Wakayama Prefecture

A sacred mountain land in the southwest of the Kii Peninsula, with the charms of Koyasan, the Kumano Kodo and the Shirahama hot spring coast.

Wakayama Prefecture lies in the southwest of the Kii Peninsula in Japan's Kansai region on Honshu, mostly mountainous, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and south. Koyasan is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism, where you can stay overnight in a temple lodging (shukubo) and experience monastic life. The Kumano Kodo and the Three Kumano Shrines form the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" World Heritage Site, ideal for pilgrimage hikes. Shirahama has a white sand beach and long-established hot springs, and nearby Adventure World keeps giant pandas. The climate is warm, and spring and autumn are best for hiking. Nankishirahama Airport connects to Tokyo, and from Osaka you can reach all parts by JR limited express or the Nankai Electric Railway.

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