Wakayama Castle

Wakayama Castle stands atop Mt. Torafusu (48.9 m above sea level) and is known as a symbol of Wakayama. Its origins trace back to Tensho 13 (1585), when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, having pacified Kishu, ordered his younger brother Hidenaga to build the castle. Later, in Keicho 5 (1600), Asano Yoshinaga—who distinguished himself at the Battle of Sekigahara—entered, and in Genna 5 (1619), Tokugawa Ieyasu’s 10th son, Yorinobu, took possession. Together with Mito and Owari, Kishu became one of the "Three Tokugawa Branches" (Gosanke), leaving behind a rich history. Wakayama Castle is also easy to visit thanks to convenient transportation. Take the Nankai Main Line to "Wakayamashi Station," then it’s about a 10-minute walk. If using JR, take a Wakayama Bus from JR "Wakayama Station" and get off at "Koen-mae," the stop right in front of the castle. Inside the park, in addition to the main "Wakayama Castle Tenshukaku" (keep), you can enjoy the scenic "Nishinomaru Garden" (a noted scenic spot especially popular during autumn foliage), experience the "Ohashi Roka" corridor with its 11-degree slope, and take a break at the teahouse "Koshou-an" for tea and sweets. There is also a zoo within the park, so you might want to visit the Asian black bears (tsukinowaguma)—said to be among only a handful of such displays in Japan. With so many highlights, you can easily spend plenty of time sightseeing here.