Dobashi Hiroyuki - Tama Transmission Office

Koyasan, World Heritage Site, in Wakayama

Koya, a sacred site of Shingon esoteric Buddhism, stretches over a mountainous upper basin surrounded by peaks about 1,000 meters above sea level, and was founded 1,200 years ago by Kobo Daishi, Kukai (774-835).

On July 7, 2004, the Koyasan pilgrimage routes, including the Choishimichi and Kongobuji Temple precincts (6 districts) and 12 structures, were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Kumano, Yoshino, and Omine as “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”.

Furthermore, on October 24, 2016, Kurokawa-do, Nyonin-do, Kyodaisaka-do Fudosaka, and Mitasaka (including Niu Shuden Shrine) were additionally registered as World Heritage sites as Koya Pilgrimage Routes (including Choishimichi and renamed).

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Comfortable Breeze in Kada, Wakayama

It was wonderful weather to ramble!

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Have a stylish lunch outdoors at Honmachi Park

“the public” in the corner of Honmachi Park is a cafe and pub with the theme of “picnic”.

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Nostalgic Area and Brand New Area in Wakayama City

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It’s time to go hanami!

The cherry blossom viewing season has begun in earnest in Wakayama. The light red petals color Wakayama Castle.

Even on a weekday, many cherry blossom-viewing visitors enjoy the springtime on the grounds of the castle.

The “Omotenashi Ninjas,” who provide services to tourists, also work hard.

Birds and flowers seem to be sprawled out in the warm sunshine they have been waiting for.

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Four New Tumulis Excavated at Kiifudoki-no-oka

Wakayama Prefectural Kiifudoki-no-oka has been conducting excavations of the Iwase Senzuka tumulus group since July 2021 in conjunction with the construction of the Prefectural Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (tentative).

The survey uncovered four new tombs, one of which is presumed to belong to a local authority. On March 26, a public information meeting was held for that tomb and another one.

Iwase Senzuka Tumulus Group consists of approximately 900 burial mounds which are built from around the end of the 4th century to the middle of the 7th century, on hills ranging from 80 to 150 meters above sea level.

Of the tombs discovered this time, the stone chamber of Maeyama B370 (tentative) is presumed to be an Iwase-type side-hole tomb, a 16-20 meter round burial mound, and experts believe that it was the tomb of an influential local person based on the secondary burial goods and its size.

The smaller Mayama B369 (tentative) is about 3 meters long and has a T-shaped stone chamber. This tomb is presumed to be a one-man burial mound.

Kiifudoki-no-oka plans to backfill and preserve these newly discovered tombs.

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Nagashi-bina Event of Awashima Shrine

March 3rd is the Doll’s Festival, Japanese people display a set of dolls and pray for the sound growth of girls in the family.

On this day, the “Nagashi-biina” event is held at Awashima Shrine in Wakayama City, where hina dolls delivered from all over Japan are put on a boat and floated out to sea.

Originally, there was a Chinese custom of going to the waterfront on March 3, or the Peach Festival, to hold an exorcism ceremony, which was then introduced to Japan.

The shrine is also famous as a women’s power spot, offering prayers for women’s health, easy childbirth, and the fulfillment of love.

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Boulangerie Lapin

This bakery is located along the Koga-Kata Line, diagonally across from Higashi-Matsue Station on the Nankai-Kata Line. The bakery produces a wide variety of breads, including Danish, cream, and pizza breads, and new breads appears frequently.

They also have cute breads that will surely please your children!

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EAST ST. COFFEE SPOT

Walking from Wakayama City Station, past the city library, the takoyaki shop Kururi, and the set meal shop Ajiiichi, you will find this store just before the crossroad near the railroad crossing.
There is no conspicuous signboard, so you may easily pass by this hidden cafe, where the master with a nice smile carefully brews coffee for you. The space is stylish and retro, with soft vinyl dolls of Godzilla or Ultraman here and there, and posters of the Osaka Expo on display.

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Busy Latter Half of July

I’ve been a little busy with some large projects that are ordered at the end of each month and a few one-off projects.

During the day, when I go outside, the strong sun makes me flinch, but in my room or in the shade, it is surprisingly comfortable and a refreshing breeze blows through. It seems that I don’t need air conditioning at all in this room.

I was planning to go camping in Tomogashima when I get off work, but after checking the website, I found out that camping and barbecues are not allowed from April. It looks like I missed the timing after Wakayama Premium 2.

Still, there are campsites here and there, such as Jinojima, so I hope to make use of them during the summer first.

The sunset that I see from my room every day is breathtakingly beautiful. The sky has never been the same, not even for a day. It is really a plush view.