Category:Wakayama Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture is located in the Kansai region, occupying the southern portion of the Kii Peninsula and facing the Pacific Ocean. The region is characterized by rugged coastlines, forested mountains, and pilgrimage routes that have connected spiritual sites for over a thousand years. Wakayama’s landscape and cultural heritage reflect a deep relationship with nature and religious tradition.

The city of Wakayama serves as the prefectural capital, while the sacred sites of the Kii Mountains—including Mount Kōya, the center of Shingon Buddhism—form one of the most significant religious landscapes in Japan. Fishing towns along the coast and mountain villages inland maintain long-standing artisan practices tied to local resources and daily life.

Culturally, Wakayama is known for crafts rooted in spiritual tradition, woodworking, lacquer, and natural materials. The region’s crafts reflect simplicity, durability, and quiet refinement shaped by monastic culture, pilgrimage history, and agricultural and maritime life.

Signature Crafts of Wakayama Prefecture

• Kōya lacquerware (高野漆器) – lacquer objects traditionally produced for temples and ritual use on Mount Kōya.
• Kishu woodworking (紀州の木工) – utensils, trays, and daily-use implements shaped from local woods.
• Kishu lacquerware (紀州漆器) – glossy lacquerware known for rich coloration and smooth finishes.
• Traditional washi and fiber crafts – made in mountain communities with long-standing handcraft techniques.