by Irina Olivares
Being placed in Nara is often praised for its close proximity to Kyoto or Osaka, promptly ignoring that Nara has neighbours in two more directions. To the East lies Mie and South is the amazing prefecture of Wakayama.
Popular for its various fruits and Pandas, Wakayama is the cool forgotten child of the Kansai region. I was lucky enough to explore parts of it during Golden week, which gave me enough time to reach the southernmost point of Honshu Island; Kushimoto. Being more remote, it required careful planning as the only two choices of train were either local or limited express. That said, it was blissfully quiet and incredibly friendly.
Kushimoto is a small unassuming town, home to a National Park, and good vibes. I visited Hashiguiiwa Rocks which were both captivating and fun to spend the afternoon at. During the low tide children scatter over the tidal pools, eager to see what small creatures they might sequester into their buckets. The huge boulders strewn across are amusing to climb, although I wouldn't recommend doing it in flip-flops. All the food I tried was delicious, but I particularly enjoyed the roaming Volkswagen Food Van (definitely not a truck!) that appears to those in need of it.
Nearby is also an aquarium (Kushimoto Marine Park) that has a reverse tower that plunges into the ocean. It allows visitors to peek into the deep blue without the need to don their swimapperal.
If both of these activities are too chill, the Pacific Cycling Road runs alongside the ocean for 1,400 km from Wakayamashi to Choshi City in Chiba. The views are breathtaking and sometimes only accessible by car or bike instead of public transportation.
Lastly, the Seaside Inn is a fantastic hotel, with an accurate name. The waves can be heard from your room, to help lull you to sleep. They didn't even boast of the private sento that peers over the water but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A great escape for relaxing, I would absolutely recommend staying Kushimoto for a couple nights.