Tokyo to Wakayama:
The Flavors of Tradition
For travelers looking to explore the many intriguing facets of Japan, a trip combining Tokyo and Wakayama offers the chance to experience the new, the old, and the timeless.
As Japan gradually reopens to international travelers, it is the perfect time to experience all that Japan has to offer. And there’s no better way than visiting two very different faces of the country: the iconic capital Tokyo and undiscovered gem Wakayama.
Home to almost 14 million people, Tokyo is a megacity where old doesn’t just meet new—the two thrive together. There’s an unquenchable thirst for development and progress, yet it’s always coupled with a deep respect for tradition. Meanwhile, with numerous historical sites and national parks spread across 1,800 square miles, Wakayama represents a quieter side of Japan, allowing visitors to experience outdoor activities and millennia of tradition in pristine natural surroundings.
Though very distinct, Tokyo and Wakayama are a short 70-minute flight apart. Both offer sustainable and immersive cultural experiences that take travelers off the beaten path, all while delivering the unique elements that make Japan such a special destination to visit.
Old Meets New in Tokyo
The juxtaposition of tradition and modernity appears in many facets of life in Tokyo. The tranquility of the Meiji Shrine being just a short walk from the vibrant youth culture of Harajuku, or the way Shiodome’s skyscrapers tower over the centuries old Hamarikyu Gardens, are just two unlikely but magical juxtapositions. This contrast goes beyond architecture, defining the city’s arts and cultural scene.
Located between Hamarikyu Gardens and the upscale Ginza district, the Kabukiza Theater has been a focal point for a classical form of Japanese dance-drama called kabuki for close to 130 years. No theatrical form is quite as distinctive. Not only do men play both the male and female roles, they perform with elaborate costumes and makeup while employing highly stylized movements, sounds and expressions to produce an alternative version of reality on stage. The unique beauty of the performance means that kabuki can be enjoyed without an understanding of the Japanese language; however, English audio guides are available to make the performances fully accessible to international travelers.
In cosmopolitan Roppongi, both old and new are on display in the district’s vibrant art scene. Forming one prong of the Roppongi Art Triangle—along with the contemporary Mori Art Museum and the traditional Suntory Museum of Art—The National Art Center, Tokyo, is one of the largest art venues in the country. It is also one of the most eclectic, with exhibitions covering multiple genres of modern art and design. The center itself is an architectural marvel in its own right, having been given a distinctive wavy, glass façade by internationally acclaimed architect Kisho Kurokawa, who also incorporated cutting-edge earthquake resistance and rainwater utilization, into the design.
Tokyo’s Culinary Culture
Tokyo has a well-earned reputation as one of the great global culinary hotspots, where simple ramen stalls to Michelin star restaurants are famed for their meticulous dedication to their craft and appreciation of seasonality and sustainability.
Take Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai in the shadow of Tokyo Tower, which despite being so close to bustling Roppongi, offers an experience that transports guests back to old Edo (as Tokyo was known until 1868). Diners here settle in for their meal in tatami-mat rooms with views of a traditional Japanese garden, while the chefs craft exquisite courses centered on tofu handmade with high-grade soybeans and spring water.
Equally experiential is a visit to the sustainability focused hotel, mesm Tokyo to take in its dining options. The hotel focuses on reducing its carbon footprint by limiting energy use through initiatives such as using specially designed, loose-woven linens to reduce water consumption. Meanwhile at the open kitchen at mesm Tokyo’s Chef’s Theatre, guests can watch chefs create Parisien ‘bistronomie’ with sustainable Japanese produce such as Himuro Aged Pork with Black Garlic.
