11 Islands in Wakayama worth your time

A national scenic beauty spot in Shirahama featuring a natural sea cave arch that frames the setting sun.

What it is

• A small island officially named Takashima measuring 130 meters north to south.
• A designated national scenic beauty spot known for its central sea cave.
• The name Engetsu Island originated from a poem written around 1887.
• The central arch underwent reinforcement construction in 2014 to prevent rock collapse.

What to see

• A natural sea cave measuring nine meters wide in the island center.
• Marine life including octopuses, squids, and sea urchins inhabiting the area.
• Views of the sunset visible through the cave during specific times of year.

When to go

• Visit during the spring and autumn equinoxes to see the sunset through the cave.
• Spring tide low tides allow visitors to walk out to the island.
• Unauthorized access is prohibited due to the risk of falling rocks.

Getting there

• Take a Meiko bus from Shirahama Station to the Rinkai bus stop.

Read more about Engetsu Island

The southernmost point of Honshu island, offering vast Pacific views and a historic lighthouse within a national park.

What it is

• The southernmost point of Japan's main island, Honshu, facing the Pacific Ocean.
• A tied island formed by a sandbar within the Yoshino-Kumano National Park.
• Part of the Nanki Kumano Geopark featuring the southernmost post office on Honshu.
• A scenic coastal area home to a lighthouse established in 1873.

What to see

• The historic Shionomisaki Lighthouse which has stood since the late nineteenth century.
• A large, open lawn area known as Boro-no-Shiba overlooking the sea.
• The Kushimoto Ohashi Bridge connecting the mainland to the nearby Kii Oshima island.

When to go

• Evening is ideal to experience one of Japan's top 100 designated sunset spots.

Getting there

• Take the Kushimoto Community Bus departing from JR Kushimoto Station.

Read more about Cape Shionomisaki

An artificial island in Wakayama Bay featuring a European-themed park, fresh seafood markets, and natural hot spring baths.

What it is

• An artificial island covering sixty-five hectares in Wakayama Bay.
• Built by Matsushita Kosan for the 1994 World Resort Expo.
• A multi-purpose resort area including a theme park and a registered Sea Station.
• A component of the Minato Oasis Wakaura development.

What to see

• Porto Europa theme park featuring Mediterranean-style architecture.
• Black Tide Market where visitors watch live tuna carving shows.
• Kishu Kuroshio Onsen hot spring facility for relaxation.
• A yacht club that hosts the Inter-High School Sailing Championships.
• The venue used for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics torch relay celebration.

Getting there

• Buses from JR Wakayama Station reach the island in thirty minutes.
• The site is a ten-minute drive from the Hainan Interchange.

Official site

www.marinacity.com

Read more about Wakayama Marina City

An uninhabited national natural monument in Tanabe Bay preserved for its rare broad-leaved evergreen forest and scenic coastal beauty.

What it is

• An uninhabited island in Tanabe Bay designated as a national natural monument.
• A protected area within the Yoshino-Kumano National Park covering 2.99 hectares.
• A site preserved by Minakata Kumagusu and visited by Emperor Showa for biological research.
• A designated national place of scenic beauty consisting of two parts named Oyama and Koyama.

What to see

• A dense forest primarily composed of broad-leaved evergreen trees.
• The natural habitat of the Entada phaseoloides plant species.
• Views of the island located approximately 500 meters from the mainland.
• The preserved landscape that serves as a biological research site.

When to go

• Landing on the island requires advance permission from the Tanabe City Board of Education.

Read more about Kashima

An uninhabited island and National Scenic Beauty that served as a historic naval base for the Kumano Navy.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located off the coast of Kushimoto Town in Wakayama Prefecture.
• A former base for the Kumano Navy during the Genpei War.
• Designated as a National Scenic Beauty in 2015.
• Part of the Minakata Mandala Scenery and a television filming location.

What to see

• Subtropical plants growing across the entire island landscape.
• Views of the island from National Route 42.
• The island terrain situated one kilometer from the Kozagawa River mouth.

When to go

• Summer months when the island receives the most visitors.
• The Obon season is a popular time for tourism.

