和歌山城Unclaimed

From JR Wakayama Station or Nankai Electric Railway Wakayama City Station, take a bus for about 10 minutes and get off at Kouen-mae bus stop—it's right in front. From JR Wakayama Station, it's also about a 20-minute walk.

Spring cherry blossoms (late March–early April) and autumn leaves (late November–early December) are at their best. The park has many cherry trees throughout and is busy with local residents and tourists during the blossom season. The autumn foliage in the Nishinomaru Garden (Kouyou Valley Garden) is particularly worth seeing.

The park includes a zoo (Wakayama City Zoo), a history museum, a tea house "Koushoan," and a tourist souvenir center. It is a park that can be enjoyed by all ages and serves as a gathering place for local residents.

The castle tower opens 9:00–17:30, with last entry at 17:00. It is closed only December 29–31 at year end. The park itself is open year-round, and the exterior can be viewed at any time.

There is a zoo within the park that even small children can enjoy. The vast park is ideal for strolling, and the castle tower can be viewed in a relatively short time, making it suitable for family sightseeing. Stroller entry is possible, but note that there are many stairs inside the castle tower.

The castle keep displays weapons and armor including swords and suits of armor, where you can learn about the history of the Kishu Tokugawa clan. From the top floor, you can enjoy views overlooking the Kino River and Wakayama city.

Viewing the castle keep alone takes about 30–45 minutes. If you also plan to walk around the park and visit the Nishinomaru Garden and zoo, allow 2–3 hours. During cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons, expect crowds, so it's wise to plan with extra time.

Castle tower admission is ¥410 for adults and ¥200 for elementary and middle school students. A separate fee applies for the matcha tea experience at the teahouse "Koshoan" in the Scenic Nishi-no-maru Garden (also called Kouyoukei Garden). Entry to the park itself is free.

From the white three-tiered castle tower, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of Wakayama city, surrounding mountains, and Kii Channel. The Okaguchi Gate (Important Cultural Property) and the stone walls built with "nozumi-zumi" technique using Kishu blue stone remain from the original period. The Scenic Nishi-no-maru Garden is also known as Kouyoukei Garden and is famous as an autumn foliage viewing spot.

The interior of the keep is indoors, so it can be enjoyed even in rain. Park grounds can be walked with rain gear. While Nishinomaru Garden (Kouyou Valley Garden) and stone walls are outdoors, they can be fully enjoyed together with the keep.

There are municipal and private parking lots around Wakayama Castle Park, and some parking spaces within the park are available. It can get crowded on weekends and during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, so consider using public transportation.

Parking is available. Please check the official information for details.

Castle tower: adults ¥410, elementary and middle school students ¥200

Castle tower: 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00)

1-bancho, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture

December 29–31

From JR Wakayama Station or Nankai Electric Railway Wakayama City Station, take a bus for about 10 minutes and get off at Kouen-mae bus stop. Also about 20 minutes on foot from JR Wakayama Station.