Tokyo also provides epicurean experiences beyond the confines of its restaurants. A morning spent exploring the stalls at Tsukiji Outer Market offers a deep dive into both Japan’s fishing and culinary traditions, as well as being the perfect place to indulge in a super-fresh sushi set for breakfast or lunch. Further afield, in Tokyo’s rural Okutama area, take the Wasabi Experience Tour to see how wasabi is grown in cool, flowing mountain water, then harvest it yourself and sample it on site. You’ll discover that fresh wasabi has a completely different aroma and flavor to the wasabi found in supermarkets.
Gastronomy Off the Beaten Path in Wakayama
From Tokyo’s centrally located Haneda Airport, it’s only a 70-minute flight to Nanki Shirahama Airport in Wakayama, faster than taking a train from Tokyo to many of the busier side-trip destinations near the capital. With Wakayama, however, you are exploring Japan well off the beaten path, and going deep beneath Japan’s cultural skin in the process.
Where Tokyo has Tsukiji Outer Market, Wakayama has the lively Katsuura Seafood Market, an ideal location to sample local seafood dishes as Nachi Katsuura is one of the busiest tuna ports in Japan.. This being the Japanese countryside, there are also places to try rural, homestyle cooking and learn about how food goes from farm-to-table. At the eco-friendly Jugemu farm stay in Nachi-Katsuura, visitors can try cooking rice in a traditional Japanese oven and take part in activities (depending on the season) such as planting rice and picking yuzu and plums. If being less hands-on is your thing, then sample the innovative and sustainable gastronomy of Michelin Green Star Award-winner Caravansarai, which serves French cuisine using seasonal ingredients in a remodeled ume (Japanese apricot) warehouse.
Experiencing Wakayama’s Nature and Tradition
Going off the beaten path to Wakayama isn’t just an opportunity to enjoy the region’s gastronomy—it’s a chance to authentically encounter nature and tradition. Crisscrossing Wakayama’s rugged Kii Peninsula, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails have been leading worshipers to the three sacred sites of Kumano Sanzan for more than a thousand years. Travelers today can experience this ancient journey themselves with an easy stroll along the Daimon-zaka Slope section of the trail, walking along cobbled pathways through the deep, towering forest to reach the magnificent Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine and remarkable Nachi Waterfall.
Daimon-zaka Slope and Nachisan sanctuary are located within Nanki Kumano Geopark, an area of outstanding natural beauty spread over nine towns and cities in Wakayama, as well as part of neighboring Nara Prefecture. Created by the convergence of tectonic plates 70 million years ago, which continue to shift to this day, the varied terrain here provides a stunning backdrop for numerous outdoor activities. Boating through the steep-sided Kurikyo Gorge, bathing in natural hot-spring baths in Shirahama, and taking in the unique geological formations along the coast, such as the striking Phoenix Fold, are just a few of the many possibilities.
To center yourself in nature, visit Front 110, the ‘front desk’ and tourist information center for Susami Town and book a night’s camping on the beach. The building is a converted police station whose emergency telephone number is 110, hence the name. You can also enjoy kayaking, cycling, and hiking, or just relax with a beachside barbecue and make friends with friendly local guides.
The Perfect Pair
Individually, Tokyo and Wakayama are captivating destinations in their own right, offering a contrast of old and new, and a blend of nature and tradition. Together, they offer travelers an experience of endless discovery through art, cuisine, and nature.
For more information on routes and itineraries click here.
Getting to Wakayama Prefecture
Nanki-Shirahama Airport in Shirahama gets you to the southern part of the Wakayama prefecture. Japan Airlines (JAL) offers direct, 70-minute flights to Wakayama’s Nanki-Shirahama Airport three times a day from Haneda Airport, Tokyo. JAL’s Japan Explorer Pass – exclusively available to international visitors – lets you pre-purchase up to six domestic flights for a fixed low fare. This special fare is available year-round and up to 24 hours before departure. The Japan Explorer Pass is valid for travel to over 30 cities in JAL’s domestic network.
Learn more about JAL Japan Explorer Pass and flights to Japan.
In light of Covid-19 and restricted international travel, the recommendations in this article are for future considerations.
