Shirahama Onsen, Hot Spring & Beach Resort in Wakayama, Japan

Shirahama Beach

Widely known as one of the most beautiful beaches in Japan, Shirahama Beach is a 640 meter wide quartz sand beach. In summer, the beach is covered with colorful parasols.

Saki-no-yu: Open Air Bath

Saki-no-yu is an onsen bath in the open air situated 10 meters from the shore and facing the Pacific Ocean. It is said Tokugawa Yoshimune, the ruler of Kii and later the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, took a bath here.

Admission: 300 yen;
free for children under 2 years old

Closed on Wednesdays.

http://www.nanki-shirahama.com/spa/sakinoyu/top.htm

Undersea Observation Tower

The observation tower is located 100 meters offshore and 8 meters below the ocean surface. From the windows, about 30 kinds of fish including colorful tropical fish can be seen.

Admission: 800 yen (adults); 500 yen (children)

http://www.nanki-shirahama.com/spa/sakinoyu/top.htm

Minakata Kumagusu Museum

Minakata Kumagusu was a world-famous Japanese naturalist. From his childhood years, he demonstrated extraordinary memory abilities and earned the epithet of Walking Encyclopedia. His remarkable linguistic skills and knowledge helped him get a job in the British Museum where he was responsible for organizing its Eastern collection. While working, he published many articles in Nature Magazine, a science magazine. After returning to Japan, he lived in Wakayama Prefecture and researched on slime molds. He collected many specimens in the mountains of Kumano and made discoveries of new slime mold species.

Admission: 400 yen (adults); 200 yen (children)

http://www.nanki-shirahama.com/museum/minakata.htm

Sandanbeki (Three step cliff)

Sandanbeki or Three Step Cliff is a scenic site that stretches 2 kilometers from south to north along the ocean.

Senjojiki Coast

Unusual rock formation created by wave erosion lies along the coast.

Engetsuto (Full Moon Islet)

Engetsuto is an islet with a full moon shaped cave hole in the middle. A sunset over the islet is beautiful to see.

Kumano-Kodo

Check out the World Heritage Site: Kumano-Kodo