RTWSTARALLIANCE
Nov 25, 11, 3:11 pm
My mother's family is from Wakayama so this trip held importance for me. It took us 12 years to get here because we always thought it would be kinda boring. It was not. It is the perfect one day trip easily accessed. The people in Wakayama are as kind as anyone we have met in Japan. They also have lots of interesting things to see in one day. You will enjoy this trip.
We are staying at the Sheraton Miyako Osaka. From here take the Kintetsu line to Namba. Two stops. 150 yen each direction. Upon arrival into the Namba Kintetsu station exit and walk towards the Nankai line. You are looking for the Nankai line ticket office located on level two. The guys at this office were very kind and patient with us. The company regularly offers a package which includes train tickets, bus line and discounts on certain attractions in Wakayama. The current offer is until end of March 2012 but please check. It ran all of 2011 for what we can figure. There are two rates- 2000 yen for non-reserve seat to Wakayama and 2500 yen for reserved. You will want to take the limited express versus local. One hour travel time. Now the non-reserve was not packed but with the reserve you get seats facing forward versus side on non-reserve. On the outgoing get seats on the right side for view of the sea on return left. You actually pass KIX.
Timing in important. We took the 9:10 AM Southern Train to Wakayamashi. Upon arrival immediately exit and look for bus stop number 9 to Marina City. We took the 10:20 AM bus. They also may have a departure from stop number 5. The last stop. This was a treat. There is a free "performance" where they cut down a huge maguro (tuna). They even have their own music. There is a theme park here but we skip it. The performance is very short but well worth it. Never seen anything like that. Walk around then head back to bus area. Same bus back which leaves at 11:10 AM towards JR Wakayama. If you wish you can stay and buy some of the sashimi they just cut. There are samples. Performance times for the fish cut was 11 AM, 12:30 PM and 3 PM. We were in a rush to finish things so onward.
The next bus stop is Tsuya. Exit to the right and make a left at the T. You are heading towards Tamatsushima Shrine which is dedicated to a ancient poem god. In this area around the bend in the road are a island with a Shrine in front and to the right a Edo period stone arch bridge. The stone in engraved. Cross the street back and you will see a restaurante called Cafe Lierre (closed Thursday). Lunch was very good about $20 USD for a full set meal. The restaurant is in a restored Japanese home with a beautiful Japanese garden.
Walk to the right and you are now headed towards two large Shrines. Wakaura Tenmangu and Kishu Toshogu. Both are very near eachother. Near the first is a small lake where we saw a crane. The Shrine has very old stone steps and is steep. The main building atop is National Treasure. The second has 108 steep steps. The views are each are amazing esp when you look down. From here you will be taking a bus towards Wakayama Station. Your next stop is Wakayama Castle. The bus does not have a frequent schedule so be aware. Bus stop is to the left from Shrines past public school. Do not cross the street.
Wakayama Castle. This was certainly one of the nicest Castles I've seen in Japan. The Castle was ordered built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. His brother built the Castle and many of its defences are evident. There are so many things to see here. Outside the Castle direct grounds up a zig zag steep cement driveway is a bell which used to sound the time for the town cast from cannons owned by the Toyotomi. The Tokugawa had the bell cast. From this location you can walk towards the facing the Castle to the right and you will come upon an original period Gate which is a National Treasure. Enter the grounds here and make you way towards the Castle top. The original Castle was destroyed by fire in 1945. As you come back down from the Castle top make sure and stop by the Information Center. There is a Japanese garden here. The tourist office is very friendly and they have some samurai armor you can try on to take pics. No charge and not really that authentic but some guys from Hong Kong were having a great time with it. NOW. This was a real treat. From the front of the tourist office on Castle grounds look towards the street. That tall building is City Hall. On the top floor of City Hall (14th) which is free to access is a viewing point for the Castle and its grounds. The view from 14 is amazing and will be your BEST pic. It shows how extensive the Castle top grounds are. There is also a cafeteria which also anyone can acess. We made a stop for something to drink and take in the view. They have daily specials and it is very resonable. Many government workers were also having a snack there.
From this location we walked out of the building facing the Castle and broke a hard left down to the next major traffic intersection. Break another left and you are heading towards the river and center of old Wakayama. There is a dori (walking street) which is supposed to have some businesses dating back to the Edo period. Frankly we did not see any. As you cross the river look to your right. You will see a statue with palanquin atop. This was the entry way to the Castle keep or original grounds. The river marked the main entry hence the dori outside of this area. After walking the dori we made our way back to the Station. We changed our tickets from 6 PM to 4:30 PM. Back at Namba by 5:30 PM.
