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Prefecture of Japan
Photo: Big Ben in Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県 Wakayama-ken) is located in the southwestern part of Kansai region.
By train
The main train hub is Wakayama, about one hour south of Osaka, or two hours to Kyoto on the Ocean Arrows limited express.
By bus
A train line runs around the southern coastline. Other train services are sparse.
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Osaka · International · KIX
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the prefectural capital
Kainan (海南) is a city in Wakayama Prefecture.
town on the southernmost point of Honshu
Mt. Nachi and Katsuura onsen
Shirahama Onsen and Nanki-Shirahama Airport
Shingu (新宮市 Shingū-shi) is a city in Wakayama Prefecture.
Tanabe (田辺市 Tanabe-shi) is a city in Wakayama Prefecture. This article covers the main beachside city; the distant mountain district of Hongu is treated in a separate article.
a little mountain town surrounded by three great onsen
Articles and travel topics about Wakayama (prefecture) and Japan.
Travel tipsCheck if you need a visa for Japan in 2026. Discover visa-exempt nationalities, eVisa eligibility, stay durations, and how to use Visit Japan Web QR codes.
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ItinerariesPlan a trip to Japan with kids in 2026. Discover a family-tested 10-day itinerary with theme parks, bullet trains, and practical parenting tips.
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