Half-Day Plan of Tanabe City in Wakayama when Leaving KIX Around Noon; Recommended Route to Enjoy Local Delicacies, World Heritage Site and Photogenic Spot

What do you know about “Wakayama” (和歌山)? When you think of Kansai region, probably Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Nara come up to your mind while “Wakayama” rarely does. As a matter of a fact, Wakayama is one of the prefectures consisting Kansai region and is just next to Osaka. Though it is not a super major destination, there is much things you cannot miss in this prefecture. In this issue, let us introduce a best route on which the charm of Wakayama is found. Since the city of Tanabe, in Wakayama prefecture is easily accessible from Rinku Town Station, only one station away from KIX, by bus in around two hours, let’s focus on the city who has Kumamo Kodo (熊野古道) pilgrimage routes, a World Heritage site. Why not leave Osaka or KIX late in the morning and spend your afternoon in the city to look for the charm of Wakayama Prefecture?

<Destination 1> At “Horai Zushi”, a sushi restaurant loved by the locals for around 150 years, try its original ‘Hitohame Zushi’ and a local delicacy ‘Araga-don’

Let’s start your afternoon getaway by satisfying your appetite at “Horai Zushi” (宝来寿司), established in 1875. When at the restaurant, never miss ‘Hitohame Zushi’ (ひとはめ寿司). ‘Hitohame’ is a seaweed of the family Alaria crassifolia, and is a member of the same species as wakame seaweed. Since the suitable area for the seaweed is small and most of it is consumed locally, it is hard to find it outside the area. ‘Hitohame Zushi’ is the restaurant’s original menu in which sushi rice mixed with home-grown red perilla soaked in plum vinegar and shimesaba (pickled mackerel) are wrapped in a roll with ‘hitohame’. The rich scent of ‘hitohame’ with which you can feel the ocean, the refreshing aroma of red perilla, and the concentrated flavor of pickled mackerel are perfectly harmonized. In addition, ‘Agara-don’　(あらが丼) is also quite loved. ‘Agara’ is ‘us’ or ‘our’ in the area’s dialect, and ‘Agara-don’ embodies ‘our best bowl of seasonal ingredients from Tanabe City’. During the lunchtime, a special ‘Araga-don’ is offered for a limited period of the year until March 31st, so do not miss it.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 9:00PM / Closed on Monday
Address	1126 Minato, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access	A 4-minute walk from Kii-Tanabe Station
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/wakayama/A3004/A300402/30000272/

<Destination 2> Visit and enjoy the Tangible Cultural Property building in a combination of Western and Japanese-styles and the museum for free; “Minakata Kumagusu Archives / Minakata Kumagusu Residence” where you can follow in the footsteps of the Wakayama born naturalist who was also a pioneer of nature conservation

Have you ever heard of “Minakata Kumagusu” (南方熊楠), a naturalist born in Wakayama? He mainly studied slime molds, and was significantly recognized in the natural history world so that he got to give a lecture to Emperor Hirohito. Besides, he is said to have been a pioneer of nature conservation in Japan. The residence he spent from 1916 to 1941 is preserved as ‘Minamikata Kumagusu Residence’ (南方熊楠邸) and is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property for its well-balanced architecture embracing Western elements into Japanese-styles. The main building, dozo (godown), and study still exist on the site of over 1,300 m2, and the appearance of the time when he actually lived is realistically reproduced. Next to the residence, there is the ‘Minamikata Kumagusu Archives’ (南方熊楠顕彰館) storing and exhibiting about 25,000 books and letters he left behind. The admission is free, so be sure to stop by.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 5:00PM / Closed on Monday, second and forth Tuesday (excl. national holidays), immediate following days of national holidays (excl. weekends and national holidays) and December 28th to January 4th
Address	36 Nakayashiki-machi, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access	A 5-minute walk from Kii-Tanabe Station
URL	https://www.minakata.org

<Destination 3> A World Heritage site and an Important Cultural Property, “Tokei Shrine” the unique group of shrines with 6 buildings lined up in straight, located along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes

There are three shrines called ‘Kumano Sanzan’ (the grand three shrines in Kumano) in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture, and the way connecting these three is called Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. “Tokei Shrine” (鬪雞神社), founded in 419 and registered as a part of Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range World Heritage in 2016, is located on the fork of two pilgrimage routes which are ‘Nakahenro’ (middle pilgrimage route) going in the north and ‘Ohenro’ (major pilgrimage route) in the south. The name of the shrine is after an anecdote that the person in charge of ‘Kumano Sanzan’ let seven white hens fight to each other to know god’s will for which side of the two parties he should take during a major war in the 12th century. The highlights on the site are 6 shrine buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties, a flute dedicated by ‘Minamoto no Yoshitsune’ (a military commander, 1159 – 1189), and a kettle that boiled hot water when Benkei (a warrior monk, 1155 – 1189) was born.

Opening Hours	Ask the shrine for details
Address	1-1 Toyo, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access	A 5-minute walk from Kii-Tanabe Station
URL	https://en.visitwakayama.jp/venues/venue_514/

<Destination 4 > Salar de Uyuni-like magnificent ground view reflecting the sky at “Tenjinzaki”

At the end of your short getaway in Wakayama, take a stroll and visit “Tenjinzaki” (天神崎) before sunset. It is a cape located in the north of Tanabe Bay, and is formed by some small islands, flat rocky terrain, and hills around Mt. Hiyori. When the tide level rises from 140 cm to 150 cm, the seawater left on the coral reef reflects the view including the sky and people, creating a magnificent view just like the famous Salar de Uyuni. Of course, it all depends on the weather conditions, but the best time for the view is between early evening and just after sunset. The days when conditions might be met during this best time are announced on the official site of Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau.

Address	19-19 Mera, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Access	A 6-minute bus ride from Kii-Tanabe Station to Meiyo Mae Bus stop and a 15-minute walk from Meiyo Mae Bus stop, or A 7-station train ride on Minabe Line from Kii-Tanabe Station to Motomachi Station and a 8-minute walk from Motomachi Station
URL	https://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/places/tanabe/