Things to do in Yura

Kimii-dera

Kimii-dera was founded in 770 by the Tang dynasty monk Kōjō Shōnin and has a long history. The name Kimii-dera comes from "a temple in Kishu with three wells." These three wells still produce Seijō-sui, Yōryū-sui, and Kisshō-sui water, which have been selected as one of the 100 Remarkable Waters of Japan. There are also solemn and magnificent structures such as the Sakura-mon Gate, built in 1509, and the Itsukushima Jinja Tahoto Pagoda, built in 1449. In addition, about 1,200 cherry trees are planted on the temple grounds, making it a famous cherry blossom viewing spot where flowers bloom early, attracting many visitors during the blooming season. Kimii-dera is the second stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, a series of Kannon sacred sites scattered across the Kinki region and Gifu Prefecture, attracting many pilgrims from all over Japan.

Enjukaigan Camping Ground

Yura Sea Fishing Park

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Kansai Region

Osaka Castle Museum

The Osaka Castle Museum is the core structure of Osaka Castle. In 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi began construction of the castle here, earning it the nickname "Hideyoshi's castle." The current museum, seen today, is a reinforced concrete reconstruction completed in 1931 based on the design from the Toyotomi era. Its interior has been converted into a museum showcasing the history of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Osaka Castle. Standing atop a tall stone foundation, the building features white walls adorned with green roof tiles. Its upturned eaves are decorated with gold-leaf tigers and golden shachihoko (mythical creatures with tiger heads and fish bodies), making it an instantly recognizable landmark of Osaka. Visiting the tower and viewing exhibitions are the main activities here: the small theater on the first floor loops several short films about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Osaka Castle, with Chinese subtitles; the second floor introduces basic knowledge about Osaka Castle and Japanese castles, where visitors can try on restored Sengoku-period helmets and jinbaori for photos, with optional women's kosode available, and also see full-scale replicas of the golden shachihoko and crouching tiger roof ornaments; the third and fourth floors display historical materials about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Sengoku period, which are rotated approximately every two months, with the third floor also featuring a restored model of the golden tea room and Osaka Castle models from both the Toyotomi and Tokugawa periods—note that photography is prohibited on these two floors; the fifth floor recreates the fierce battle scenes from the "Summer Siege of Osaka" folding screens using miniature figurines and projections; the seventh floor's "Mechanized Taikoki" uses dynamic miniature dioramas to depict Hideyoshi's life from humble origins to unifying the nation; the eighth floor is an observation deck approximately 50 m above ground, offering panoramic views of Osaka Castle Park and the cityscape. The elevator inside the building only goes up to the fifth floor directly, and the remaining floors require stairs, so visitors with elderly or young children should plan accordingly. The surrounding scenery offers seasonal highlights: cherry blossoms bloom in clusters along the moat and in the park during spring, while fall foliage contrasts with stone walls and white walls, making it another photogenic season beyond the castle tower.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Legoland Japan Resort

•The exciting world of LEGO bricks •Fun for all ages, spend an awesome day with LEGO bricks together as a family •The park features approx. 17 million LEGO bricks, approx. 10,000 LEGO models, and numerous fun interactive adventure rides Legoland Japan Resort is located in the Nagoya Port area and is a dreamlike park built with more than 17 million LEGO bricks. Since opening in 2017, it has been hugely popular with children. With 8 themed areas of distinct character and more than 10,000 different LEGO models, both children and adults are sure to find their own patch of joy once they step into this colorful brick kingdom. Although the park does not cover a particularly large area, it still includes 8 main play zones: LEGO Factory, Bricktopia, Adventure Land, Knight's Kingdom, Pirate Shores, Miniland, LEGO City, and LEGO NINJAGO World. In addition, within the resort area where the park is located, there are well-equipped accommodation facilities — the Legoland Hotel, right at the main entrance, making check-in very convenient. △ In the Lego Factory Tour, you can witness the entire machine manufacturing process of the bricks used in the park and shops! △ Enter the world of Phantom Ninja and embark on an adventure with Kai, Nya, and their brave ninja companions! △ Work with family and friends to put out the fire in the burning building as quickly as possible!

No. 8 of Best Things to Do in Kansai Region

Kobe Suma Seaworld

Kobe Suma Seaworld is located on the Suma coast. It opened in June 2024 on the original site of the former Kobe Municipal Suma Seaside Aquarium and can be reached by train from Osaka in about 50 minutes. The venue adheres to the concept of edutainment, showcasing over 500 species of marine life. The tour route combines viewing, educational exhibits, and interactive activities, making it suitable for family-friendly travelers and marine life enthusiasts. The venue highlight is the killer whale performance arena. Few venues in Japan house killer whales, but here you can see a mother-daughter pair: Stella, approx. 40 years old, and her daughter Ran, both measuring over 5 m in length. The orcas leap into the air, coordinating with trainers to complete performances against the backdrop of the open Suma Sea, with front-row spectators often getting splashed. The arena's first floor features a killer whale science zone displaying skeletal specimens and educational videos; the same-level cafeteria has giant acrylic viewing windows for observing the orcas while dining. The dolphin show venue is also worth visiting. The first-floor dolphin hall features an underwater viewing window over 10 m wide, where you can watch dolphins swimming underwater. On the second floor, dolphin beach offers close encounters with dolphins. The main exhibition hall "Aquatic life" uses water's journey as its narrative thread: the local life exhibit recreates the Rokko mountain streams and Seto Inland Sea coastal environment, continuing the former facility's endangered fish conservation displays. The tropical life zone introduces natural light paired with real palm trees to replicate a Pacific coral atoll lagoon, with a visually stunning 600-ton water tank. The coral message area introduces living corals and reef conservation status. The jellyfish habitat displays jellyfish in low-light conditions. The rocky life zone houses Magellanic penguins, California sea lions, spotted seals and sea turtles, with opportunities to see penguin chick-rearing in spring. The third floor features a touch pool where you can gently interact with intertidal creatures like starfish and sea cucumbers. The first-floor Suma collection exhibit showcases freshwater species such as arapaima, while preserving historical materials from the former Kobe municipal Suma seaside aquarium. Visiting tips. Check the performance time schedule upon entry, as seats for orca and dolphin shows are limited - arriving early during peak season is recommended. For orca shows, bringing your own raincoat or purchasing one on-site is advised if choosing front-row seats. Penguins, sea lions and seals have fixed feeding times. Experience programs like dolphin interactions and turtle feeding have limited spots and require advance planning.

Porto Europe

PortoEuropa is a theme park featuring authentic reproduction of European architecture and street scenes. There are many amusement facilities such as roller coaster and merry-go-round in the park, and fireworks shows and character shows are popular among children.

Wakayama Marina City

Hiro-hachiman Shrine

Kadocho Soy Sauce Museum