigawa Line terminus
The end of the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line. The station building is shaped after a cat's face with a hinoki-bark roof, and has a café, a shop and a platform shrine to the stationmaster cat Tama. The railway lists cat stationmasters on duty 10:00–16:00 and says schedules can change without notice.
About 30 minutes on the Kishigawa Line from JR Wakayama Station.
- Access
- Kishigawa Line from platform 9 at JR Wakayama Station, about 30 minutes and 14.3 km to the terminus. There is no parking at Kishi Station.
- Hours
- Cat stationmasters on duty 10:00–16:00 (schedules can change without notice)
- Closed on
- Kishi stationmaster Yontama is off on Wednesdays and Thursdays; no stationmaster at Kishi all day on 3 November 2026
- Price
- Kishigawa Line one-day pass: adults ¥1,200, children ¥600 (sold at the platform 9 window at Wakayama Station, not from JR ticket machines)
3Kuroshio Market黒潮市場
Seafood market and food hall · Wakayama Marina City
A seafood market in Wakayama Marina City with a tuna corner, a shopping corner and a dining corner. A fresh tuna cutting show runs every day at 12:30 and 15:00, with an extra show at 11:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
- Access
- Wakayama Bus from JR Wakayama Station to the Hotel-mae stop. By car, leave the expressway at Kainan IC and follow Route 42 for about 2 km; Marina City parking is ¥1,500 a day.
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00 on 23 October 2026; hours vary by season (see the market's calendar)
- Closed on
- Irregular
4Kishu Kuroshio Onsen紀州黒潮温泉
Day-use hot spring · Wakayama Marina City
A hot spring inside Wakayama Marina City with open-air and large indoor baths facing the sea, plus saunas.
- Access
- Wakayama Bus from JR Wakayama Station to the Marina City stop. About 3 minutes on foot from Wakayama Marina City Hotel.
- Hours
- 11:00–23:00 (reception until 22:00)
- Closed on
- Irregular
5Kimiidera Temple紀三井寺
Temple · Kimiidera
A temple said to have been founded by a Chinese monk in 770, once a place of prayer for the Tokugawa family of Wakayama. 231 steps lead up to the grounds, which look over Wakanoura Bay; the cherry trees here bloom early.
- Access
- From JR Wakayama Station, a local train south on the Kinokuni Line, two stops to Kimiidera Station, then about 10 minutes on foot (the temple's figure; the prefectural site gives about 5). There is also a cable car up the slope.
- Hours
- Temple office 8:00–17:00; cable car and the Butsuden third-floor gallery 8:30–16:30
- Closed on
- No regular closed day; the cable car may stop for about three days of inspection, usually around February
6Tomogashima Islands友ヶ島
Island hiking · Kada
A small group of islands about 20 minutes by ferry from Kada. Okinoshima, the main island, has hiking and picnic areas and the red-brick ruins of a former military fort.
Kada, at the end of the Nankai Kada Line. No ferry on Wednesdays.
- Access
- Ferry from Kada port, about 20 minutes. Boats run infrequently.
- Closed on
- Ferry closed on Wednesdays (prefectural tourism site)
- Price
- Ferry round trip: adults ¥2,200, children ¥1,100 (prefectural tourism site)
7Awashima Shrine淡嶋神社
Shrine · Kada
A shrine known for dolls donated from all over Japan, lined up in the vermilion front hall, and for the Hina Nagashi ritual held every year on 3 March.
Kada, about 20 minutes on foot from Kada Station.
- Access
- Change to the Nankai Kada Line (from JR Wakayama Station or the Nankai station in Wakayama) and get off at Kada Station, then about 20 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- Shrine office 9:00–17:00; treasure house until 16:00
- Closed on
- Treasure house occasionally closed
- Price
- Treasure house: adults ¥300, children ¥200
8Kongobu-ji金剛峯寺
Head temple · Koyasan
The head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, with about 3,600 branch temples across Japan. It is known for its painted fusuma sliding panels and Banryutei, described as Japan's largest rock garden.
Koyasan.
- Access
- Koya Rinkan Bus from Nankai Koyasan Station to the Kongobuji-mae stop.
9Danjo Garan壇上伽藍
Temple complex · Koyasan
The central temple complex of Koyasan, with the 49-metre Konpon Daito Great Stupa.
Koyasan.
- Access
- Koya Rinkan Bus from Nankai Koyasan Station to the Kondo-mae stop.
10Okunoin奥之院
Cemetery and mausoleum · Koyasan
A road of about 2 km through trees several hundred years old to the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, lined with more than 200,000 memorial towers, including those of feudal lords.
Koyasan.
- Access
- Koya Rinkan Bus from Nankai Koyasan Station to the Ichinohashi-guchi stop.
11Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route熊野古道 中辺路
Pilgrimage trail · Tanabe to Hongu
The pilgrimage route from Tanabe on the west coast east into the mountains to the Kumano grand shrines, used by the imperial family from Kyoto from the 10th century. With the other Kumano Kodo routes it was registered as UNESCO World Heritage in July 2004. It can be walked over consecutive days or in shorter sections, such as Takijiri-oji to Takahara or Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha.
Kumano. Day sections or a multi-day walk.
- Access
- Buses from Bus Stop 2 at JR Kii-Tanabe Station serve Takijiri-oji, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen. Lodging along the way is in small villages reached by local bus.
12Kumano Hongu Taisha and Oyunohara熊野本宮大社・大斎原
Shrine · Hongu
One of the three grand shrines of Kumano. It first stood at Oyunohara, a sandbank where three rivers meet; after a Meiji-period flood the main shrines moved to the hill to the west, and a torii 34 m tall stands at Oyunohara.
Kumano Hongu.
- Access
- Local bus from Bus Stop 2 at JR Kii-Tanabe Station (the route via Takijiri-oji). Buses also run from Shingu, though not every bus covers the whole route.
- Hours
- Worship 8:00–17:00
13Tsuboyu at Yunomine Onsen湯の峰温泉 つぼ湯
Hot spring bath · Yunomine Onsen
A small stone-lined bath for one or two people in a cabin by the creek, used for up to 30 minutes per turn. The tourism bureau describes it as one of the only hot springs registered as UNESCO World Heritage that you can bathe in.
Kumano Hongu area.
- Access
- Buses from JR Kii-Tanabe Station stop at Yunomine Onsen, and buses run regularly from Hongu Taisha-mae.
- Hours
- 6:00–21:00 (reception closes 20:30), all year
- Price
- Adults ¥800; under 12 ¥400
14Kawayu Onsen川湯温泉
River hot spring · Kawayu
A hot spring village on the Oto River, a tributary of the Kumano River, where thermal water comes up through the riverbed. The large Sennin-buro river bath is held from December to February.
Kumano Hongu area. Sennin-buro December to February.
- Access
- Buses from JR Kii-Tanabe Station stop at Kawayu Onsen, and buses run regularly from Hongu Taisha-mae.
15Nachi Falls (Hiro-jinja)那智の滝（飛瀧神社）
Waterfall and shrine · Nachisan
A waterfall 133 m high, worshipped at Hiro-jinja, a separate shrine of Kumano Nachi Taisha. The viewing stage close to the falls (Otaki-haisho) charges a fee.
Nachi, about 30 minutes by bus from Kii-Katsuura.
- Access
- Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus from JR Kii-Katsuura Station towards Nachisan, about 30 minutes to the Nachisan stop; about 20 minutes by taxi.
- Price
- Viewing stage: adults ¥500, elementary and junior high ¥200, preschoolers free
16Kumano Nachi Taisha熊野那智大社
Shrine · Nachisan
One of the three grand shrines of Kumano, on the same mountain as Seiganto-ji temple and Nachi Falls. Its treasure hall closes at 15:30 and on Wednesdays.
Nachi.
- Access
- Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus from JR Kii-Katsuura Station to the Nachisan stop, about 30 minutes; about 20 minutes by taxi. Kii-Katsuura is about 4 hours from Shin-Osaka by the Kuroshio limited express.
- Hours
- Treasure hall 8:30–15:30
- Closed on
- Treasure hall closed on Wednesdays, and sometimes for shrine reasons
- Price
- Treasure hall: adults ¥300, children ¥200, preschoolers free
17Kumano Hayatama Taisha熊野速玉大社
Shrine · Shingu
One of the three grand shrines of Kumano, in the town of Shingu, with the Kumano Shinpokan treasure hall in the grounds.
Shingu, about 15 minutes on foot from JR Shingu Station.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from JR Shingu Station.
- Hours
- Grounds 6:00–17:00; amulet counter 8:00–17:00; Kumano Shinpokan 9:00–16:00 (may change for festivals)
Good to know
Wakayama is three trips, not one. Wakayama city, about an hour from Shin-Osaka or Namba, has the castle, Kimiidera, Kuroshio Market in Marina City, and the Kishigawa Line out to Kishi Station. Koyasan is reached on the Nankai line from Osaka Namba, about 1 hour 40 minutes by limited express to Koyasan Station, then by Koya Rinkan Bus. The Kumano shrines are far to the south: Kii-Katsuura, the station for Nachi, is about 4 hours from Shin-Osaka by the Kuroshio limited express, and Hongu is reached by local bus from Kii-Tanabe or Shingu.
Several places close early or on set days. The Kumano Nachi Taisha treasure hall closes at 15:30 and on Wednesdays; the Tomogashima ferry does not run on Wednesdays; Kishi Station's stationmaster Yontama is off on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and no stationmaster is at Kishi on 3 November 2026. Kuroshio Market's tuna cutting show is at 12:30 and 15:00 daily, with an 11:00 show on weekends and holidays.
