Roadside Station Kaki no Sato Kudoyama

Roadside Station Kakinosato Kudoyama is a tourist facility built along the Kinokawa River in Wakayama Prefecture. It opened in 2014 to share information about the Koya area, which is registered as part of the World Heritage site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range." Access is possible by public transport as well as by car: it is about a 16-minute walk from Nankai Koya Line "Kudoyama Station." On the way from the station you can also find Sanada-related historic spots such as the "Sanada Kofun" and the "Kudoyama Sanada Museum," so the walk doesn’t feel too long. Inside the facility, panel exhibits introduce the history and culture of three areas—"Kudoyama," "Choishi-michi," and "Koyasan"—and various events are held throughout the year, including craft experiences and festivals. At the local produce market "Yottette," there is a wide selection of Wakayama-grown fresh and processed foods as well as local sake. The "Bakery Cafe" is especially known for "kaki-pan" (persimmon bread) made with Kudoyama’s famous persimmons, which is worth trying. The station also has a children’s amusement area and a lawn plaza—unusually extensive for a roadside station—making it a fun spot for families.