Castle Town Walking Course Required time：Approx. 1hr. 30min.

Wakayama City is the seat of the prefectural government and has grown as an international hub open to the world. In the Edo Period, it boasted the Kishu clan, together with the Owari and Mito clans, that held high positions and prospered under the Tokugawa Shogunate. The castle town of this clan retains the historical vestiges of affluent times that centered on Wakayama Castle.

Kada Course Required time：Approx. 1hr. 30 min.

Located on the coast, Kada is historically a fishing village. The streets are alive with anglers and people who love marine sports. Many of the lodgings have their own boats and energetic voices echo across the harbor. Are you interested in dining on fresh seafood while touring the quaint city streets and historical sites?

World Heritage　Walking Course Required time：Approx. 3 hr.

Koyasan is a holy land built in the mountains by the Monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) in 816 as an ascetic training center of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. There are today 117 temples and sanctuaries that instill solid faith in many and form one of the most prominent religious enclaves in Japan. This course takes you through the history of Koyasan via numerous World Heritage Sites that dot this vast mountaintop refuge.

Yuasa Miso/ Soy Sauce Course Required time：Approx. 1hr. 30min.

This course pays a visit to Kinzanji Miso and Soy Sauce, two traditional flavors of Japan and specialty foods from Yuasa. Yuasa is in fact the birthplace of soy sauce and old warehouses and museums that tell the history of the seasoning fill the townscape. The World Heritage Kumano-Kaido is also here and you can enjoy the history of Japan amidst the bouquet of soy sauce adrift in the air.

Traditional Buildings Course

The town prospered long ago as a post town and grew into a major producer of miso and soy sauce, therefore many traditional structures remnant of old Japanese culture can be seen. This course introduces you to the Important Cultural Buildings Preservation District where you can feel Japanese culture of the past in the row houses with their sliding doors and lattice windows, and the earthen storehouses that are intact from long ago.

Tanabe City Course Required time：Approx. 2 hr.

Tanabe long ago prospered as a post town along the Kumano-Kodo and a key port for navigating around Kishu. It later grew as the center of government, economics and culture for the southern part of Wakayama. It is the native home of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and it can be enjoyed for the feudal atmosphere of a castle town and the plentiful fruits of the sea yielded from the offshore. Come and taste for yourself the unique character of Tanabe.

Kumagusu Minakata Course Required time：Approx. 3 hr. 30 min.

Kumagusu Minakata (1867-1941) was a world-renowned naturalist born in Wakayama. From age 20 to 34, he studied in the USA, UK and other countries, published many papers inside and outside Japan including for the British scientific journal “Nature” and left behind many great achievements. After returning home, he spent half of his life researching slime molds and cryptogrammic plants as an independent scholar.

Mt. Nachi World Heritage Sites Course Required time：Approx. 3 hr.

Around Mt. Nachi in Nachikatsuura are found several World Heritage Sites that you can walk to, including Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine, one of the “Kumano-Sanzan” or “three shrines of Kumano”. The mysterious landscape that emperors and others traveled over 1,000 years ago in hopes of redemption remains intact today and gently soothes the minds of travelers.

Shingu and World Heritage Sites Course Required time：Approx. 3 hr.

Shingu grew long ago as the doorway to Kumano Hayatama Grand Shrine, one of the World Heritage “Kumano-Sanzan” or “three shrines of Kumano”. Also, legend has it that an emissary from China named Jofuku came long ago to this land in search of an elixir of youth. The ancient culture of Japan is adrift with these intriguing episodes from other worlds.

Wakaura Walking Course Required time：Approx. 2hr.

Wakayama Bay is a scenic sight abounding with natural wonders that have been loved by the nobility of ancient Nara as far back as 1,000 years and the Kishu clan of the more recent Edo Period. The beauty is unchanged today and continues to draw visitors from all over. You can spend time relaxing to the peaceful sea and lush green mountain backdrop that seems so much like a watercolor.

Coastal (Engetsuto Island and Sea) Course Required time：Approx. 1hr.

Shirahama is one of the prime marine resort towns of Wakayama Prefecture. It has white sandy beaches and hot springs wherever you go. It blends a stylish marine resort scene with historical sites that abound in Japanese sentiment. Why not spend some time gazing upon the blue seas, playing in the water and probing the depths of the local history.

Senjojiki-Sandanbeki Course Required time：Approx. 1hr. 30 min.

