5 Selected Photogenic Gourmet and Souvenirs of Wakayama | Instagrammable Sweets and Food-Walking

When you think of Wakayama, it is a treasure trove of sea, mountains, and hot springs, but in fact Instagrammable gourmet and sweets are also abundant! This time, we carefully select and introduce Wakayama's photogenic gourmet that makes you involuntarily ready your camera, thinking "I absolutely have to photograph this!"

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01 | Mikan Soft-Serve Ice Cream / Direct-Sales Shops in the Arida Area

A soft-serve ice cream in vivid orange, using Wakayama's proud brand mikan (mandarin orange). Its color is exactly a lump of SNS-photogenic appeal!

Photogenic point: When it shows through in sunlight, the soft-serve's color shines even more vividly. With a blue sky or white wall as the backdrop, the color contrast is outstanding.

Best shooting time: The 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. hours when natural light is soft. Autumn (November to December) is the mikan season's prime and especially delicious!

Shooting angle: Hold the soft-serve tilted slightly forward and to the side, and shoot as if looking up from below for a powerful shot.

Access: To the direct-sales shops around JR Minoshima Station or along the Arida River by car.

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02 | Plum Soda and Plum Sweets / Nakata Foods (Minabe Town)

The long-established "Nakata Foods," representing Minabe Town, a renowned plum production area. At the shop, you can enjoy beautiful ruby-colored plum soda and plum sweets.

Photogenic point: The garnet color of the plum soda poured into a clear glass sparkles like a jewel when you shine light on it.

Best shooting time: Shooting in the morning at a bright window-side seat in the shop is recommended. In February to March when plum blossoms bloom, you can enjoy a photogenic trip combined with the surrounding plum groves.

Shooting angle: Placing the glass by the window and shooting somewhat backlit makes a beautiful photo where the transparency of the liquid stands out.

Access: About 30 minutes by bus or car from JR Kii-Tanabe Station.

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03 | Nachi Kuro-Ame Ice Cream / Nachikatsuura Area

An ice cream using "Nachi kuro-ame (black candy)" whose pitch-black visual catches the eye. Its look, which makes you do an involuntary double-take with its big impact, is the talk of the town.

Photogenic point: The gap of its visual is the greatest weapon. The jet-black ice cream on a white cone or cup becomes picturesque just by placing it against a simple background.

Best shooting time: A feature is that even on cloudy days the color does not wash out and it photographs beautifully. It can be enjoyed year-round.

Shooting angle: Shooting from directly above (true overhead) against a white wall or wooden table backdrop completes a stylish monotone photo.

Access: Can be purchased at souvenir shops and cafes around JR Kii-Katsuura Station.

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04 | Raw Shirasu Bowl / Shirahama and Kushimoto Area

A seafood bowl luxuriously topped with plump raw shirasu (whitebait) that reflects light and sparkles. This dish, where freshness is everything, is exactly photogenic gourmet you can eat only in Wakayama.

Photogenic point: Shot under sunlight, the shirasu shine silver and give off a jewel-like brilliance. The green of the condiments and the yellow of the egg yolk also serve as accents.

Best shooting time: In the bright hours of lunchtime (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Spring to autumn is the peak season for shirasu.

Shooting angle: The "overhead angle" of shooting the bowl from directly above is best. The beauty of the overall arrangement comes across.

Access: To eateries and fishing-port-direct shops around JR Shirahama Station or Kushimoto Station.

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05 | Nanko Plum Umeboshi Packaging / Colorful Cans That Are Photogenic as Souvenirs

Nanko plum umeboshi (pickled plums), hugely popular as a souvenir. Recently, colorful design cans and stylish packaging have appeared one after another, becoming the talk of the town as "photogenic" even before opening!

Photogenic point: Lining up the color variations of umeboshi such as pink, red, and white lets you take a palette-like gradation photo.

Best shooting time: The hours when soft natural light streams in by an indoor window are great.

Shooting angle: Lining up multiple types and shooting from overhead is the top recommendation. Placing them on a wooden tray or white cloth gives a cafe-style finish.

Access: Can be purchased at roadside stations and souvenir shops within Wakayama Prefecture, or at Nanki-Shirahama Airport and JR Wakayama Station.

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Wakayama gourmet is first-class not only in taste but also in visual beauty. Do enjoy a journey touring photogenic gourmet, camera in hand!

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