Shirahama's white beach surrounded by massive hotels
Shirahama is a well developed onsen (hot spring) resort 100 kilometers south of Osaka. Its popularity as an entertainment destination and its proximity to Osaka caused Shirahama to become one of Japan's three biggest onsen resorts, along with Beppu on Kyushu and Atami on the Izu Peninsula.
The name Shirahama is Japanese for "white beach", and refers to the resort's other major attraction, a 500 meter long sand beach. Many large hotels are situated around the beach so that visitors will be just a few steps from the water. Nightly fireworks are held during summer.
The appearance of beach culture and amusement parks may be a relatively recent phenomenon, but Shirahama's status as a travel destination is not. First mention of the town's hot springs was recorded over a thousand years ago. Shirahama is even ranked with Kobe's Arima Onsen and Matsuyama's Dogo Onsen as one of Japan's three oldest onsen.
Six bath houses with hot spring baths are open to the public, most of which have only indoor facilities. However, two outdoor baths, the coastal Sakinoyu and the Shirasuna on the sand beach, are of particular interest to visitors.
Hot Springs
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Shirasuna
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Hours: 10:00 to 15:00 (Jul 1-Sep 15, until 19:00)
Closing Days: Saturdays (except Jul 1-Sep 15)
Admission: 100 yen (Oct-Apr, free)
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This beach-side onsen has a large bath that can accommodate about 100 people. Because the bath is in plain view to pedestrians, bathing suits must be worn, contrary to regular onsen etiquette.
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Sakinoyu
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Hours: 8:00 to 17:00 (Jul-Aug, 7:00 to 19:00)
Closing Days: Wednesdays
Admission: 300 yen
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Sakinoyu is an outdoor bath that is located right along the seashore, and it affords a view out across the water. It dates back over a thousand years and is mentioned in some of Japan's most ancient texts.
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Rock Formations
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Sandanbeki
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Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Admission for cave access: 1200 yen
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Sandanbeki consists of three steep cliffs with a large network of caves at water level. An elevator is taken down to the caves, which has a shrine inside and a network of tunnels.
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Senjojiki
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Senjojiki is Japanese for "One Thousand Tatami Mats", which describes the appearance of these flat, sheet-like rocks. The Senjojiki are located along the coast, and visitors can walk out onto them.
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Engetsu Island
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This uniquely shaped rock formation is situated off the western coast of the city. In the evenings of some days of the year, the setting sun can be seen through the hole in the middle of the rock.
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Museums
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Minakata Kumagusu Museum
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Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (admission until 16:30)
Closing Days: Thursdays (except Jul 20 to Aug 30), Jun 28-30, Dec 29-Jan 3
Admission: 400 yen
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This museum hosts information and displays on Minakata Kumagusu, a renowned writer and scientist from Wakayama Prefecture. He was a naturalist and folklorist who devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge.
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Kishu Museum
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Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closing Days: no closing days
Admission: 700 yen
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On display at this small museum are a series of prints as well as examples of personal artifacts of pre-modern Japan. The Kishu Museum takes its name from the old name for Wakayama Prefecture.
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Onsen Shiryokan
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Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
Closing Days: Wednesdays
Admission: 300 yen
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This museum focuses on Japanese hot springs, with many videos and sculptures put on display to explain the science and history of onsen. Unfortunately, most of it is difficult to understand without knowledge of Japanese.
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Amusement Parks
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Energy Land
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Hours: 9:00 to 17:30 (admission until 16:00)
Closing Days: Tuesdays (unless a holiday)
Admission: 1800 yen
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An amusement park that offers interactive op art and a few computer generated movie rides. Somewhat out of date but enjoyable nonetheless, particularly for kids.
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Adventure World
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Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (until 21:00 in August)
Closing Days: The 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month (Dec-Feb, every Wednesday)
Admission: 3800 yen
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A large amusement park with a Ferris wheel and roller coasters as well as animal parks. A particular rarity, the amusement park has panda bears in one their zoo sections.
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