Wakayama has plenty of ancient onsen spots. Saki-no-yu in Shirahama, south of Wakayama city, is a public bath right on the shore of the Pacific.
Enjoy hot springs in the wild —
Wakayama has plenty of ancient onsen spots. Saki-no-yu in Shirahama, south of Wakayama city, is a public bath right on the shore of the Pacific.
wakayama tourism
Made up of seven routes of various difficulties through the south of Wakayama prefecture, the hike was originally an ancient pilgrimage leading to three major Japanese shrines: Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha.
Walk Kumano Kodo —
Made up of seven routes of various difficulties through the south of Wakayama prefecture, the hike was originally an ancient pilgrimage leading to three major Japanese shrines: Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha.
hiufu wong/cnn
Japan's Kitayama village offers tourists a chance to sail down the swift currents of Kitayama River on traditional logging rafts. Here's the kicker -- you're not even seated.
White-water rafting —
Japan's Kitayama village offers tourists a chance to sail down the swift currents of Kitayama River on traditional logging rafts. Here's the kicker -- you're not even seated.
Courtesy Kitayama Village
Nitama, the new stationmaster of Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, has been praised for her "hat-wearing" skills.
Meet the world's cutest stationmaster —
Nitama, the new stationmaster of Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, has been praised for her "hat-wearing" skills.
courtesy Ryobi Group
"Don't steal the onsen eggs!" You've been warned. This public cooking basin in located in the Yunomine onsen area, the only UNESCO World Heritage hot spring in the world.
Cook 'hot spring egg' in a real onsen —
"Don't steal the onsen eggs!" You've been warned. This public cooking basin in located in the Yunomine onsen area, the only UNESCO World Heritage hot spring in the world.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
Nothing's quite as thrilling as watching hundreds of young Japanese men rush down a steep staircase with 50-kilo torches.
Check out the Nachi Fire Festival —
Nothing's quite as thrilling as watching hundreds of young Japanese men rush down a steep staircase with 50-kilo torches.
Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Ide Shoten has become sacred ground for ramen lovers. Just resist the temptation to call it ramen -- it's known locally as "chuka soba."
Eat Japan's "most delicious" ramen —
Ide Shoten has become sacred ground for ramen lovers. Just resist the temptation to call it ramen -- it's known locally as "chuka soba."
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
The secret to getting a great Wakayama castle photo is to book a castle-view room.
Get a castle view —
The secret to getting a great Wakayama castle photo is to book a castle-view room.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
If eats like this are served, living like a Buddhist monk can't be all that bad. The holy Buddhist grounds in Koyasan have 52 temple lodgings for visitors seeking a tranquil stay that includes meditation, temple services, Buddhist gardens and vegetarian cuisine.
Live like a monk —
If eats like this are served, living like a Buddhist monk can't be all that bad. The holy Buddhist grounds in Koyasan have 52 temple lodgings for visitors seeking a tranquil stay that includes meditation, temple services, Buddhist gardens and vegetarian cuisine.
hiufu wong/cnn
Tried and true: The smell of Arida mandarins will make orange fans drool.
Feast on fruit —
Tried and true: The smell of Arida mandarins will make orange fans drool.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
Not a life-saving skill, but knowing how to cut a nice slice of tuna is still handy. Kuroshio-Ichiba Market hosts three entertaining tuna-cutting shows daily.
Learn how to cut fresh tuna —
Not a life-saving skill, but knowing how to cut a nice slice of tuna is still handy. Kuroshio-Ichiba Market hosts three entertaining tuna-cutting shows daily.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN