Start your morning at Kimiidera Temple, a historic site overlooking Wakayama Bay. Climb the stone steps to enjoy panoramic views of the city and coastline while experiencing one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in the region.

Next, head to Kuroshio Market to experience local seafood culture and watch the famous tuna-cutting show. Sample fresh sushi and regional specialities rarely found outside Wakayama.

Continue to Obonai Tea Plantation, a hidden countryside gem where rolling tea fields create stunning landscapes. Meet local tea farmers and enjoy authentic Wakayama green tea away from the crowds.

Next, visit Danjo Garan, the spiritual heart of Koyasan, featuring colourful temple architecture and sacred grounds founded by Kukai over 1,200 years ago. Explore Kongobu-ji Temple, the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, famous for its elegant sliding-door paintings and Japan’s largest rock garden.

Walk through Okunoin Cemetery, a mystical cedar forest lined with more than 200,000 gravestones and memorials. The atmosphere becomes especially magical in the late afternoon.

Instead of taking the standard route, travel through Wakayama’s mountain roads, passing tiny villages, cedar forests, and scenic viewpoints rarely visited by tourists. End the day with breathtaking mountain panoramas above the clouds at Takano-Ryujin Skyline. This scenic road offers some of the most spectacular views in the Kansai region.