Senjojiki and Sandanbeki are part of the magnificent Shirahama landscape formed over millennia. After being overwhelmed by breathtaking views, a bath in the hot springs of Shirahama is just the right thing. This course fills you to your heart’s content with distinctive hot springs and local cuisine characterized by seafood and variety.

Kushimoto Sightseeing Courses Required time：Approx. 2 hr.

Kushimoto is the southernmost town of Honshu. It is known as a hot spot for marine sports and an area of beautiful seas and landscapes, which includes a coastline with the northernmost coral reefs in the world that has been registered under Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat. Moreover, it is blessed with a wondrous mountain environment. These courses take you to this and more including hot springs and the Okyo Rosetsu Museum where rare Japanese works of art can be seen.

Shionomisaki Point Course Required time：Approx. 1 hr.

This course takes you to the wondrous natural environment of Shionomisaki Point and the magnificent panoramas of the azure seas that are enjoyed from its location jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. Time will fly and you will enjoy an unforgettable experience as you gaze at the far-off horizon from the grassy fields. And, as a commemorative souvenir of your visit, the Kushimoto Tourist Association will give you a certificate proving your visit to the southernmost point of Honshu.

Oshima Island Course Required time：Approx. 2 hr. 30 min.

Except for the area around the port, this island of approx. 8 km east-west by 2.5 km north-south is edged by steep cliffs. The landscape is, nevertheless, wonderful because of the subtropical vegetation and beautiful seas. Also, this course includes historical interests that tell of the first encounter between Japan and the USA and the spiritual bonds of a local community with some lost Turkish sailors.

Kainan Sightseeing Course Required time：Approx. 2hr. 30 min.

Kuroe is home to traditional lacquerware that dates back more than 300 years. In the Edo Period, the city was a bustling town with some 2,000 local lacquerware artisans. Today, it is one of the top three lacquerware producing areas in Japan and the cityscape looks like it did a long time ago. It is also part of the World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains and a great course for encountering the artistry and faith of Japan.

Shukubo Course Required time：Approx. 2 hr.

A “shukubo” is a temple with lodgings. There are 53 of them in Koyasan, all of which have an original look, Japanese garden, painted sliding doors and historical importance. This course allows visitors to leisurely enjoy Koyasan through an overnight stay at a shukubo and a closer encounter with Buddhism.

Nyonindo Course Required time：Approx. 2 hr.

For centuries after its inception, Koyasan strictly adhered to the religious precept of prohibiting women in the sanctuary. Therefore, temples for women called “nyonindo” were built at the seven entrances to Mt. Koya for women to pray. The precept was abolished in 1872, but the sites of the nyonindo are a reminder of this past. This course visits these sites and recalls what women went through.

Whale Town Course Required time：Approx. 3 hr.

Taiji was the cradle of time-honored whaling in Japan. For over 400 years, they have maintained the tradition of modern whaling. The history of Japanese whaling can be seen at the Whaling Ship and Taiji Whale Museum. Come probe the culture of a town that has learned to love and coexist with these mammoths of the sea.

Hongu Hot Spring and World Heritage Sites Course

This course walks the Nakahechi pilgrimage route to Kumano and Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine, and gives travelers a chance to refresh their bodies and minds in the warm waters of Hongu Hot Spring. The pilgrimage to Kumano was started over a thousand years ago by the nobility of Kyoto and was a journey for renewing the soul and seeking heaven on earth. Those wishes are carried on by many people today who make their way to the area.

Shirarahama Beach - Yuzaki Course Required time：Approx. 2hr.

Shirahama is one of Japan's three oldest hot springs. Some 1,300 years ago, it was called “Muronoyu” and “Kinoonsen”. Over the centuries, many an emperor came to bathe in the healing waters. Today, the town abounds with a variety of public baths, footbaths and more so that anyone and everyone can freely enjoy themselves. What a better way to soothe one’s aches after a day out walking.

Hot Springs and Sightseeing by the Sea Course Required time：Approx. 1 hr. 30 min.

Nachikatsuura is famous for the World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains, its rich hot spring resources and fresh tuna. This course is designed for you to enjoy the Katsuura Hot Springs through the footbaths, the magnificent sights of the sea and the tuna market at the port. Come fill yourself with the attractions born and raised by the majestic waters of the Kuroshio Sea and a year-round mild climate.