This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Wakayama.
Wakayama, Japan, is located in Kansai, the southern central region of Honshu, the largest Japanese island. Around three hundred sixty thousand people live in the capital of the Wakayama Prefecture. The region is well known throughout Japan for its mandarin; mikan; and salty pickled plums, umeboshi.
In the history of Japan, Wakayama played an important role; you can find several important shrines and a lovely castle in the city. If you want to take a plane to get there, Kansay National Airport is around forty kilometres north of the city of Wakayama. Frequent train links to the centre are available and the ride takes around one hour. If you prefer the train, take either JR Hanwa Line or the private Nankai Main Line from Osaka. Make sure that you are on the right carriage, since one part of the train splits off to the international airport instead of the city centre.
Wakayama Castle was originally built in the sixteenth century. The architecture of the partial reconstructed buildings is lovely and gives you a feeling what it was like to live there. The reconstruction was necessary since the castle was damaged during World War II. Walking around the castle is not as touristic as it would be in places like Osaka, so it is usually very peaceful and you can even relax there. West of the city, you can find the famous mountain Koya-san, which is the centre of Shingon Buddhism. The peaceful atmosphere and the religious importance of the area are perfect for tourists who want to see more of the local habits and culture.
There are numerous hotels, some Wakayama, Japan hostels, and guesthouses in the city, if you plan to spend some time there. Most of the accommodations, including the Wakayama, Japan hostels, are located right in the centre of the city. Free Wi-Fi and a high level of cleanliness are common. If you want to book a Wakayama, Japan hostel or a guesthouse, do not expect a fluent English-speaker trying to communicate with you. In fact, communication problems can occur in Japan, since speaking English is not really common.
The climate in Wakayama is humid subtropical, with significant precipitation throughout the year. In summer, the average daily maximum temperatures range from twenty-six to thirty-two degrees Celsius. The winters are cool and a bit drier than the summers. You can expect daily temperatures from nine to twelve degrees Celsius.
Written by local enthusiast for Wakayama hostels
Flo
