Wakayama Castle is proudly ranked among Japan’s top 100 castles, with its current tower rebuilt in 1958 and celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018. The castle’s stone walls and moat have withstood centuries of history, offering a glimpse into Japan's past. Today, part of the Edo-era bailey has been transformed into a park filled with attractions like beautiful gardens, a historical center, and even a small zoo.

Wakayama Castle is just a 10-minute walk from Nankai Electric Railway's Wakayamashi Station.

Located in the heart of the city, the park sits right in front of Wakayama City Hall, offering easy access to this fantastic sightseeing spot. You can explore the grounds freely, and with the exception of certain areas like the castle tower, there are no admission fees.

Wakayama Castle played a significant role in the western region of the shogunate as the residence of the Kishu branch of the Tokugawa family, one of the three main Tokugawa branches. It was also home to Yoshimune Tokugawa, the shogun who gained fame through the TV program “The Unfettered Shogun.”

The castle tower of Wakayama Castle was first destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning in 1846. It was rebuilt nearly identical to its original form in 1850 but was again destroyed during an aerial bombing in World War II. The current tower is its third reincarnation.

The brilliant white of the castle tower contrasts beautifully with the lush greenery of the castle grounds, creating a striking scene that changes with the seasons. However, spring is undoubtedly the best time to visit, as the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, making it a prime spot for cherry blossom viewings.

Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery of the castle, there are plenty of other things to see and do there, too. So, without further ado, let me list the best ways to enjoy Wakayama Castle!

The main attraction is, without a doubt, the castle tower. Start by heading to the higher areas of the park and make your way to the square in front of the tower. Admission for sightseeing inside the tower is 410 yen for high school students and older, and 200 yen for elementary and middle school students.

After paying the admission fee and entering, you'll immediately reach the second gate of the castle tower. Wakayama Castle’s tower consists of a larger and smaller tower, connected by defensive platforms and lookout towers on the stone walls known as Tamon Yagura, in a style called coalition towers. This architectural feature can also be seen in castles like Himeji Castle and Matsuyama Castle.

There is no entrance which goes directly to the larger tower; you go through the Kusunoki-mon and get to it by going through the smaller tower. The white gravel approach has a Japanese-style garden beauty to it.

The white of the castle tower seen at a close distance stands out beautifully.

From here you can also get a beautiful 360-degree view of the city of Wakayama. It is also possible to go outside and the veranda is just wide enough for an individual to pass, so you may want to step out and walk around it.

Looking down on the city below the castle you can get some idea of what it was like being the lord of the castle.

While you can get an excellent view of Wakayama City from the castle tower, you need to be outside of it to best view its style and form. After you leave the paid admission area, head east to the square in front of the tower.

In November 2017, a vantage point was created where once a palace connected to the castle stood.

There is a 110-meter-square area at the top of the stairs. Benches offer excellent views of the castle tower.

There are no trees obstructing the view, making it the perfect spot for taking pictures! From here, you’ll have an excellent view of the castle tower.

Here’s a hot tip: with the creation of this vantage point, a renovation of the shop in front of the castle tower is also underway. To better blend into the landscape, the shop will feature a traditional wooden lattice exterior and will be equipped with a kitchen to offer light dishes like soba and udon.

As we continue our walk inside the castle grounds let’s move on to the next interesting spot. While walking be sure to check the stone walls inside the castle grounds. Doing so you will see a number of various marks etched into the stone walls.

Researchers discovered that there about 140 different types of marks.

This information board highlights the various marks found on the stone walls. These designs are believed to represent family crests, abbreviated characters, directions, dates, and people's names. While their exact purpose is uncertain, theories suggest they may have been used to identify the stone dealer, indicate the quality of the stones, or even serve as symbols to ward off evil. It's a fun challenge to see how many different kinds of these stone engravings you can discover as you explore the castle grounds.

Omotenashi Ninja are lurking everywhere throughout the park.

There’s something unusual about a section of the stone wall.

The Omotenashi Ninja were cleverly concealed! Their role is to assist sightseers by answering questions, posing for photos, and helping visitors, including those in wheelchairs or with strollers, navigate the steep inclines. While most can be found around the castle tower and the main gate entrance, you’ll also spot others scattered throughout the park, ready to offer their support.

And if you’d like, the Omotenashi Ninja will even put on a sword-fighting display for you! Their performances are especially popular with children. These charming characters are sure to add to the wonderful memories you'll take away from your visit. The Omotenashi Ninja are available from 9 AM to 5 PM on days other than Monday and Tuesday.

This is something you really should see as you are walking from the Otemon [Main Gate] towards the castle tower.

It resembles a small person trying to scale the wall, don’t you think? It seems that no one noticed this until it was introduced on a television program after which it has since become a popular photo spot! From some angles you cannot see it, so it is best to look at it from below.

The building we are about to introduce next is not like anything you will see in any other castle.

