湯浅 Yuasa @和歌山 Wakayama, Japan

This was THE trip of the year!

After months of planning and anticipation, we finally touched down at Kansai International Airport late on a Saturday night. Instead of staying in the hustle of the city, we hopped on a train straight to 和歌山市 Wakayama City for a quiet overnight rest – our gateway to the scenic wonders of Wakayama Prefecture.

After a restful onsen soak and sleep at the ドーミーインPREMIUM 和歌山 (Dormy Inn hotel chain), we caught the 9:10am train to 湯浅 Yuasa, a charming little town just 45 minutes away. It’s an ideal half-day trip, and the station makes it super easy for travelers like us—luggage lockers were available (¥500 for the big ones), and the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) next door offered maps, advice, and even ¥100 coin exchanges for the lockers. Language barrier? No problem. The friendly staff used a translator to help us out. We were on a mission: to try the famous 醤油ソフト soy sauce ice cream!

湯浅醤油醸造所 Yuasa Soy Sauce Factory

Our first stop was the 湯浅醤油醸造所 Yuasa Soy Sauce Factory, just a short stroll from the station.

The factory tour was self-guided, with English signage to help us navigate the soy sauce-making process. The highlight? Miso tasting and that glorious 醤油ソフト Soy Sauce Ice Cream (¥450)!

The ice cream alone tasted a bit like salted caramel, but adding a drizzle of soy sauce enhanced the flavor beautifully!

かどや Kadoya

Next, we made our way back toward the train station and dined at a local restaurant, かどや Kadoya. We ordered the 干物定食 Himono Teishoku with grilled sanma (Pacific saury) (¥640) and upgraded our rice to a しらす丼 Cooked Whitebait Don for an extra ¥250. We also decided to try the 生しらす Raw Whitebait (¥840), served with a unique soy sauce jelly. Hubby preferred the cooked version, finding it less slimy, while I enjoyed the unique texture and taste of the raw version.

Cafe 589

With a little time to spare, we decided to check out Cafe 589, hidden inside the second floor of the train station library.

While the barista was in no rush (a pace we’re still adjusting to after coming from Singapore!), we ended up getting grabbed our drinks to-go instead: a creamy Café Au Lait (¥400) and refreshing ゆず茶 Yuzu Tea (¥250). We sipped them as the 12:49pm train rolled us toward 紀伊田辺駅 Kii-Tanabe Station.

tanabe en+

After arriving in 紀伊田辺駅 Kii-Tanabe, we still had some time to kill before our bus, so we wandered into tanabe en+, a cozy little café just opposite the bus stop.

With tickets in hand (thanks to the super-easy vending machine at the TIC), we treated ourselves to an Iced Green Tea Latte (¥500) and a tangy Iced Plum Tea (¥400), soaking in the quiet vibe of the town as we recharged.

We made our way to the bus stop about 20 minutes before the bus was due to arrive. The almost two-hour journey rewarded us with stunning views.

And wow.

Stepping off the bus at 川湯温泉 Kawayu Onsen, we were greeted by fresh, cool air and the quiet sound of the river nearby. Our minsu was conveniently located just across from the bus stop, making check-in a breeze. After settling in and putting down our bags, we took a short walk to get our bearings and enjoy the calm surroundings. It was a peaceful place—just what we needed after a full day of travel.