{"id":4083,"date":"2026-04-09T20:08:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T03:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/?page_id=4083"},"modified":"2026-04-09T20:17:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T03:17:40","slug":"wakayama-region","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/japan\/wakayama-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Wakayama Region"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Home<\/a> \u203a\n Asia<\/a> \u203a\n Japan<\/a> \u203a\n Wakayama<\/span>\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Travel Wakayama: Kumano Kodo, Kii-Katsuura & the Sacred South<\/div>

Real Wakayama travel \u2014 ancient pilgrimage trails, onsen towns, wild coastline and one of the most spiritual experiences in all of Japan<\/p>

2+<\/span>
Guides<\/span><\/div>
75km<\/span>
Pilgrimage trail<\/span><\/div>
2<\/span>
Days minimum<\/span><\/div>
UNESCO<\/span>
World Heritage<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Start planning Wakayama \u2192<\/a><\/p>

Kumano Kodo<\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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3 hrs from Osaka<\/div>\n
By limited express<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Japanese Yen<\/div>\n
Currency<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Oct\u2013Nov \u00b7 Apr\u2013May<\/div>\n
Best seasons<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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UNESCO<\/div>\n
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\ud83c\udf32<\/div>\n Our honest take on Wakayama<\/span>\n <\/div>\n

The Kumano Kodo is unlike anything we have ever done. It’s not a casual hike \u2014 it’s a multi-day pilgrimage through ancient cedar forests, mountain passes and tiny villages that have barely changed in centuries. Kii-Katsuura at the end, with its onsen hotels built into sea caves, is one of the most unique places we’ve ever slept. This is the part of Japan that most tourists miss entirely \u2014 and that’s exactly why it’s worth it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Best time to visit Wakayama<\/div>\n
October\u2013November is peak season \u2014 autumn colours on the trail are stunning. April\u2013May is also beautiful and less crowded. Avoid July\u2013August \u2014 the heat and humidity can be extreme and some trail sections become dangerous. January\u2013February is very cold and some routes close.<\/div>\n
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Areas of Wakayama<\/h3>\n

Each area has a completely different feel<\/p>\n\n

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Kumano Kodo Trail<\/div>\nUNESCO \u00b7 Hiking<\/span>\n
Ancient cedar forest pilgrimage trail \u2014 one of the world’s most sacred walking routes<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Kii-Katsuura<\/div>\nOnsen \u00b7 Coastline<\/span>\n
Sea cave onsen hotels, fresh tuna market and dramatic Pacific coastline<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Hongu Taisha<\/div>\nSpiritual \u00b7 Shrine<\/span>\n
The most sacred Kumano Grand Shrine \u2014 the spiritual heart of the pilgrimage route<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Nachi Falls<\/div>\nWaterfall \u00b7 Views<\/span>\n
Japan’s tallest waterfall paired with a stunning vermilion pagoda \u2014 an iconic photo stop<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Wakayama Itineraries<\/div>\n
How to plan your Kumano Kodo trip<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Coming soon<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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2 days on the Kumano Kodo \u2014 our exact route from Osaka<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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How to add Wakayama to your Japan itinerary without adding extra days<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
Check back soon \u2014 content coming \u2192<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Wakayama Experiences<\/div>\n
Kumano Kodo, onsen and the sacred south<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Browse all \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Hiking<\/span>\n
Walking the Kumano Kodo \u2014 what it’s really like to hike Japan’s pilgrimage trail<\/div>\n Read guide \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Cost guide<\/span>\n
Is the Kumano Kodo affordable? Our 2-day cost breakdown<\/div>\n Read guide \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n See all Wakayama experiences \u2192<\/a>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Where to Stay in Wakayama<\/div>\n
Onsen hotels, ryokans and minshuku along the trail<\/div>\n <\/div>\n Coming soon<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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Where to stay on the Kumano Kodo \u2014 onsen hotels and trail ryokans<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Kii-Katsuura sea cave onsen hotels \u2014 worth the price?<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Start here<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Our best Wakayama guides \u2014 the Kumano Kodo and beyond.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWalking the Kumano Kodo: What It\u2019s Really Like to Hike Japan\u2019s Pilgrimage Trail\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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Walking the Kumano Kodo trail is not like any other hike we have done before.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tExplore \u2192\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIs the Kumano Kodo Affordable? Our 2-Day Cost Breakdown\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tOctober 3, 2025\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Wondering how much the Kumano Kodo costs? Here\u2019s our full 2-day budget breakdown with real<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tExplore \u2192\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Explore more of Japan<\/div>\n
Browse our full Japan guides \u2014 food, hotels, itineraries and city breakdowns across Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka<\/div>\n
\n Japan hub \u2192<\/a>\n Tokyo \u2192<\/a>\n Japan itineraries \u2192<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Home \u203a Asia \u203a Japan \u203a Wakayama Travel Wakayama: Kumano Kodo, Kii-Katsuura & the Sacred South Real Wakayama travel \u2014 ancient pilgrimage trails, onsen towns, wild coastline and one of the most spiritual experiences in all of Japan 2+Guides75kmPilgrimage trail2Days minimumUNESCOWorld Heritage Start planning Wakayama \u2192 Kumano Kodo \ud83d\ude86 3 hrs from Osaka By limited […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":2709,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4083","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4083"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4093,"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4083\/revisions\/4093"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtripsabroad.com\/en_ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}