Wakayama Prefecture
Wakayama Prefecture, Prefecture in Kansai region, Japan
Description
Wakayama is a prefecture in the Kansai region on the main island of Honshu, stretching along the Pacific coast and linking mountainous forests with shorelines. The capital shares the same name and sits on a natural bay, while the interior is crossed by steep mountain ranges and pilgrimage routes.
History
The region formed the old province of Kii, which played a central role in trade along the west coast during the Edo era under Tokugawa clan rule. The current administrative area emerged after the Meiji Restoration and took the name of the castle town.
Culture
The name comes from Wakayama Castle and literally means bay-mountain, reflecting the location between coast and inland. Pilgrims have followed the Kumano trails through forests and villages for centuries, with many waymarks and rest stations still in place today.
Practical
Trains from Osaka reach the capital in about an hour and connect the region with the wider rail network. Buses run from there into more remote mountain areas and to starting points for hiking routes.
Did you know?
The prefecture produces more than half of Japan's ume fruit, which covers the hillsides in white blossoms in spring. Large parts of the area lie in protected natural zones, forming some of the largest connected forest areas on Honshu.
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Mount Kōya
38.2 km
Kongōbu-ji
38.2 km
Adventure World
65.1 km
Wakayama Castle
410 m
Chiben Gakuen Wakayama Elementary, Junior High, and High School
7.1 km
Kumano Hongū Taisha
70.5 km
Kimpusen-ji
65.5 km
Nachi Falls
90.4 km
Taiji dolphin drive hunt
100.2 km
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
70.9 km
Kumano Nachi Taisha
91.2 km
Negoro-ji
15.3 km
Misaki Park
11.4 km
Tamaki Shrine
69.7 km
Mount Yoshino
66.1 km
Dōjō-ji
34.7 km
Tanize Suspension Bridge
56.6 km
Kimii-dera
5 km
Seiganto-ji
91 km
Ōmine Okugakemichi
68.5 km
Sandanbeki
64.3 km
Hananoiwaya Shrine
93.7 km
Onigajō
95.2 km
Niukawakami Shrine
77.5 km
Hiromitsu Ochiai Baseball Hall
102 km
Sefuku-ji
36.7 km
Shirarahama
62.6 km
Mount Hakkyō
68.4 km
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