Below the castle tower and diagonally crossing the moat is a structure that appears to be a bridge. What do you suppose it might be?

This structure is actually a bridge called Ohashiroka (bridge corridor), which the lord of the castle and his attendants used to cross between the outer citadel and the west citadel. It was built with a roof and walls to ensure the interior remained hidden from view. Remarkably, no other diagonal bridge structure like this can be found elsewhere in Japan.

You can actually enter the Ohashiroka and cross over to the other side. The roof and walls are solidly built giving it the feeling of a room. It protected the lord from the elements and protected his privacy.

This is because the corridor slants upward at about an 11-degree angle, so staggering the height of the steps served to prevent slipping and sliding on the polished floor.

Walking across this corridor made me wonder what the lords in the Edo period were thinking when they walked along here. If you come to Wakayama Castle, you really must cross over this corridor! There is no charge, either. Try to imagine what it must have been like during the Edo period when you come here.These were some of the highlights of Wakayama Castle to give you an initial idea of it. Now I will tell you about more ways that you can enjoy other sights around the castle.

When you walk back down the hill behind the north side of the castle tower and along the small path you come to a rustic gate. Passing through it you come upon a quiet garden.

Inside Nishinomaru garden there is a charming bridge and you can hear the soothing sounds of a waterfall. In the moat that looks like a large pond, your eyes will be drawn to the carp swimming serenely.

Each season presents its own charming view, such as this photo of the garden taken in autumn when the leaves are at their brightest. Spending time in this serene setting will definitely refresh and relax you.

Inside the garden, you’ll find a tea house called Koshoan, which was completed in May 1974. It was a gift from the late Mr. Konosuke Matsushita, an honorary citizen of Wakayama City. The name "Koshoan" combines the first character from "Momijidani" (Ko) and the first character of Mr. Matsushita’s name (Matsu), creating "Kosho." The third character, An, means "hermitage," reflecting the peaceful nature of the tea house.

Even if you're not familiar with the tea ceremony, you can still enjoy matcha in the seated tea room for 470 yen (tax included), served with seasonal Japanese sweets.

In this building, designed in the style of a traditional tea ceremony house, nestled within a moss-covered garden and gently touched by fresh breezes, you can refresh both mind and body. Be sure to visit and experience its peaceful atmosphere.

The Wakayama Historical Museum is located at the northwestern tip of the park. Opened in 2015, this facility features a room with historical exhibits about Wakayama Castle and the local people, as well as a tourism information center and a gift shop for sightseeing souvenirs.

Let’s first go up to the historical displays on the second floor. There is an admission charge of 100 yen (tax included) for high school aged people and older, but no charge for junior high school aged and younger. There is also a common admission ticket to the castle tower.

A movie entitled "The Revival of Wakayama Castle" is shown in the theater which is located directly behind the reception. The movie lasts about 12 minutes and explains the essential aspects of the castle. Scenes of life within the castle walls during the late Edo period are recreated using virtual reality. It shows what the parts of the castle which have since disappeared were once like.

In addition to the theater, there are various exhibits, such as graphics introducing the history of Wakayama Castle, and

exhibits of the gold seals handed down through the Kishu Tokugawa family, all of which is quite amazing. There are also curators on hand who are happy to provide more information about the exhibitions, so you can learn a lot of history about Wakayama Castle here.

At the Tourism Information Center on the first floor of the Wakayama Historical Museum, you can rent historical costumes (reservations must be made at least 7 days in advance, and there is a fee). You can dress up as the lord of the castle or a princess and stroll around the castle grounds, experiencing what it was like to live in that era.

Once you’ve completed the necessary arrangements at the reception, you’ll be directed to a back room where you can change into your costume.

If you have trouble, a staff member will be glad to help you.

Looks cool, don’t you think? If it rains, you can only wear the costumes inside the Wakayama Historical Museum, but when the weather is nice you can walk around the castle grounds in them!

The virtual reality mentioned previously that is shown in the theater of the historical exhibition hall is also available as a free application. First download the Street Museum app for smartphones.

When you use the app at one of the 10 designated locations around the castle grounds, such as the castle tower, signs, Nishinomaru Garden, and Okaguchi Gate, your smartphone will display how that spot looked during the Edo period! It’s a great way to enhance your experience and get even more enjoyment from your walk around the castle grounds.

There is also a zoo inside the park. Admission is free and even children can see everything in about 30 minutes.

There are penguins, deer, beavers, and bears, but they hibernate during the winter.

The free zoo is definitely a bonus attraction when sightseeing at the castle. Be sure to visit it.

Wakayama Castle has an amazing number of attractions. This is a place where history buffs and everyone else can enjoy a relaxed day of sightseeing.

Last of all here is a collection of photos of other places not mentioned in the article. Be sure to visit them, too, when you visit Wakayama.

*This article contains information as of March 2018, when the interview occurred. Prices and open hours were updated in October 2024.