If you are a serious Aikido buff, you will have heard of Tanabe. This little town on the shores of the Pacific Ocean on the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula is the birthplace of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba who is also referred to as Ōsensei (“Great Teacher”). Born in 1883, Ueshiba spe..
For a delicious and reasonable meal in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture, look no further than the restaurant Tensui. The restaurant has been open for about 30 years and is housed in a Showa Era building. Located in a quiet neighborhood, it is only a ..
You’ve probably heard a lot about Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. But do you know about Kuroshio market in Wakayama? Take a short bus ride from Wakayama City to the nearby man-made island and enjoy fresh sushi or sashimi of the just cut maguro or..
Not many people would associate a city hall with being a good place to eat but the cafeteria at Wakayama City Hall is a surprisingly decent option for city residents and travelers alike. The city hall's cafeteria is located at the top of the bui..
With the sound of waves rolling on shore and a white crystal sandy beach at the doorstep, Shiraraso Grand Hotel warmly invites holiday-makers to enjoy a relaxing break at Shirahama Onsen, one of Japan’s best-known hot spring resorts. Located r..
I’ve stayed in many hostels, but honestly I can't remember one that beats Guesthouse RICO in Wakayama City. The completely refurnished old building has a great atmosphere and extraordinary facilities. A relaxed and comfortable stay is guara..
Visiting the holy site of Koyasan is not complete without an overnight stay at one of the temples. There is a wide selection of temples and I believe that your experience at Koyasan is strongly influenced by the individual temple you choose to stay a..
It seems puzzling, a self-defence strategy that doesn’t go for the jugular. But this is Aikido, the way of harmonious spirit, which topples all my preconceptions of what fighting an enemy is, formed mainly of course by the movies. With Aikido, ..
A small seaside city in the south of Wakayama Prefecture, Shingu is a treasure trove of holy sites set in beautiful natural surroundings. Whether searching for original history or unique culture, trekking forested mountain paths or searching for a sp..
More often than not in Japan, you run out of time to see everything that you want to in a single visit. If the 5 heritage listed sites, spiritual significance and scenery of the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage interest you but you do not have a week to ..
