🪷Spring and Summer Hometown - 3-Day Tour in Wakayama City

📍 Itinerary introduction Wakayama is located in the Kansai region of Japan. It has rich natural landscapes, historical sites and hot spring resources. It is an ideal destination for those seeking physical and mental relaxation. Based at Dormy Inn Premium Wakayama Natural Hot Spring, this 3-day, 2-night itinerary will take you to explore Wakayama's culture, nature and food, combined with a hot spring experience and enjoy a relaxing vacation. Tour Overview: Day 1: Arrive in Wakayama, take a relaxing tour of the city (Wakayama Castle, Kisii-dera Temple), stay at Dormy Inn, and enjoy the hot springs. Day 2: One-day trip to Shirahama (Shirahama Beach, Senjojiki, Sandanbeki), return to the hotel to soak in hot springs. Day 3: Pilgrimage to Mount Koya, return in the afternoon. 🚩 Tour route Day 1: Explore Wakayama City + Relax in Hot Springs Morning: Arrive at JR Wakayama Station and check in to Dormy Inn Premium Wakayama Natural Hot Spring (5-minute walk). Noon: Enjoy Wakayama ramen near the hotel (recommended store: Ide Shoten). Afternoon: Visit Wakayama Castle (10 minutes by car) and admire the historical buildings and cherry blossoms/red leaves (seasonal only). Walk to Kisai-dera Temple (10 minutes by car) to experience Buddhist culture and sea views. Evening: Return to the hotel and enjoy the Kishu-no-Yu hot springs, public baths and saunas. Day 2: Shirahama Beach Resort Morning: Take the JR Limited Express from JR Wakayama Station (about 1.5 hours) to Shirahama Station, rent a car or take a bus to Shirahama Beach and stroll along the white sand. Noon: Enjoy seafood bowl or grilled seafood in Shirahama. Afternoon: Explore Senjojiki and see the spectacular coastal rock formations. Visit Sandanbeki and experience the stunning scenery of cliffs and waves. Evening: Return to Wakayama and enjoy the hotel hot spring again after dinner. Day 3: Spiritual Meditation Tour to Koyasan Morning: Take the Nankai Railway to Koyasan (about 2 hours), visit Okunoin Temple and Kongobuji Temple, and experience the tranquil atmosphere of this world heritage site. Noon: Enjoy Koyasan’s special Shojin cuisine (vegetarian). Afternoon: Return to JR Wakayama Station and end the trip. 🏖️ Check-in spot Wakayama Castle 🏯The castle has a long history, with beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and red leaves in autumn. The castle tower in the castle overlooks the city. Check-in Tip: Take photos of the castle and the moat. The lights are on in the evening for a more atmospheric view. Kisii Temple ⛩️One of the earliest cherry blossom viewing spots in Kansai, the red gate of the temple and the sea view complement each other. Check-in Tip: Take a photo upwards from the 231 stone steps to capture the panoramic view of the temple. Shirahama Beach 🏝️The white sand beach and clear water make it feel like a tropical resort. Check-in Tip: Take photos of the beach and Yuanyue Island, which are super romantic at sunset. Senjojiki 🌊The huge rock platform is connected to the Pacific Ocean, which is magnificent. Check-in Tip: Stand by the rocks and capture the dynamic images of the waves crashing. Three-stage wall 🪨The 60-meter-high cliffs and underground caves are full of mystery. Check-in Tip: Take a panoramic photo of the sea on the cliff, and be careful. Koyasan Okunoin Temple 🕉️World Heritage, tombstones and ancient fir forests create a sacred atmosphere. Check-in Tip: Take photos of the lantern trail and ancient trees, which are most artistic during the morning mist. 🚇 How to get to Wakayama: From Osaka Kansai International Airport, take the JR Limited Express "Kuroshio" (about 1 hour) or the Nankai Electric Railway (about 1.5 hours) to JR Wakayama Station. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station and has convenient transportation. City transportation: You can take the local bus (Wakayama Bus) or taxi to Wakayama Castle and Kisii-dera Temple. The one-way trip takes about 10-15 minutes. We recommend purchasing the "Wakayama Bus 1-Day Pass" (about 800 yen) which allows unlimited rides on city buses. Shirahama: Take the JR Limited Express Kuroshio from JR Wakayama Station to Shirahama Station (approximately 1.5 hours, one-way fare approximately 2,500 yen). You can rent a car (recommended) or take the Meiko Bus to visit the sights in Shirahama. Koyasan: Take the Nankai Railway from JR Wakayama Station to Koyasan Station (approximately 2 hours, about 2,000 yen one way, it is recommended to purchase the "Koyasan World Heritage Ticket"). There are buses connecting major attractions in Koyasan. 📷 Photograph Wakayama Castle Keep: Take a panoramic photo of the castle with the city or sunset in the background. Stone steps of Kimii-dera Temple: The red gate is photographed from below to show its imposing manner. Shirahama Engetsujima: Photograph the silhouettes of the rocks in the sea at sunset. Senjojiki Rock Platform: Capture the dynamic moment of waves hitting the rocks. Sandanbi Observation Deck: Capture the contrast between the cliff and the sea, the wide-angle lens is more stunning. Koyasan Lantern Trail: Photograph lanterns and ancient trees in the morning mist to create a sense of mystery. Photography Tips: Bring a wide-angle lens, which is suitable for photographing coastlines and temple buildings. Golden hour (sunrise/sunset) has soft light and is ideal for landscape photography. A tripod is helpful for photographing night scenes or long exposures of ocean waves. 🍜 Specialty food Wakayama Ramen 🍜Rich pork bone soy sauce soup base, paired with thin noodles, has a rich flavor. Recommended store: Ide Shoten (near JR Wakayama Station), a popular old store, a must-try if you have to wait in line. Seafood 🦐Shirahama is famous for its fresh seafood, and seafood bowls and grilled lobsters are recommended. Recommended restaurant: Toretore Market (Shirahama), where you can choose your own seafood and have it cooked on site. Shojin cuisine 🥗Koyasan specialty vegetarian food, focusing on the original flavor of the ingredients, healthy and delicious. Recommended restaurant: Fukuchiin, which provides a traditional temple dining experience. Plum dishes 🍑Wakayama is the hometown of Japanese plums, and pickled plums, plum wine, and plum desserts can be found everywhere. Recommended: Kishu Umeboshi specialty store, where you can try a variety of plum products. Tuna dishes 🐟Nachikatsuura is famous for its fresh tuna, which is super fresh whether it is served as sashimi or rice bowl. Recommended shop: Katsuura Fishing Port Market, freshly caught and cooked. 🏠 Recommended accommodation: Dormy Inn Premium Wakayama Natural Hot Spring Address: 3-36 Misono-cho, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan Features: 5 minutes walk from JR Wakayama Station, convenient transportation. We offer Kishu-no-Yu natural hot springs, public baths and saunas for relaxation. Modern room with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, bathrobe and private bathroom. Free late-night ramen is provided every night, and there is a rich breakfast buffet (Japanese + Western style). Price: From HK$393/night (off-season double room, fluctuates according to the season). Reservation: Available through Trip.com. It is recommended to book in advance to get discounts. Comments: Guests appreciate the hotel's hot spring facilities, breakfast quality and service attitude. Suitable for business and leisure travelers