Jofuku Park

Jofuku Park in Shingu, Wakayama commemorates Xu Fu, a court magician of China's Qin Dynasty who is said to have arrived on this coast around 210 BCE in search of an elixir of immortality for Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Historical records are ambiguous about where Xu Fu ended up, but Shingu's claim is among the oldest in Japan. The park has a traditional gate, stone lanterns, and a carved stone monument dedicated to Xu Fu, surrounded by camphor trees. It is a small, contemplative space rather than a major tourist draw, but the story behind it makes a 20-minute stop worthwhile if you are passing through Shingu on the Kumano Kodo route.