2026 Ito District Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Roadside stations, which can be found all over Japan, are essential sightseeing spots for resting during road trips. Kushigaki no Sato, located about a 10-minute drive from the Kihoku Katsuragi Interchange on the Keihanawa Expressway, has a restaurant where you can enjoy locally produced Wakayama cuisine, as well as a wide variety of souvenirs made in Wakayama. There are two parking lots, the first and second, so it's a great place to stop by on your drive! Visited: August 2024 ୨୧――――――――――――――――――୨୧ information Name of facility📍Roadside station Kusigaki no Sato Address📍53-1 Taki, Katsuragi-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama Access📍・25 minutes by car from JR Kasada Station ・Approximately 10 minutes by car from Kihoku Katsuragi IC on the Keihanawa Expressway Opening hours📍10:00-17:00 ୨୧――――――――――――――――――୨୧ #Couple trip #Girls trip #Wakayama trip #Wakayama sightseeing #Kushigaki no Sato #Roadside station #Domestic trip #Road trip

Located in Kushigaki no Sato in Katsuragi Town, Wakayama Prefecture, this cafe offers local Wakayama gourmet dishes and desserts made from locally harvested fruits, promoting local consumption. In August, they were selling desserts made with peaches. The parfait, made with an entire peach, was a satisfying and exquisite treat. Visit Period: August 2024 ୨୧――――――――――――――――――୨୧ information Facility Name📍KIGURI CAFE (Kushigaki no Sato) Address📍53-1 Taki, Katsuragi Town, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture Access📍 Business Hours📍10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last Order 4:30 PM) ୨୧――――――――――――――――――୨୧

Wakayama Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of the Kii Peninsula in Japan's Kansai region, right next door to Osaka! Come here and you can check off World Heritage religious sanctuaries, super-healing coastal hot springs, and breathtaking natural wonders all at once💚~ Plus, Wakayama is known as Japan's ultimate fruit kingdom🍊 (you absolutely must try their plums and mandarin oranges!). It's definitively a traveler's paradise for a deep dive into traditional Japanese culture and natural beauty! 🌟 Must-Do Experiences: 1. ⛰️ Koyasan (Mount Koya) Address: Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture This 1,200-year-old Buddhist sanctuary (and World Heritage site) has such a spiritual vibe! We highly recommend staying in a temple lodging ("Shukubo") to experience morning and evening sutra chanting, and trying the authentic Shojin Ryori (traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). It's sooo special~ 2. ⛩️ Kumano Kodo & Nachi Falls Address: Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture Hike the ancient pilgrimage trails to visit the Kumano grand shrines, and take in the sights of Japan's tallest waterfall (Nachi Falls) alongside the iconic red three-story pagoda! The whole scene is incredibly magical—it's literally where the gods reside. An absolute must-visit! 3. ♨️ Shirahama Address: Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture Kansai's ultimate resort getaway~ Think pure white sand beaches + the Engetsu Island sea cave, along with one of Japan's three oldest hot springs. Chilling in an onsen while watching the sunset will show you that life is not just black and white, but full of vibrant colors! 4. 🐟 Kuroshio Market Address: 1527 Kemi, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture Think going to the port's fresh seafood market is just the same old boring routine? No way! You've got to catch the live tuna cutting show on stage🍣! Held daily at scheduled times, you can immediately taste the freshest bluefin tuna sashimi + enjoy some charcoal BBQ. A total blast for your taste buds! Pro Tip📢: The most cost-effective way to travel around Wakayama is to grab the JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass in advance. You get unlimited rides on limited express trains to freely explore Wakayama and Shirahama. The value for money is off the charts! Bookmark this ultimate cheat sheet itinerary and kick off your Wakayama, Kansai adventure now🚄✨

Kudoyama is the town where Sanada Yukimura, the "strongest warlord of the Sengoku period," spent 14 years. It quickly gained national recognition as the setting for the historical drama "Sanada Maru," and is now a popular spot not only for history buffs but also for tourists. A stroll around town reveals the world of Sanada, with lanterns and flags bearing the rokumonsen (Sanada family crest) hanging throughout the town, pole covers with adorable illustrations of children, and a spectacular display of red armor. Kudoyama Sanada Museum Learn about the life of Sanada Yukimura, the red armor exhibit, and the origins of the rokumonsen. Stroll through the castle town of Kudoyama Lanterns and flags bearing the rokumonsen throughout the town, and the historic streets. Sanada Kofun and Sanada Hermitage A historic site where military councils were held in preparation for the Summer Siege of Osaka. Paper wind chimes and rokumonsen art Photo spots you'll find every time you stroll through town 🔥 What are akamone? During the Sengoku period, elite troops wore red armor...that was Aka-sonogi. It symbolized "elite troops prepared to die," and Sanada Yukimura led this Aka-sonogi to overwhelm the Tokugawa army during the Summer Siege of Osaka. His bravery is still remembered today as a symbol of Japanese bushido. ⸻ 🪙 The Meaning of the Rokumon Sensen The Rokumon Sensen was the fare for the boat ride to the afterlife. In other words, it is a family crest that represents "the determination to fight without sparing one's life." The reason Rokumon Sensen can be found throughout this town is to convey the spirit of the Sengoku warlord Sanada to the present day. ⸻ 🚶 A Small Kudoyama Walking Tour (90 minutes) 1. Arrive at Kudoyama Station 2. Learn about history at the Kudoyama Sanada Museum 3. Stroll around the castle town (numerous photo spots for the Rokumonsen coin) 4. Visit Sanada-an 5. Souvenirs and a break in the shopping district #Kudoyama #SanadaYukimura #SanadaMaru #SanadaMuseum #Sanada-an #AkaMigi #RokumonSen #WakayamaTrip #WakayamaSightseeing #HistoricalTrip #CastleTownWalk #WarringStatesWarlords #WarringStatesPeriod #WarringStatesWarlordsTown #TaigaDrama #JapaneseHistory #TownWalkingTrip #JapaneseCulture #JapanTravel #JapanStunningViews #TravelLovers #TravelLovers #instatravel #tripjapan #visitjapan

Koyasan 2023 30 minutes of winding mountain climbing by car and you can admire it

this is my firat trip to japan since i never been there before. i had so much fun in japan. as example, i get to know their culture and their history. besides, i get to know how Japan modernish their life so that’s why their attitude is very eye catching and famous in people’s conversations bcs their attitude is 10/10. i like the food too. i love to eat fresh sushi that handmade by original Japanese 🥰 I hope i’ll going there again 💖

230 Kamitenano, Katsuragi-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, 649-7141 From the free parking lot, go through the outer torii gate and cross the drum bridge... The two flower water basins have roses floating in them, and they are very beautiful. The autumn leaves will be at their best around next month, so I would like to visit again.

Mount Koya was founded by Kukai. A sacred place that has preserved over 1000 years of history. A place where you can enjoy the pure air and richness of nature. We stayed at Kamiike-in Temple, which has a 3300m2 garden, for a day! It was a tour, but the monks randomly selected several temples and each family was divided up to be guided there. It was also a strange feeling. We ate our meals with the monks. We couldn't talk during the meal, and our legs got numb from sitting upright lol

From their website, I found that this is also the place where Kūkai, an important teacher of Buddhism, met with two dogs, one black and one white, who would guide him to Koyasan, where he founded a temple complex which still exists today. Because of this shared history the shrine became an important place of worship for both Shintoism and Buddhism. Despite its relative remoteness definitely worth a visit. Great landscape settings. The old bridge is actually open to the public and has some wooden pieces attached to help visitors retain their footing. #givethanks #givethanks