Wakayama prefecture has sacred and traditional worlds that do not exist in urban areas such as Osaka and Kyoto. There are many mountains in this prefecture. Places to train such as Buddhism have been established and maintained in those areas. For example, if you go to Koyasan, you will be able to meet a very majestic world in rich nature.
Table of Contents
Outline of Wakayama
A view from Fushiogamioji observatory (Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes), Wakayama prefecture, japan = shutterstock
Map of Wakayama
Summary
Wakayama prefecture is located on the west side of the Kii peninsula in central Honshu. In the southern part of Wakayama prefecture there is a vast mountainous area spreading.
Wakayama prefecture is delayed in development than other Kansai prefectures. That is why old historic buildings and Pilgrimage Routes are protected here and rich nature is also left. Once you know the charm of Wakayama prefecture, you may want to go here again and again.
Climate and weather in Wakayama prefecture
When introducing about Wakayama prefecture, I need to clarify the climate of Wakayama Prefecture.
If you go to the southern part of Wakayama prefecture, it is better to prepare for the trip taking into consideration that there is much rain.
In the southern part of Wakayama prefecture, annual rainfall amounts to over 2000 mm. Especially in the mountainous areas and around Nachikatsura Town, the rainfall is large and annual rainfall is more than 3,000 mm. Recently, heavy rains and typhoons may cause recordable heavy rain, so please listen to the latest weather forecast.
Koyasan
Buddhist monks walking past temple in Koyasan, Mt Koya, Japan during autumn = shutterstock
More than a thousand years ago, the court of Kyoto encouraged Buddhism and accepted the opening of two large sacred sites. One is Hieizai Enryakuji Temple on the east side of Kyoto. Training of monks was held in mountains called Hieizan. And the other is Koyasan in northern part of Wakayama Prefecture.
Koyasan is located in a basin with an altitude of 900 meters. This place is far from Kyoto so it is much more quiet. You can go to Koyasan by cable car or bus. There is a very sacred atmosphere. As for Koyasan, I have already introduced in another article.
>> For details of Koyasan please refer to this article
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route
“Kumano Kodo” (Old pilgrimage road in Kumano district of Japan) = shutterstock
IAbout Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route, I have already introduced another article. Sorry to trouble you, but I would appreciate it if you drop in on the following article. If you click it, the article will be displayed on a separate page.
>> Please see this article for details of Kumano Kodo
If a Japanese were asked about “Kumano Kodo”, in the past most people would not have answered well. Kumano Kodo has two distant elements. First, there was a very far image in Kumano. Second, Kodo (Pilgrimage Route) was almost unrelated to contemporary Japanese.
In a word, Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route was a forgotten existence for many Japanese of today. However, recently Kumano Kodo has gained rapid attention. Kumano Kodo was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004. With this, more and more people are interested in Kumano Kodo, travelers are on the rise. In the Pilgrimage Route, which even almost Japanese have forgotten, amazing other world is spreading.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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