One Day in Wakayama City: Best Things to Do and Itinerary Guide
Wakayama City (和歌山市), the capital of Wakayama Prefecture, is often overlooked by travelers in the Kansai region who focus on Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. But this coastal city has plenty to offer: an impressive castle, quiet temples, delicious seafood, and scenic coastal views. Wakayama is easy to explore as a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, but I recommend staying the night before and/or after if you want to make the most of your visit.
That’s exactly what I did. I arrived to Wakayama in the evening and stayed overnight so I could spend the next full day exploring the city at a relaxed pace. In this guide, I’m sharing the exact itinerary I followed, perfect if you want to experience the best of Wakayama City in just one day, as well as additional travel tips (where to stay, when to go…).
How to Get to Wakayama City
Wakayama City is easy to reach by train from both Osaka and Kyoto:
From Osaka, the most convenient route is taking the JR Hanwa Line from Tennoji Station directly to Wakayama Station. The journey takes about one hour, and the trains run frequently throughout the day.
If you’re coming from Kyoto, you can take the JR Kyoto Line to Osaka Station, transfer to the Osaka Loop Line to reach Tennoji, and then continue on the JR Hanwa Line to Wakayama. The entire trip from Kyoto takes around 2 hours depending on connections.
In my case, I was traveling by car to Wakayama City from Koyasan after spending a week on a road trip to explore Mie and Wakayama prefectures. I loved having a car for this trip as it gave me the flexibility to explore small towns and scenic spots around these prefectures. But if you're focusing only on Wakayama City, you won’t need one — public transport is enough to reach the main sights comfortably.
My One-Day Itinerary to Explore Wakayama
I had decided to stay overnight near the starting point of my itinerary, so I wouldn’t have to rush to explore the city in one day. I booked a room at the Wakayama Marina City Hotel (和歌山マリーナシティホテル), which is right next to the ocean and a convenient choice for exploring nearby attractions in Wakayama Marina City, an artificial resort island on the coastline of Wakayama. This way I was able to get some sleep and have a good breakfast at the hotel bakery, I was able to leave my suitcase at the hotel after check-out and I started walking around Wakayama Marina City at around 10.30am.
Begin Your Day in Wakayama Marina City: Porto Europa
This itinerary starts at Porto Europa (ポルトヨーロッパ), a European-style theme park located in Wakayama Marina City. Even if you're not into theme parks, it's worth stopping by for a short morning walk. The park is free to enter and is surprisingly photogenic, with cobbled streets, colorful facades, and a small harbor that feels like a miniature version of a Southern European town, taking inspired by France, Spain and Italy.
Although I saw it as a scenic walk and a fun place to take photos rather than a full tour of the park, you should know that you can also buy tickets to enjoy the rides and attractions (there's a rollercoaster for the kids, a ferry wheel, a water slide, a carousel...), which could be a fun activity if you're a family with children visiting Wakayama. You can visit the Porto Europa website for more information on attractions and ticket prices.
Lunchtime at Kuroshio Market and Tuna Cutting Show
After strolling around Porto Europe, I walked over to Kuroshio Market (黒潮市場), just a few minutes away. This market is known for its famous tuna cutting shows (called maguro kaitai), where a whole tuna is filleted right in front of visitors. The tuna cutting show takes place every day at 12.30pm, with additional shows at 11am and 3pm on weekends and public holidays.
I aimed to see the show at 12:30pm and because I arrived early, I took some time to wander through the market, soaking in the Showa-inspired atmosphere and finding local products to bring back as omiyage. Then I had lunch in the food court right at the market. I had a fun time choosing snacks from different food stalls (you can find fresh seafood bowls, grilled seafood, tempura and more) and enjoyed my lunch in the outside food court area. The quality of the food was great, the prices reasonable, and the atmosphere felt very local despite being a touristy spot.
Next, it was time for the tuna cutting show. I was struck by the sheer size of the tuna and the precision with which the master fishmonger effortlessly carved through the fish, leaving almost nothing to waste. The demonstration lasts about 10–15 minutes and is conducted in Japanese, but even without understanding every word, it was fascinating to watch.
✨TRAVELY TIP: Don’t skip nearby the Kinokuni Fruit Village (紀ノ国フルーツ村), a small but well-stocked fruit market just outside Kuroshio Market. There, you can find locally grown and seasonal fruits from Wakayama Prefecture to sample and purchase. I remember tasting delicious mikan (Japanese mandarins) there.
Spend the Afternoon at Wakayama Castle and Momijidani Garden
In the early afternoon, I made my way to Wakayama Castle (和歌山城), located right in the heart of the city. You can reach it by bus in about 45 minutes from Marina City. In my case, I first went to Wakayama station to leave my suitcase in a locker, before catching a bus to the castle (it’s alternatively a 20-minute walk).
Wakayama Castle is smaller than the famous Osaka or Himeji castles, but it has its unique charm. Perched on a hill, it offers nice panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. You can freely stroll through its park and admire its impressive structure, or decide to visit the main keep for a small fee (¥410).
