1. Home
  2. Kansai
  3. Wakayama Prefecture
  4. Wakayama City
  5. Places
  6. Wakayama Castle
Castle · Wakayama · Kansai

Wakayama Castle

和歌山城

Sixteenth-century castle with traditional Japanese architecture, surrounded by moat and stone walls, featuring a museum and scenic garden.

Wakayama Castle Exterior
Wakayama Castle Exterior
Opening hours
Mon–Sun 09:00–17:30
Holidays 09:00–17:30
Admission
Standard
Adult ¥410
Links
Official website English
Access
3, Ichibancho, Wakayama City, Wakayama
〒 640-8146
How to get there
Nearest stationWakayamashi Station
和歌山市
Kisei Main Line · Nankai Kada Line · Nankai Main Line · Nankai Wakayamako Line18 min walk from the station
Nearest bus stop県庁前3 min walk from the bus stop

Wakayama Castle is a historical castle located in the city of Wakayama, Japan. It was originally built in the 16th century and has been rebuilt and renovated several times over the centuries. The castle is a great example of traditional Japanese architecture and is surrounded by a moat and stone walls. The main castle tower, also called tenshu, is a five-story building that offers visitors panoramic views of the city and the surrounding areas. The castle's interior has been converted into a museum, where visitors can learn about the history and culture of the region.

The castle grounds also include several other buildings, such as the castle keep, the barracks, and the castle gate, which are open to the public. Inside the castle, visitors can see artifacts and displays related to the castle's history, such as weapons and armor used by the castle's defenders. The castle also features a beautiful garden, known as Nishinomaru Garden, that provides a tranquil setting for visitors to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Wakayama Castle is a popular tourist destination and an important cultural and historical site. It offers a glimpse into the past and a chance to learn about the history and culture of Wakayama.

Getting There

Map: Getting to Wakayama Castle. Legend: Kisei Main Line; Nankai Main Line; Nankai Wakayamako Line; Nankai Kada Line; Hanwa Line; Wakayama Line. Labelled stations: Osaka, Shin-Osaka, Tennoji, Namba, Oji, Kada, Kinokawa, Wakayamashi, Wakayama, Wakayamako.

Planning a trip? Fit this into a trip and Oni plans the rest around it.

At Hey Japan!, we strive to keep the places listed on our website as current as possible. However, location owners or management may alter opening times or modify admission requirements without prior notice. Check official websites before visiting.

Nearby

Places nearby

Park & Garden

Nishinomaru Garden

Public garden within Wakayama Castle grounds featuring thousands of cherry blossom trees, a central pond, and a traditional tea house.

Wakayama
Zoo & Wildlife

Wakayama City Zoo

Year-round zoo in Wakayama with animals from around the world, including penguins, bears and flamingos, plus farm animals that visitors can pet.

Wakayama
Keep exploring

You might also like

Castle

Nagoya Castle

Castle constructed in 1612 as the center of a major Edo-era post station, destroyed in World War II bombing but reconstructed since 1957.

Nagoya · Aichi
Castle

Marugame Castle

Seventeenth-century castle with distinctive 20-meter stone walls, rebuilt in 1640 and completed in 1670, ranked among Japan's Top 100 Castles.

Marugame · Kagawa
Castle

Inuyama Castle

Castle with a watchtower believed to be Japan's oldest tenshu, dating to the 1580s and rebuilt multiple times before being seized after the Meiji Restoration.

Inuyama · Aichi
Festival

Benkei Matsuri

Tanabe in Wakayama holds a two-day festival for Benkei, the warrior monk it claims as its own, with a play at the shrine and 600 dancers in wooden clogs.

2–3 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetTanabe · Wakayama
Festival

Fire Festival at Cape Shionomisaki

At Cape Shionomisaki, a practical piece of land management becomes a spectacular celebration as flaming arrows set the grasslands ablaze each winter.

16 Jan 2027Kushimoto · Wakayama
Festival

Mifune Festival

Each October, Kumano Hayatama Taisha holds the Mifune Matsuri, two days of sacred processions culminating in a thrilling fast-boat race on the Kumano River.

15–16 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetShingu · Wakayama