Alongside Dogo Onsen and Arima Onsen, Shirahama Onsen is known as one of Japan's 3 famous ancient hot springs. Overlooking pristine beaches, Shirahama is home to many inns and hotels, making it a magnet for tourists from the Kansai region when summer comes around.
Whether you want to enjoy an open-air bath with a view, a extraordinary spa experience, or luxurious local seafood dishes, you'll be able to find the perfect destination here. You don't necessarily need to stay overnight, either, as many of Shirahama's facilities are available for day use. This is an old-fashioned resort area that's been brought up to date, and with impressed visitors flooding in, the results speak for themselves.
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Shirahama Key Terrace Hotel Seamore
A full range of hot spring facilities, including footbaths for day use
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Shirahama Key Terrace Hotel Seamore is one of the top places to stay in the Shirahama Onsen area, and it's surprisingly affordable. It was completely refurbished in 2018 with a modern design. You can even use the observation terrace and footbath, which take advantage of the seafront location, without making an overnight stay. Check out the delicious coffee and breads at the hotelâs bakery, too.
The hot spring facilities include a shampoo bar, where you can pick your own shampoo from multiple varieties, and a popular standing bath where you feel at one with the sea. After bathing, you can use the tatami-matted (traditional flooring made of straw) rest area to kick back and relax.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 1821 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-43-1000
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Saki no Yu
An open-air bath right next to the beach
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At Saki no Yu, you can enjoy an open-air hot spring bath that flows directly from the source in an excellent location by the surf overlooking the ocean. If youâre touring the hot spring baths of the Shirahama Onsen area, this is a must-visit.
Here you can take a relaxing bath while appreciating a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean all to yourself. Note that youâre not allowed to use shampoo or soaps of any kind at this hot spring. Also, towels arenât included in the entrance fee. Happily, thereâs a spacious car park, so itâs ideal for a quick stop if youâre on a road trip.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 1668 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļīāļ: AprilâJune, September: Daily from 8 am to 6 pm, JulyâAugust: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm, OctoberâMarch: Daily from 8 am to 5 pm
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-42-3016
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Yukai Resort Premium: Nanki Shirahama Onsen Shirahama Gyoen
A hot spring popular with families for its buffet option
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Yukai Resort Premium: Nanki Shirahama Onsen Shirahama Gyoen is one of the areaâs most popular hot springs thanks to its reasonable prices, consistent service, and extensive facilities. Actually, many people stay here more for the excellent yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) buffet featuring Kumano beef.
If youâre not planning to stay overnight, thereâs also a hot spring day-trip plan with buffet dinner. But if you do stay the night, youâll also be able to enjoy a breakfast buffet with grilled fish, which is equally well-renowned.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 1011 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)570-550-078
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Toretore no Yu
A large public bath open to day-trippers
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Toretore no Yu is a bathing facility for day-tripper located within Shirahama's popular Toretore Park. After swimming at the nearby beaches or shopping at a fresh seafood market, you can relax in an open-air bath or take some Korean-style relaxation treatments.
If you're feeling hungry after all that, you can sample rice-bowl dishes and an excellent selection of sashimi using fresh seafood. There's even an amusement arcade, making this an ideal stop for families.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 2508 Katata, Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2201, Japan
āđāļāļīāļ: Daily from 9 am to 11 pm (opening hours vary by facility/service)
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-42-1126
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jolve SPA
Experience a Shirahama-exclusive treatment at a hotel
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jolve SPA is a luxurious space located on the top floor of the Nanki-Shirahama Marriott Hotel. Here youâll find top-quality treatments and services.
Try the exclusive Nanki-Shirahama plan for something special. It features a variety of treatments that you can only experience here, including oil treatment with an aromatic oil using sanbokan sour orange, a Wakayama delicacy, extracted by steam distillation. This is the perfect place to indulge yourself.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 11F, 2428 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļīāļ: Daily from 3 pm to 10 pm (hours vary depending on the season)
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-43-2600
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Tennen Onsen Chosei no Yu
An old-fashioned hot spring resort that blends into nature
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Tennen Onsen Chosei no Yu flows with slightly viscous natural hot spring water direct from the source. This mildly alkaline sodium bicarbonate chloride spring is famous for enhancing the beauty of your skin. Itâs also available to drink or take home, and thereâs a footbath too.
The old-fashioned building has a small and cost changing room and shower area. If you want to take your time and relax, you're better off visiting when it's not so busy. Thereâs an indoor bath made with natural wood and stone, and an open-air bath surrounded by trees and a nostalgic atmosphere, especially when the autumn leaves are falling. The facility also has accommodation and a Wakayama ramen restaurant.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 2763 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļīāļ: ThursdayâTuesday from 10 am to 10 pm (closed on Wednesdays, or on the next day if Wednesday is a public holiday)
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-42-3010
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Ebine Onsen
A hidden gem of a hot spring with wonderful mountain and river scenery
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Ebine Onsen is a secluded hot spring located a 50-minute drive from the Nanki-Tanabe Interchange. Thereâs no open-air bath, only an indoor bath, but the view is spectacular, with tranquil mountain scenery featuring the Hiki River visible through the window.
The hot spring water flowing from the source is famous for its excellent quality, attracting queues of visitors, and you can even take some of the water home with you. The alkaline simple sulphur spring has a unique smell and smooth texture that keeps people returning to this site. The restaurant's udon noodles are also worth a try.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 504 Mukaidaira, Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2535, Japan
āđāļāļīāļ: Daily from 10.30 am to 6 pm
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-53-0366
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Shirahama Koganoi Resort & Spa
A classic resort with open-air bath and pool
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Shirahama Koganoi Resort & Spa is a popular inn with many regular visitors thanks to its excellent service and hospitality. The hotel staff treat everyone with the same level of consideration, so you can always look forward to a great experience here.
The natural hot spring baths, including a deep open-air bath and shallow indoor bath, are spacious and luxurious. Thereâs also a swimming pool with an open terrace available to use all year round, as well as a jacuzzi and lounge. Delicious food is served, too, making this the complete package.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 3212-1 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-43-6000
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Shirasuna
A municipal public bath right next to the beach
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Shirasuna is an open-air bath set right next to Shirarahama Beach. This is a casual place that you can enter wearing a swimsuit when visiting the beach. Itâs mixed bathing, like a typical swimming pool, and itâs pretty cheap because itâs owned and operated by the town, so this is a great option for couples and families with small children.
Itâs quite spacious, too, with capacity for up to 100 people. In high season it has extended opening hours, and if youâre here in the early evening youâll be treated to a spectacular sunset view. It can also be used as a free footbath from October to April.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 864 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļīāļ: SeptemberâJune: TuesdayâSunday from 10 am to 3 pm, JulyâAugust: TuesdayâSunday from 10 am to 6 pm
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-43-1126
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Hamachidori no Yu Kaishu
An open-air bath for mixed bathing (bathing clothes provided)
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Hamachidori no Yu Kaishu is known for its open-air bath with a spectacular view where the edge of the bath appears to merge with the sea. Unusually, it provides special bathing gowns to allow for mixed bathing, making it particularly popular with couples and families.
Another popular feature is a cottage guest room with open-air bath where you really get the sense of being on holiday. You can choose between seafood and meat as your main course for dinner, and you can even use the hot springs on a day-trip plan with dinner if you prefer not to stay overnight.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: 1698-1 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture 649-2211, Japan
āđāļāļĢ: +81 (0)739-82-2220
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