Katsuura is a town on the southeastern coast of the Kii Peninsula, best known for its onsen (hot springs) and its fishing industry.
As an onsen resort town, Katsuura is characterized by several mega hotels dotting the coastline. These all encompassing complexes include on site restaurants, shops, numerous baths, karaoke, bars, izakaya, walking trails and more.
Two hotels in particular are well known for their baths: Urashima Hotel owns the Bokido Bath in a spacious, coastal cave, while Nakanoshima Hotel, located on its own private island, has outdoor baths with beautiful views of the coastal scenery. Both hotels are only accessible by boat and open their baths to non staying guests.
Katsuura's other attraction is related to its fishing industry: the tuna market. Japanese fishermen bring in a large portion of the world's tuna catch, and Katsuura hosts an impressive, early morning fish market that showcases this catch. Large tuna are auctioned off in a manner similar to Tsukiji market in Tokyo, although the scale of Katsuura's market is much smaller.
Katsuura and the Kii Peninsula are also known for their whaling culture. In nearby Taiji, a whale museum offers information on whales and the whale hunt from both historical and modern points of view. Whaling methods and practices are highlighted by the displays, and whale meat is on sale in the museum gift shop and in the region's restaurants.
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