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2026/09/17

Festival · Wakayama · Kansai

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.

Tanabe · 2–3 Oct 2026

Shrine · Wakayama · Kansai

Kumano Hayatama Taisha

In Shingu, Wakayama, Kumano Hayatama Taisha stands as one of the three grand Kumano shrines – a "land of rebirth" where pilgrims have sought renewal for centuries.

Shingu

Festival · Wakayama · Kansai

Gobo Festival

Each October in Gobo, Wakayama, the region's largest autumn festival fills the streets with rival parish groups, dance, and towering, massive drum floats.

Gobo · 4–5 Oct 2026

Shrine · Wakayama · Kansai

Kumano Hongu Taisha

Kumano Hongu Taisha, heart of the Kumano Sanzan, traces its origins to before Emperor Jinmu – where legend says three moons descended to found the shrine.

Tanabe

Weather

Wakayama28°
Shirahama27°
Tanabe27°
Koya22°
Kushimoto26°

05:4318:03Wakayama

Yen

1 US Dollar¥155
1 Euro¥178.9
1 Singapore Dollar¥121.8
1 Australian Dollar¥110.6

Reference rates · 2026/09/16

Quick poll

Wakayama

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 2026Tanabe · Wakayama

Festival

Gobo Festival

Each October in Gobo, Wakayama, the region's largest autumn festival fills the streets with rival parish groups, dance, and towering, massive drum floats.

4–5 Oct 2026Gobo · 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 2026Shingu · 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.

30 Jan 2027Kushimoto · Wakayama

Festival

Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Festival (Reitaisai)

Each April, Kumano Hongu Taisha holds its Reitaisai – three days of purification rites, beautiful sacred dance performances, and a grand palanquin procession.

13–15 Apr 2027Tanabe · Wakayama

Festival

Sand Festival at Shirarahama Beach

On the white sands of Shirarahama Beach in Wakayama, teams compete each summer to shape elaborate sculptures using nothing but sand and seawater.

24 May 2027Shirahama · Wakayama

Festival

Nachi Fire Festival

One of Japan's three great fire festivals, where giant torches purify the path to Nachi Waterfall at a sacred Kumano shrine each 14 July.

14 Jul 2027Wakayama

Festival

Kishu Odori "Bundara-bushi"

Kishu Odori Bundara-bushi, one of Wakayama's largest summer events, returns on 1 August, with thousands of dancers around Wakayama Castle.

31 Jul – 1 Aug 2027Wakayama

Area & Points of Interest

Hashigui-iwa Rocks

A line of some forty rock pillars running out to sea at Kushimoto in Wakayama, left standing when the softer rock around them wore away.

Kushimoto · Wakayama

Area & Points of Interest

Engetsu Island

A small island off Shirahama in Wakayama with a round hole worn through its middle, which the setting sun passes into around the equinoxes.

Shirahama · Wakayama

Temple

Kongobu-ji (Koyasan)

Mount Koya is a sacred temple complex where the entire mountain is treated as one unified holy domain dedicated to Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.

Koya · Wakayama

Area & Points of Interest

Shirarahama Beach

A 620-metre beach of fine white quartz sand in Shirahama, Wakayama, and the first place on Honshu to open for swimming each year.

Shirahama · Wakayama

Religious Site

Okunoin (Koyasan)

The innermost sanctuary of Koyasan, where a two-kilometre path through ancient cedars and 200,000 graves leads to the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi.

Koya · Wakayama

Shrine

Kumano Hongu Taisha

Kumano Hongu Taisha, heart of the Kumano Sanzan, traces its origins to before Emperor Jinmu – where legend says three moons descended to found the shrine.

Tanabe · Wakayama

Shrine

Kumano Hayatama Taisha

In Shingu, Wakayama, Kumano Hayatama Taisha stands as one of the three grand Kumano shrines – a "land of rebirth" where pilgrims have sought renewal for centuries.

Shingu · Wakayama

Shrine

Kumano Nachi Taisha

One of the three grand shrines of Kumano, beside Japan's tallest waterfall – and spiritual home of the Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow on Japan's football crest.

Wakayama

Castle

Wakayama Castle

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

Wakayama

Temple

Kimiidera

A 1,250-year-old Buddhist temple in Wakayama that holds the second position on Japan's oldest pilgrimage route dedicated to Kannon worship.

Wakayama

Zoo & Wildlife

Adventure World

A wildlife park in Shirahama featuring diverse animal experiences, though its longtime giant pandas departed in June 2025.

Shirahama · Wakayama

Zoo & Wildlife

Wakayama City Zoo

A year-round zoo in Wakayama featuring animals from around the world, including petable farm animals, set within a natural habitat designed for educational observation.

Wakayama

Pilgrimage

Kumano Kodo

Wakayama · Kansai

Wakayama right now

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