Wakayama City - Tama Transmission Office

Beautiful Hydrangea in Wakayama Castle, Japan

As the rainy season approaches in June, hydrangeas can be seen everywhere in Wakayama City. They can be found in private gardens, in potted plants, in flower beds along the streets, and inside the castle…

Wakayama Castle has many faces in each of the four seasons, and in the castle’s Tsuru-no-Kei area, hydrangeas of various types and colors are planted, all blooming at the same time during this season.

The name comes from the fact that cranes were kept in this section of the castle when the Asano family was the lord of the castle.

The hydrangea surrounded by mossy stone walls is very emotional.

The Momijogei Garden right next door was also a quiet place where only the sound of rain could be heard.

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Hachiman Shrine in Wakayama City

It is said the origin of the Hachiman Shrine is in 902. There is the Kora Myojin Shrine in the the precincts.

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Wakamatsuri 400th Anniversary Festival

Mikoshi (portable shrine)

Ceremonial Procession

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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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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.