Wakayama Castle, a great day trip destination near Osaka.

A day trip from Osaka to Wakayama Castle is quite convenient. It takes about an hour by JR train, and then you can walk to the castle. From a distance, you can see the magnificent three-story white-walled main keep, which is quite impressive. Wakayama Castle is as famous as Himeji Castle and Matsuyama Castle, being one of the three major flatland mountain castles. It features a lush daimyo garden with a pond and a beautiful curved castle wall. Climbing to the top of the main keep offers a panoramic view of Wakayama City. The entrance fee is ¥410, which is quite affordable. Interestingly, within the vast grounds of Wakayama Castle, there is a mini zoo and a waterfowl park. You can enjoy watching peacocks, monkeys, penguins, capybaras, and alpacas for free in this samurai castle, which is quite therapeutic. To learn about the feudal history of Wakayama Castle, the Wakayama History Museum within the park is a good choice, and you can visit it for free with your entrance ticket. Nearby, there is also the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, which houses a large collection of woodblock prints and is worth a visit.