5 Selected Photogenic Power Spots of Wakayama | Instagrammable Shrines and Temples Recommended

Wakayama Prefecture, where mysterious nature and history intersect, is in fact a sacred place for Instagrammable lovers. Superb-view spots known only to those in the know are scattered about. This time, we carefully select and introduce 5 photogenic power spots so beautiful they take your breath away.

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1. Kumano Nachi Taisha and Nachi Falls | The Collaboration of a 133m-Drop White Thread and Vermilion

The sight where Nachi Falls, boasting Japan's greatest drop, and the vivid vermilion three-story pagoda fit into a single frame is truly "superb scenery created by the gods." The contrast of white spray, blue sky, and the orange pagoda produces the finest photogenic effect.

• Best time and season: 10 a.m. to noon, when the light hits from the front, is best. The November autumn-foliage season is especially scenic.
• Shooting angle: Shooting in a vertical composition with the falls as the backdrop from the three-story pagoda observation deck makes an SNS-photogenic golden ratio.
• Access: About 30 minutes by bus from JR Kii-Katsuura Station

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2. Kumano Hongu Taisha | The Mystical Space of Moss-Covered Stone Steps and a Primeval Forest

The 158 stone steps surrounded by giant trees hundreds of years old look like another world when mist hangs in the early morning. The mystical atmosphere woven by green moss and sunlight filtering through the trees is also excellent compatibility with film-camera-style editing.

• Best time and season: Early morning 6 to 8 a.m. during the rainy season to summer, when mist tends to appear, is recommended.
• Shooting angle: A composition looking up from the bottom of the stone steps is the point. Aim for the moment when no people are around.
• Access: About 1 hour 20 minutes by bus from JR Shingu Station

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3. Koyasan Danjo Garan | The Superb View of Fantastical Vermilion and the Kondo

The religious city of Koyasan, spreading atop a mountain at an elevation of about 900m. The vivid vermilion and golden decoration of the Konpon Daito are overwhelming in contrast with the blue sky. During nighttime light-up it shines golden, letting you take a shot as if you had wandered into another world.

• Best time and season: At night when it is lit up, or the early morning when morning mist drifts. The October to November autumn-foliage period has a special beauty.
• Shooting angle: Capturing the Konpon Daito from diagonally in front brings out a sense of three-dimensionality, which is GOOD.
• Access: From Gokurakubashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line, take the cable car to Koyasan Station, then about 10 minutes by bus

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4. Tokei Shrine (Tanabe City) | A Silent Sanctuary Guarded by Moss and Old Trees

An ancient shrine known as the starting point of the Kumano pilgrimage. The passage created by the old trees lining the precincts and the moss-covered stone lanterns is a mystical space as if time had stopped. Even without flashiness, it is a "understated photogenic" spot that captures the hearts of photography lovers.

• Best time and season: The hours when soft morning light streams in. The fresh greenery of May is especially recommended.
• Shooting angle: Shooting in a vertical composition with the approach pointing into the depths makes a shot with a sense of depth.
• Access: About a 5-minute walk from JR Kii-Tanabe Station

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5. Tamaki Shrine | A Sacred Domain in the Sky, Floating on a Sea of Clouds

Tamaki Shrine, enshrined at near 1,000m elevation, is a secluded shrine said to be "reachable only by those who are called." The combination of the sea of clouds spreading in the early morning and the old cedars is superb scenery so unforgettable once you see it on SNS. The group of giant cedar trees over three thousand years old is stunning.

• Best time and season: The early morning of autumn to winter (around sunrise) when the sea of clouds appears is the target.
• Shooting angle: With an ultra-wide-angle angle looking up at the giant cedars, express the sense of scale to the maximum.
• Access: About 30 minutes by taxi or private car from the JR Totsukawa Onsen bus stop

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The photogenic spots produced by Wakayama's mystery and nature - do actually pay a visit and shoot while feeling that "energy" with your whole body. You will surely find your favorite shot.

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