Owase City faces the Kumano Sea, and 90% of the city is covered by forests. This warm, rainy region has thrived in forestry and fishing since the Edo period. Owase cypress is known nationwide for its high-quality timber. The city also has nine fishing ports, including Owase Port, where a variety of seafood, including red sea bream, bonito, rockfish, and bigfin reef squid, is landed. The city's most famous tourist attraction is the Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site. The Kumano Kodo has four routes: Magose Pass, Yakiyama, Sone Jiro-zaka/Taro-zaka, Miki Pass, and Ugo Pass, allowing visitors to experience the changing nature of the seasons. Other attractions include the Astronomical Science Museum, Itadaki Market, and the World Camellia Garden.