Wakayama City (和歌山) is the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture. Located on the coast, it faces the islands of Awajishima and Shikoku across the Kii Channel, and shares a border with Osaka Prefecture to the north. The city thrived during the Edo Period (1603-1868) as the seat of one of the ruling Tokugawa Clan's three cadet branches.
Although smaller and more rural than the Kansai Region's major cities, Wakayama boasts a number of sightseeing highlights including its reconstructed hilltop castle, historic temples and shrines and a picturesque waterfront area.