Japan Travel: History and Beauty at the Saki no Yu, Wakaya 23

Shirahama, located in Wakayama Prefecture, is known for its onsen (hot spring) resorts. Being one of the top three onsen resorts in Japan (the other two being Beppu in Oita and Atami on the Izu Peninsula), Shirahama’s visitors are in for a treat.

Shirahama literally translating to “white sand” is a coastal city. With various onsen (hot spring) related hotels and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) dotted the coastline, visitors can enjoy both the bath and the beach.

Shirahama has a deep onsen history with many emperors and feudal lords visiting this area for its onsen. Therefore, it is no surprise Tokugawa Yoshimune, the ruler of the Kii Region, who later became the eighth Tokugawa Shogun visited Saki-no-Yu. It is said this onsen located right along the coastline is the oldest onsen in Japan. Being outdoors, visitors have able to look into the deep blue Pacific Ocean while bathing. The baths are gender separated. A wooden wall separates the gender and rock boulders protect the bather from the waves of the ocean. However, at times, the bather may still feel the spray from the ocean wave as it crashed on the boulders.

Facility Information:

Hours:
8:00 to 17:00 (Standard Hours)
8:00 to 18:00 (April, May, Jun and July)
7:00 to 19:00 (July and August)
Closed: Wednesdays
Admission: 420 yen (3 year olds and above)

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