Accommodations
There are many lodging facilities in Wakayama Prefecture, each with its own unique characteristics, including authentic Japanese-style inns, resort hotels, and city hotels.
We especially recommend the Shukubo stay at Koyasan, where you can experience the atmosphere of a sacred place for Shingon esoteric Buddhism and spend a peaceful time.
Wakayama is also dotted with natural hot springs that will warm your body from the inside out. How about relaxing in a room overlooking the ocean with a magnificent view and enjoying gourmet seafood? If you want to stay active, you can easily enjoy camping to experience Wakayama's nature close at hand.
Staying at the ideal place is essential for making the most of your trip. Please find the perfect lodging for your purpose.
Koyasan Unique Shukubo Stay
Koyasan, the sacred site of esoteric Shingon Buddhism, is lined with 117 temples, including Kongobuji Temple. Of these, 51 temples are open to visitors as "shukubo" (lodging temple).
Each shukubo has its own history, features, and facilities, such as being associated with warlords of the Warring States period or offering beautiful Japanese gardens and elegant furnishings. The main attraction is that you can spend a special time tasting vegetarian cuisine or participating in sutra chanting or meditation. All shukubo offer early morning sutra reading and worship services, so be sure to get up early and join in.
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Healthy and flavorful vegetarian cuisine
Shojin ryori (vegetarian food) served in lodgings is prepared in accordance with Buddhist precepts. No animal products are used, and the main ingredients are vegetables, wild vegetables, beans, and seaweed. It is a healthy meal that emphasizes the colors of the season and skillfully draws out the natural flavors of the ingredients.
Surprisingly, the food is well seasoned and gorgeous to the eye. The thoughtfulness that can be felt in every corner of the dishes is probably due to the tradition of welcoming visitors from all over the country with hospitality that has been passed down from generation to generation.
In addition to the lodgings, there is also a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic vegetarian cuisine at a reasonable price.
City and business hotel characterized by comfort
City and business hotels are often located near train stations or within walking distance of major tourist attractions. They vary in size and facilities from reasonably priced hotels to nationwide hotel chains and foreign-affiliated hotels.
Most hotels offer Western-style rooms suitable for one or two or three people, but there are also hotels that offer a selection of Japanese-style rooms to suit your needs. The basic plan is to stay overnight without meals. Please note that some facilities indicate rates per person, not per room.
If you want to enjoy a Japanese atmosphere, go to a ryokan.
Traditional Japanese ryokan are inns with a Japanese taste where you can feel the spirit of "Omotenashi" (hospitality). Many are also equipped with onsen (hot springs). To enjoy the stay itself, it is recommended to arrive at or just after the check-in time as much as possible.
First, soak slowly in the hot spring or large public bath to relieve travel fatigue. After changing into yukata and taking a rest, you will be served kaiseki cuisine for dinner. Some hotels offer "in-room dining," where meals are brought to your private guest room upon request.
The majority of rates are based on a pattern of either breakfast or breakfast and dinner. Some facilities offer discounted rates for children up to elementary school age.
Guesthouses that are also attractive as a place for socializing
Guesthouses, minshuku, and pensions are the equivalent of bed and breakfasts (B&B). Many facilities are small and homey, and some share living rooms, toilets, and bathrooms. In the case of Japanese-style rooms, you can experience the Japanese way of life by laying out your own futon instead of a bed.
If you ask the friendly staff, they will be able to provide you with information on sightseeing and events in the area. This is the best option for backpackers and travelers who want to interact with the locals.
Easy access from Kansai International Airport! Accommodations in Wakayama City
Wakayama City is conveniently located about 40 minutes from Kansai International Airport. We have selected six hotels with different characteristics for your reference when choosing a place to stay.
- Kada Awashima Onsen Osaka-ya Hihina-no-yu
- A ryokan located in Kada, a port town with beautiful sunsets. The chef's creative Japanese-style kaiseki cuisine is very popular. The cuisine, which is pleasing to both the eyes and the palate, has been called a work of art and is highly favored by repeat guests. The hot spring is known as the "hot water of beauty" because of its rich quality.
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- Wakayama Kada Onsen Seaside Hotel Kadakaigetsu
- The perfect location with a view of the Kitan Straits, Awaji Island, and the mountains of Shikoku in the distance. The hotel features special guest rooms with ocean-view baths, deluxe Japanese-style rooms, and Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. The hydrating and smooth hot spring water has a reputation for its skin beautifying effects. From the open-air bath, you can see Tomogashima Island floating in the ocean during the daytime and a beautiful sunset in the evening.
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- Wakanoura Onsen Manpa MANPA RESORT
- Located on the scenic heights of Wakayama Waka-no-Ura, the 270-degree panoramic view from the hotel is liberating! At night, the view of Wakayama Marina City on the other side of the river and fishing lights further enhance the travel ambience.
The restaurant offers special meals using fresh seafood purchased directly from the sea, such as kue (longtooth groupers), which is called "phantom fish" because it is rarely landed, and hamo (pike congar), which is a luxury food item. 
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- ISARIBI-NO-YADO Seaside KANCHO
- All rooms overlook the Saikazaki fishing port and offer ever-changing views of the sea. We are especially proud of our sunset view, which has been selected as one of the best 100 sunsets. The cuisine, centering on fresh seafood directly from the fishing port, is also very popular. If you want to enjoy an outdoor atmosphere, we recommend the barbecue plan, which allows you to participate easily without worrying about preparation and cleanup. The swimming pool, where you can enjoy a resort atmosphere, is open only during the summer season.
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- Kimiidera Garden Hotel Hayashi
- The hotel is located near Kimii-dera Temple, which is famous as the second temple of the "Saigoku Sanjusansho (thirty-three temples) Kannon Pilgrimage," a Japanese Heritage Site. Guests can choose between Japanese-style rooms with a homey and relaxing atmosphere and Western-style rooms with semi-double beds for a comfortable stay. The adjacent day-trip bathing facility "Hana-no-yu" is a natural hot spring containing high concentrations of minerals that gushes out from 1,500 m underground. There is also an open-air bath overlooking a Japanese garden, which is available free of charge to guests.
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- Wakayama Marina City Hotel
- A Southern European-style resort hotel built in front of the sea in Wakaura. All rooms have ocean view balconies overlooking the yacht harbor. The must-try breakfast is Japanese and Western buffet style. The menu features mainly local ingredients, such as the famous kama-age shirasu (whitebaits boiled in a kettle) and a corner with several varieties of pickled plums. If you stay at the hotel, you can also use the natural hot spring "Kishu Kuroshio Onsen" located about a 3-minute walk from the hotel free of charge. The hotel is adjacent to Porto Europe, a theme park based on a medieval Mediterranean port town.
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