Once again Wakayama was an amazing experience and to get so much in during a short period was great. You will enjoy a trip to Wakayama. Thank you to my wife for being so patient with all those Japanese names.
We are staying at the Sheraton Miyako Osaka. From here take the Kintetsu line to Namba. Two stops. 150 yen each direction. Upon arrival into the Namba Kintetsu station exit and walk towards the Nankai line. You are looking for the Nankai line ticket office located on level two. The guys at this office were very kind and patient with us. The company regularly offers a package which includes train tickets, bus line and discounts on certain attractions in Wakayama. The current offer is until end of March 2012 but please check. It ran all of 2011 for what we can figure. There are two rates- 2000 yen for non-reserve seat to Wakayama and 2500 yen for reserved. You will want to take the limited express versus local. One hour travel time. Now the non-reserve was not packed but with the reserve you get seats facing forward versus side on non-reserve. On the outgoing get seats on the right side for view of the sea on return left. You actually pass KIX.
Timing in important. We took the 9:10 AM Southern Train to Wakayamashi. Upon arrival immediately exit and look for bus stop number 9 to Marina City. We took the 10:20 AM bus. They also may have a departure from stop number 5. The last stop. This was a treat. There is a free "performance" where they cut down a huge maguro (tuna). They even have their own music. There is a theme park here but we skip it. The performance is very short but well worth it. Never seen anything like that. Walk around then head back to bus area. Same bus back which leaves at 11:10 AM towards JR Wakayama. If you wish you can stay and buy some of the sashimi they just cut. There are samples. Performance times for the fish cut was 11 AM, 12:30 PM and 3 PM. We were in a rush to finish things so onward.
The next bus stop is Tsuya. Exit to the right and make a left at the T. You are heading towards Tamatsushima Shrine which is dedicated to a ancient poem god. In this area around the bend in the road are a island with a Shrine in front and to the right a Edo period stone arch bridge. The stone in engraved. Cross the street back and you will see a restaurante called Cafe Lierre (closed Thursday). Lunch was very good about $20 USD for a full set meal. The restaurant is in a restored Japanese home with a beautiful Japanese garden.
Walk to the right and you are now headed towards two large Shrines. Wakaura Tenmangu and Kishu Toshogu. Both are very near eachother. Near the first is a small lake where we saw a crane. The Shrine has very old stone steps and is steep. The main building atop is National Treasure. The second has 108 steep steps. The views are each are amazing esp when you look down. From here you will be taking a bus towards Wakayama Station. Your next stop is Wakayama Castle. The bus does not have a frequent schedule so be aware. Bus stop is to the left from Shrines past public school. Do not cross the street.
Wakayama Castle. This was certainly one of the nicest Castles I've seen in Japan. The Castle was ordered built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. His brother built the Castle and many of its defences are evident. There are so many things to see here. Outside the Castle direct grounds up a zig zag steep cement driveway is a bell which used to sound the time for the town cast from cannons owned by the Toyotomi. The Tokugawa had the bell cast. From this location you can walk towards the facing the Castle to the right and you will come upon an original period Gate which is a National Treasure. Enter the grounds here and make you way towards the Castle top. The original Castle was destroyed by fire in 1945. As you come back down from the Castle top make sure and stop by the Information Center. There is a Japanese garden here. The tourist office is very friendly and they have some samurai armor you can try on to take pics. No charge and not really that authentic but some guys from Hong Kong were having a great time with it. NOW. This was a real treat. From the front of the tourist office on Castle grounds look towards the street. That tall building is City Hall. On the top floor of City Hall (14th) which is free to access is a viewing point for the Castle and its grounds. The view from 14 is amazing and will be your BEST pic. It shows how extensive the Castle top grounds are. There is also a cafeteria which also anyone can acess. We made a stop for something to drink and take in the view. They have daily specials and it is very resonable. Many government workers were also having a snack there.
From this location we walked out of the building facing the Castle and broke a hard left down to the next major traffic intersection. Break another left and you are heading towards the river and center of old Wakayama. There is a dori (walking street) which is supposed to have some businesses dating back to the Edo period. Frankly we did not see any. As you cross the river look to your right. You will see a statue with palanquin atop. This was the entry way to the Castle keep or original grounds. The river marked the main entry hence the dori outside of this area. After walking the dori we made our way back to the Station. We changed our tickets from 6 PM to 4:30 PM. Back at Namba by 5:30 PM.
Once again Wakayama was an amazing experience and to get so much in during a short period was great. You will enjoy a trip to Wakayama. Thank you to my wife for being so patient with all those Japanese names.