The place where you can feel healing and encounter Japan's original landscape is Shirahama Town, located at the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture.
Located along the Pacific Ocean, Shirahama Town boasts an abundance of nature, with its sea, rivers, mountains, hot springs, and many mystical landscapes created by nature. Why not take a trip to Shirahama, where you can experience traditions, culture, and history, while being blessed by the rich hot spring resources that have lasted for over a thousand years?
Table of Contents
- Shirarahama Beach - A White Sand Beach You Can Walk Barefoot On
- Sakinoyu - An Open-Air Bath from the Manyo Era
- Funakakushi Cave Experience from the Heian Period
- Banshoyama Park - Where Nature and History Coexist
- Tsubaki Onsen - A Hidden Healing Hot Spring
- "The Last Pristine River of the Kii Peninsula" - A Glimpse of Japan's Original Landscape
- The World Heritage Kumano Kodo Ohechi Route
Shirarahama Beach - A White Sand Beach You Can Walk Barefoot On
One spot you’ll want to visit in the morning is Shirarahama Beach. The beach, which opens as early as May (the earliest in Honshu), stretches for about 620 meters and is covered in fine, white sand. You can walk barefoot along this beautiful shoreline while marveling at the contrast of the blue sea and white sand. The shallow waters make it a perfect beach for families. Take a short stroll through the nearby town, where countless narrow paths may lead you to unexpected views.
Sakinoyu - An Open-Air Bath from the Manyo Era
Just a short distance from Shirarahama Beach is Sakinoyu, an open-air bath facing the majestic Pacific Ocean, where you can feel the history of Shirahama’s 1,350-year-old hot spring culture. Sakinoyu, one of the oldest hot springs in Shirahama, has a long history of visits from many emperors and nobility, including Emperors Saimei, Tenchi, Jito, and Monmu. This bath, located in a natural rock formation, offers a wild and unique experience as you bathe while feeling the waves crashing against the rocks.
Funakakushi Cave Experience from the Heian Period
Extend your visit from Sakinoyu to see the towering 50-meter cliffs along the southern coast of Senjojiki. The sight of the waves crashing against the rocky cliffs is a powerful natural spectacle. The Sandanbeki Caves, a hidden boat cave, is said to have been used by the Kumano Navy during the Heian Period, and within the caves, a 200-meter-long walking path leads to a large bronze statue of Benzaiten. Explore the historical and natural wonders deep within these caves, located 36 meters below ground.
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Banshoyama Park - Where Nature and History Coexist
In the afternoon, head to Banshoyama Park. This scenic natural park offers views of Engetsu Island, a circular sea-erosion cave that appears in the middle of the sea. The park is part of a national nature park, with Banshoyama, a 32.5-meter-tall hill that juts out into the Pacific Ocean at the center. This area remains home to spectacular scenery and rich nature.
In the Edo Period, the Kishu Domain established a "Tomiban-sho" (lookout post for foreign ships), where samurai from Tanabe were stationed to watch for foreign ships. Many tropical and subtropical plants grow naturally in this area.
The park is also home to a museum dedicated to Minakata Kumagusu, a giant of knowledge born in Wakayama. Known as a naturalist, biologist, and folklorist, the museum showcases his literature, specimens, and personal belongings.
Born in 1867, Kumagusu studied at Tokyo Imperial University and later traveled to the U.S. and the U.K., where he spent time at the British Museum, devouring ancient and modern literature from around the world. After returning to Japan, he conducted extensive research on slime molds and published numerous papers in the British scientific journal Nature. He also played a pioneering role in folklore studies and environmental conservation movements.
The Kyoto University Shirahama Aquarium, featuring marine life native to Wakayama, is also located along the coast.
In Banshoyama Park, where nature and history intersect, you will find harmony with nature.
Shirahama Onsen offers numerous spots to view beautiful sunsets, especially from Sakinoyu and Engetsu Island. Additionally, for only 10 days around the Spring and Autumn Equinox, the sun sets within the circle of Engetsu Island, creating a breathtaking moment of natural serendipity.
With a wide variety of accommodations in Shirahama Onsen, be sure to stay and enjoy the soothing hot springs.
Tsubaki Onsen - A Hidden Healing Hot Spring
Just one train stop from Shirahama Station is Tsubaki Station, home to Tsubaki Onsen, an ancient hot spring healing site that feels like a world away from Shirahama. This quaint hot spring town has just a few inns and is located along the coast. Tsubaki Onsen has been a place of healing since the Edo Period, providing rest for travelers on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. Legend has it that a white egret with injured legs flew to the spring, dipped its legs into the waters, and healed its wounds before flying away in full health, marking the beginning of Tsubaki Onsen. Renowned for its skin-beautifying properties, this simple, smooth water offers a tranquil retreat, allowing visitors to experience the timeless healing of this ancient hot spring.
"The Last Pristine River of the Kii Peninsula" - Nichiokugawa River
Just one more station from Tsubaki Station lies Kii-Hiki Station. In the southeastern part of Shirahama Town flows the Nichiokugawa River, often referred to as "the last pristine river of the Kii Peninsula." The river flows through the town of Hiki, where many settlements dot the riverside.
Untouched nature remains abundant in this peaceful area, surrounded by sea, mountains, and rivers.
Here, you can enjoy "Honmamon Experiences" - immersive, hands-on activities that allow you to interact with the local people, known for their warm and down-to-earth nature. "Honmamon," a local dialect word for "the real thing," is the basis for many authentic experiences, including farm stays, fishing, and outdoor activities along the river. You can also try indigo dyeing, using Kishu indigo, a material that has supported the vibrant Japanese color known as "Japan Blue" for centuries.
The World Heritage Kumano Kodo Ohechi Route - Tonda Slope and Hotoke Slope
Shirahama Town is also home to the Kumano Kodo Ohechi Route, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. The Tonda Slope and Hotoke Slope are two sections of this route.
The Kumano Kodo connects the Kumano area, located in the southern Kii Peninsula, with Osaka, Ise, Koya, and Yoshino. The Tonda Slope, located in the Tonda district of Shirahama Town, crosses the Agotsuji-Matsu Pass into the Hiki River region. The Ohechi route, continuing from Tonda Slope to Hotoke Slope in Susami Town, features scenic cultural landscapes and stone-paved paths, both of which are registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The traditional ferry "Agono Watashi," operated on weekends and holidays, ferries visitors across the Hiki River in a small wooden boat, providing a glimpse into the lives of ancient travelers.
Walking these paths, while taking in the views of the Kareki and Kumano Seas, you will feel the breath of ancient travelers. This journey may offer you a chance to reconnect with the things we often overlook in our daily lives.