Getting there

• Access the island by canoe or kayak from the mainland.

Read more about Kuroshima

A small island in Nachi Bay accessible by foot at low tide, featuring a shrine and views of Nachi Falls.

What it is

• A small island in Nachi Bay measuring approximately 200 meters long and 100 meters wide.
• Home to a shrine dedicated to Hakuhebi Benten for maritime safety and business prosperity.
• A sacred site where local fishermen worship for safety and success at sea.

What to see

• A red torii gate standing on the south side of the island.
• Views of the famous Nachi Falls from across the water.
• Three small islands located on the northern side of the main island.
• A shrine dedicated to the deity Hakuhebi Benten.

When to go

• Visit during low tide to walk the 100 meters from the mainland to the island.
• Attend the local festival featuring a traditional mochi toss on March 3rd.

Read more about Bentenjima

A private resort island in Katsuura Port acting as a natural breakwater and offering a secluded coastal escape.

What it is

• A private island located at the entrance of Katsuura Port in Wakayama.
• The entire island belongs to the Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima resort.
• It functions as a natural breakwater for the surrounding harbor.
• The island is situated within a scenic rias coastline area.

What to see

• Views of the major tuna fishing base at Katsuura Port.
• The rias coastline formations surrounding the island and harbor.
• Infrastructure including underwater pipes that supply water from the mainland.

Getting there

• Take a private boat from Nachikatsuura Pier to reach the island.
• The boat trip from the pier takes approximately three minutes.

Read more about Nakanoshima

Japan's largest floating island features a unique ecosystem where cold and warm region plants coexist on a peat layer.

What it is

• A national natural monument consisting of a plant community on a marsh pond.
• The largest floating island in Japan, measuring 85 meters by 60 meters.
• A former sacred training ground for Shugendo practitioners with local folklore legends.
• A unique ecosystem where cold-region and warm-region plants grow together.

What to see

• A floating peat layer between 30 and 60 centimeters thick.
• Natural cedar trees which serve as the dominant species on the island.
• A diverse collection of plant life supported by water from the Kumano River.

Getting there

• The site is located a six-minute walk from Shingu Station.

Read more about Ukijima no Mori

Wakayama's largest island features Japan's oldest stone lighthouse and a museum commemorating a historic 1890 Turkish naval disaster.

What it is

• The largest island in Wakayama Prefecture, spanning 9.68 square kilometers.
• A populated island connected to the mainland by the Kushimoto Ohashi Bridge.
• Part of the Yoshino-Kumano National Park off the coast of Kushimoto Town.
• Site of the 1890 Ertugrul shipwreck and a modern radar base.

What to see

• Kashinozaki Lighthouse, which is the oldest stone lighthouse in Japan.
• The Turkish Memorial Museum dedicated to the 1890 naval disaster.
• Minato Shrine, which enshrines the deity Homutawake no Mikoto.
• A subtropical botanical research station operated by Kyoto University.

Read more about Kii Ōshima

This tiny uninhabited island off the Wakayama coast serves as a critical territorial sea base point for the Japanese government.

What it is

• An uninhabited island measuring ten meters by five meters in Susami Town.
• One of Japan's official territorial sea base points since August 2014.
• A location used by local fishermen long before its official government designation.
• A small rocky outcrop standing approximately five meters high off the Mirozu coast.

What to see

• Rough waves surrounding the small island perimeter.
• A known fishing spot located west of Shionomisaki.
• Views of the island hidden behind the larger Okinokuroshima Island.
• A landmass so small that only a few people can land at once.

Read more about Sobietoshima

An uninhabited private island in Ikeda Bay featuring dense forests and sandy beaches accessible by a short boat ride.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located within Ikeda Bay in Shirahama.
• A private land mass covering approximately 3,384 square meters.
• A natural site featuring flat areas suitable for potential building construction.

What to see

• Dense forests covering the majority of the island interior.
• Sandy beaches that surround the entire perimeter of the island.

Getting there

• A fifteen-minute drive from Shirahama Station to the coast.
• Boat access is available from Katata Fishing Port.
• A five-minute boat ride from the mainland to the island.

Read more about Komariyama Island