Kansai · Day Tour
A castle on a hill, a bay that poets wrote about, and tuna cut in front of you.
From
¥13,000 per person
approx. US$82
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
Instant confirmation
A private Wakayama tour with a local guide. Wakayama Castle and its view over the city, Kimiidera and its wooden Kannon, the Kuroshio Market with its tuna-cutting demonstrations, and the shoreline at Wakanoura. The route is decided with you rather than fixed in advance.
Wakayama was held by one of the three branch houses of the Tokugawa family, and the castle reflects that standing. It sits on a rock outcrop in the middle of the city with the stonework climbing the slope, and the climb to the keep gives you the whole plain and the sea beyond it.
A temple on a hillside reached by a long flight of steps, holding a wooden Kannon standing more than twelve metres high. From the terrace the bay opens out below. It is one of the older temples in the region and it is known locally for having the earliest cherry blossom in the area.
Kuroshio Market runs a tuna-cutting demonstration several times a day — a whole fish broken down with long blades in front of the crowd, then sold and eaten on the spot. It is a working market as well as a show, and it is where you eat lunch.
The bay has been a subject in Japanese poetry since the eighth century, when the court came down to see it. There is a bridge, a shrine on a rock, tidal flats and the sea. It is a quiet end to a day and it explains why this stretch of coast has the reputation it does.
Meet your guide at the station.
The stonework, the keep and the view.
The steps, the Kannon and the bay below.
The tuna cutting, and lunch.
The bay, to finish.
Wakayama Station, Misonocho, Wakayama. Your guide will contact you on WhatsApp beforehand to agree the plan.
The price covers your private English-speaking guide. Entry fees, transport and meals are paid as you go, and by convention you also cover your guide's. Bring cash.
Yes. Wakayama is around an hour from Osaka by train and works as a day trip.
Both are elsewhere in the prefecture and need their own day. Ask when you book and we will tell you what fits.
It runs several times daily and takes minutes, but it is the thing guests remember. Your guide will build lunch around it.
A few kilometres, with two significant flights of steps. Tell your guide if you would prefer to skip one.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Bookings are confirmed instantly.
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