The park around the castle is peaceful, with plenty of walking paths. I especially liked visiting Momijidani Garden (紅葉渓庭園), a traditional Japanese garden tucked inside the castle grounds (free entrance). The autumn colors were just wonderful. You’ll notice the elegant Ohashi Roka Bridge (御橋廊下), a covered bridge that was originally built during the Edo period and is known for its very rare design. If you’re feeling like a little rest, you could also stop at a little teahouse inside the park called Koshoan (茶室 紅松庵), where you can enjoy a cup of matcha and sweets for a small fee.
I spent about two hours here admiring the castle and exploring the park, and it didn’t feel rushed at all, but you can easily spend more or less time depending on how much you’d like to explore.
Enjoy the Golden Hour at Kimii-dera Temple
To finish a great day spent in Wakayama, I decided to visit Kimii-dera (紀三井寺), a temple located on a hillside a little outside the city center. From Wakayama Castle, you can take a direct bus to the temple or head back to Wakayama station and take a local train on the Kinokuni Line, and then walk to the temple.
Being a shrine and temple lover, this temple was one of the highlights of Wakayama for me. The main hall is perched on a hill with a beautiful view over the city and the bay, especially during golden hour. I timed my visit to arrive in the late afternoon, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. The light was soft, the temple grounds were calm, and the view from the top of the stairs was stunning as the sun started to set. It’s not a huge temple, so you won’t need too long to explore, but it’s definitely worth including in your day.
After the sunset at Kimii-dera, it was time to return to Wakayama Station to get ready for my night bus back to Tokyo. I had a casual meal at Saizeriya, a super cheap Italian-style family restaurant chain you’ll often find around Japan, wandered around the station, stopping by a few shops for some quick souvenirs and snacks and even ended up spending an hour at a karaoke place near the station. It was the perfect relaxing ending to a full day exploring Wakayama City.
Where to Stay in Wakayama City
I enjoyed my stay at Wakayama Marina City Hotel (和歌山マリーナシティホテル). Located right next to Porto Europe, it's a convenient place to stay if you're following an itinerary like mine. The hotel has a western resort feel, and although there were comments about the decor being a little dated, I found the hotel charming as it was. My room was spacious and clean, and what I particularly appreciated was the free onsen included in the stay. In fact, you get free access to a nearby public onsen, the Kishu Kuroshio Hot Spring (天然紀州黒潮温泉), a 3-minute walk from the hotel.
I had dinner there and spent the evening relaxing in the indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. Given that I had booked a room for three people at ¥18,000, I thought it was excellent value for money!
If you’d prefer to stay close to Wakayama station, the hotel I would go for is Dormy Inn Premium Wakayama Natural Hot Spring. I really like this chain of hotels in Japan, because I find that it offers excellent value for money, impeccable rooms, magnificent onsen and plenty of nice amenities and free services.
➡️ For more accommodation options in Wakayama, you can check Agoda and Booking to find the best deals and locations that suit your travel plans.
Essential Travel Tips to Enjoy your Time in Wakayama
Best Time to Visit Wakayama City
Wakayama City is a year-round destination, each season having its own charm. In spring during the cherry blossom season, Wakayama Castle Park turns into a stunning hanami (flower-viewing) spot, with over 600 sakura trees on its grounds. Kimii-dera Temple is also known for its early blooming cherry blossoms. I visited during the autumn season in November, and the autumn colors around the city were beautiful! During the summer, though it is hot and humid, you can enjoy beach activities along the coast, while winter is quieter but still enjoyable, with magnificent night-time illuminations along the 2km avenue from JR Wakayama station to Wakayama Castle, Wakayama Castle Park and Marina City.
How to Get Around Wakayama
Wakayama City is compact and relatively easy to navigate. Local buses are convenient as they connect major attractions, including Wakayama Castle and Kimii-dera Temple, but I’d recommend you to check schedules in advance for a smooth day exploring Wakayama city (I use Google Maps).
Other Things to Do In and Around Wakayama City
There are plenty of other places to visit in and around Wakayama city if you’d like to spend more time there. One place I would have loved to visit if I'd had more time in Wakayama is Awashima Shrine (淡嶋神社) in Kada, a shrine dedicated to women’s health and famous for its enormous collection of dolls. I’d also like to ride the Tama Densha train on the Kishigawa Line and meet the famous cat stationmaster at Kishi station (貴志駅).
If you're interested in exploring more of Wakayama Prefecture, I’ve also written about my experience visiting Koyasan (高野山), one of Japan’s most sacred Buddhist sites:
You can also consult activities and excursions in Wakayama Prefecture offered by travel platforms such as KKDay, Klook or GetyourGuide.
I’ll soon be sharing more about other incredible destinations in the region, including the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails and the Katsuura Fishing Port, known for its lively tuna auctions. If you don’t want to miss these upcoming articles, be sure to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter for updates!
To Conclude
I very much enjoyed my one-day itinerary to discover Wakayama City, from exploring the European-style Porto Europe in the morning to enjoying the sunset views at Kimii-dera in the evening. Whether you're drawn to its historical landmarks, fresh seafood, or scenic coastal atmosphere, Wakayama has plenty to offer for a day trip or a longer stay. If you have extra time, consider venturing beyond the city to discover more of Wakayama Prefecture’s hidden gems. I hope this itinerary helps you plan your own trip — let me know if you visit and what you enjoyed the most!
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