introduction

Wakayama Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan and located on the Kii Peninsula in the western Kansai region of the main Japanese island Honshu. The capital of the prefecture is the city of Wakayama.

surfing

Ancient shrines, castles and Onsens dot the forested landscape of the coastline here. This is what is left of feudal Japan. A great piece of coastline offering natural beauty and rarely surfed breaks. Some points are notoriously hard to reach and English is not widely spoken. Written English is even less common which makes road navigation difficult - be sure to bring a good GPS.

where to stay

In most parts of Japan you’ll find a wide range of accommodation available both of typical Japanese and more westernised styles – as well as more novelty variations such as capsule hotels and temple lodgings.  One note worth taking though is that all prices advertised are per person and not per room.
Accommodation types you’re likely to come across are as follows:-

Ryokan

Ryokan are truly traditional Japan style Inns with authentically decorated rooms and Japanese meals included. These are a good option for a traveller wanting a real taste of traditional Japanese culture.

Minshuku

These are like a Japanese bed and breakfast, usually small places run by families that again offer a good Japanese cultural experience and the price includes a Japanese breakfast.

Western style hotels

You can find all the major hotel chains in Japan – particularly in the larger cities; this option can be expensive however.

Dormitories and Hostels

Backpacker hostels offering dorm style rooms can be found all over Japan for the traveller on a budget for a reasonable price and many offer single sex dorms.

Capsule Hotels

These offer bare the minimum requirement of a single bed in a capsule – no standing room – these are pretty unique to Japan and not for the claustrophobic! Though it’s worth a night in one for the novelty value, some have a mini TV in there too and all have shared bathrooms, of course.
Temple Lodgings

Some Buddhist temples allow travellers to spend a night there for the cultural experience, worth doing as a one off.

Longer stays

There are many apartment blocks all over the major towns and cities in Japan offering weekly or monthly rates of rent for those wishing to stay longer – these can work out as a cheap option over a long period.

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