The Kii Peninsula—an unexplored territory nearby. Or perhaps, not so nearby. If you want to go to Nachikatsuura, famous for Nachi Falls, it takes about as long as traveling from Nagoya to the Nishi-Izu region. That is why it is hard to visit, and that is precisely why it holds such allure. It was true in modern times, and it must have been the same in the medieval era when the Kumano pilgrimage flourished. It is a path of pilgrimage.
Did you see the Wakayama area at Mori, Michi, Ichiba?
Mori, Michi, Ichiba gathers the best shops from all over the country. This year was incredible as well, and among them, the Wakayama team "Arcade" had an especially large-scale and intense presence. With a shopping street using large mobile tenement houses that looked as if they had been built there from the start, well-placed atmospheric lighting and greenery, a massive facade by Wakayama-based artist Ishida Meimeijo at the front, and diverse vendors covering everything from clothing and food to housing, they created an overwhelming presence and bustle through sheer volume and quality.
That unique style of participation was actually bringing their entire market event, held annually in Wakayama, to the venue. "Arcade" is held once a year within Wakayama Prefecture and moves to a different town in the prefecture every three years. It not only gathers the finest shops in Wakayama but also features guest vendors from all over the country, and this year, too, a star-studded list of exhibitors gathered.
Let’s go to Arcade by bike!
We were honored to be invited by Circles as well, but rather than just selling things, we wanted to ride our bikes through the region to deepen our understanding. So, we decided to participate as an activity to encourage people to arrive by bicycle, dubbed "BIKE to Arcade." I believe cyclists have the agility to overcome the difficulty of access and gather, so I hope you will come and enjoy it by bike, whether from the Kansai or Tokai regions.
We will also set up a cycle cloakroom
We will also operate a cycle cloakroom—a parking area that is vital for bicycle access. We will take good care of your bikes at the venue, so please enjoy the fantastic market to the fullest.
Try using the cycle train, where you can board with your bike as is
The JR Kinokuni Line, which runs along the Wakayama coast, is a cycle train that allows you to bring your bicycle on board as is. You can bring your bike on any train without a bike bag except during rush hour, so please take advantage of it. It looks especially convenient for access from the Kansai region.
Kinokuni Line Cycle Train
https://www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/kuroshio/cycletrain/
We will hold a ride tour starting from the venue!
For those visiting Nachikatsuura or the Kumano area for the first time, we will hold a ride tour with route information provided by the local Shingu bike shop, "Wheel Action." The route will be 20-30km, starting from the Arcade venue and returning by cycle train; we plan to include roads where you can experience the World Heritage Kumano Kodo.
We also plan to suggest other recommended routes, such as hard courses into the mountains, although these will be unsupported. We will announce details about the ride later, so for now, please just make sure to save the date.
Arcade in Nachikatsuura 2023
October 7-8, 2023 (Sat-Sun)
Katsuura Fishing Port, Nachikatsuura Town, Wakayama Prefecture
https://www.instagram.com/_arcadeproject_/
Mandala of the Kii Peninsula
Personally, I have a strong yearning for Wakayama—or rather, the Kii Peninsula. I once even rented a second house in Ise as a base to explore southward. I have gone to the Oto Festival in Shingu and went bikepacking in the rain at Odaigahara during the rainy season.
Although it is certified as a World Heritage site as the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," there are no particularly high mountains or photogenic cityscapes. I had wondered why this place became the final destination of a pilgrimage when there are so many other scenic spots in Japan, but when I learned that the views from the mountains of the Kii range were likened to a mandala, it made perfect sense to me. Minakata Kumagusu also wrote that the landscapes of Wakayama are, in fact, a mandala. The scenery of the Kii Peninsula, which possesses a stable structure without an absolute center and where charm is ubiquitous in its details. I think I feel in it the original landscape of Japan: simple yet profound.
I am happy to have a reason to ride a bike in Wakayama. Let’s go together.