Where a card has no hours or fee, the official page read did not state them; the Koyasan temple office site and the Wakayama Castle site did not load on 23 October 2026. Facts on each card come from the place's own page or the prefectural, city or town tourism site, checked that day.
Wakayama city, Koyasan, Kumano Hongu, or Nachi and Shingu
How each area is reached, what the stated fees are, and the hours given. Adult prices; where the official page read does not publish a figure, the cell says so.
| Area | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wakayama city: castle, Kimiidera, Kuroshio Market, Kishi Station | About 1 hour from Shin-Osaka (Kuroshio) or Namba (Nankai Southern); Kishigawa Line about 30 min to Kishi | Castle and Kimiidera fees not stated on the pages read · Kishigawa Line day pass ¥1,200 | Kuroshio Market 10:00–17:00 on 23 Oct (seasonal) · Kimiidera cable car 8:30–16:30 · cat stationmasters 10:00–16:00 |
| Kada: Tomogashima, Awashima Shrine | Nankai Kada Line to Kada; ferry about 20 min to Tomogashima | Ferry ¥2,200 return · Awashima treasure house ¥300 | Awashima office 9:00–17:00 · no ferry on Wednesdays |
| Koyasan: Kongobu-ji, Danjo Garan, Okunoin | Nankai from Namba to Koyasan Station, about 1 h 40 min by limited express, then Koya Rinkan Bus | Not stated on the pages read | Not stated on the pages read |
| Kumano Hongu: Hongu Taisha, Tsuboyu, Kawayu, Nakahechi | Local bus from Bus Stop 2 at JR Kii-Tanabe, or from Shingu | Hongu Taisha fee not stated · Tsuboyu ¥800 | Hongu Taisha 8:00–17:00 · Tsuboyu 6:00–21:00 (last 20:30) |
| Nachi and Shingu: Nachi Falls, Nachi Taisha, Hayatama Taisha | Kii-Katsuura about 4 h from Shin-Osaka; bus to Nachisan about 30 min · Hayatama 15 min on foot from Shingu Station | Falls viewing stage ¥500 · Nachi treasure hall ¥300 | Nachi treasure hall 8:30–15:30, closed Wed · Hayatama grounds 6:00–17:00 |
By kind of trip
One day in Wakayama city
The castle and Kimiidera are both reached from JR Wakayama Station, by bus to Koen-mae and by two stops on the Kinokuni Line. Kuroshio Market's tuna show is at 12:30 and 15:00, and the onsen next to it is open to 23:00.
Wakayama Castle · Kimiidera Temple · Kuroshio Market · Kishu Kuroshio Onsen
Cats and trains
The Kishigawa Line leaves from platform 9 at JR Wakayama Station. Cat stationmasters are scheduled 10:00–16:00; check the railway's duty schedule before going, since it can change without notice.
Islands and the sea at Kada
Tomogashima's ferry leaves from Kada port and does not run on Wednesdays. Awashima Shrine is about 20 minutes on foot from Kada Station; its treasure house closes at 16:00.
Koyasan
All three are stops on the Koya Rinkan Bus from Nankai Koyasan Station: Kongobuji-mae, Kondo-mae and Ichinohashi-guchi for the 2 km walk through Okunoin.
Walking and bathing around Hongu
Buses from Kii-Tanabe stop at Takijiri-oji, Hongu Taisha, Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen. Tsuboyu is open until 21:00, later than Hongu Taisha (to 17:00).
Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route · Kumano Hongu Taisha and Oyunohara · Tsuboyu at Yunomine Onsen · Kawayu Onsen
Questions
How do I get from Osaka to Koyasan?
The Koyasan Shukubo Association gives the Nankai line from Osaka Namba to Koyasan Station: about 1 hour 40 minutes by limited express (four round trips a day) or about 2 hours by express, with expresses about every 30 minutes. From Koyasan Station, the Koya Rinkan Bus runs to the temples.
When are the cats at Kishi Station?
The Wakayama Electric Railway lists its cat stationmasters on duty 10:00–16:00. Yontama, the Kishi stationmaster, is off on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the railway says no stationmaster will be at Kishi all day on 3 November 2026. Schedules can change without notice.
What does it cost to see Nachi Falls?
Kumano Nachi Taisha lists the Otaki-haisho viewing stage, the platform closest to the falls, at ¥500 for adults and ¥200 for elementary and junior high students; preschoolers are free. Kumano Nachi Taisha's treasure hall is a separate ¥300.
How do I get to Tomogashima?
Take the ferry from Kada port, about 20 minutes. The prefectural tourism site lists the round trip at ¥2,200 for adults and ¥1,100 for children, notes that boats run infrequently, and that the ferry does not run on Wednesdays.
Can I bathe at Tsuboyu?
Yes. It is a small private bath for one or two people, used for up to 30 minutes per turn, open 6:00–21:00 with reception closing at 20:30, all year. It costs ¥800 for adults and ¥400 for under-12s.