Day 8 marks the first time we visit the Kansai region: Wakayama, located on the Kii peninsula in western Japan. The capital is Wakayama city in the northeastern corner of the prefecture bordering Osaka. Fun fact: Wakayama is the number one producer of #oranges in Japan, where they have been grown for over 400 years. Wakayama has its own brand of oranges called Arida-Orange. 1. What does sharuku (しゃるく) mean in Wakayama?
2. What does mizusetta (みずせった) mean in Wakayama?
3. Wakayama’s Yunomine Onsen is thought to be the oldest onsen (hot spring bath) town in Japan. What is the name of the private bath in the town that is the only UNESCO registered onsen in the world?
4. Wakayama is home to Japan’s largest torii gate at Oyunohara: true or false?
5. What is the name of this temple which is a designated National Treasure and the oldest building in Koyasan?
6. What is the name of the thousand-year-old pilgrimage route in Wakayama that is one of only two UNESCO registered pilgrimage routes in the world?
7. The local delicacy meharizushi (めはり寿司) is similar to the Greek dish dolmades as the rice is also wrapped in local leaves: true or false?
8. What is the name of this waterfall in Wakayama which is the highest in Japan?
9. What other word do locals in Wakayama often use for ramen? 10. Come up with a haiku poem that conveys the beauty and charms of Wakayama.
Answers for Day 7: (1) Sir Rutherford Alcock (2) a puppy (3) Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Shizuoka, and Nagano (4) 7 (5) wine (6) peaches, grapes and/or plums (7) B) a noodle dish (8) peach trees (9) Hidetoshi Nakata