Shirahama Onsen

Onsen

Prefecture

Wakayama

Type

Onsen

N/A

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Train Access

About This Destination

The hot spring side of Shirahama, apart from the beach. Its best-known bath is Sakinoyu, open-air rock pools on the Yuzaki shore where the lowest pool sits at the level of the sea and waves come in over the edge. It costs 500 yen, and you cannot use soap because the water runs straight into the ocean.

Shirahama is counted with Dogo and Arima among Japan's three oldest hot springs, and the bath that carries that history is Sakinoyu. It is the only one left of the Yuzaki Seven Baths, a group of seaside pools known since the time of the Man'yoshu poems, and the area's springs are named in both the Man'yoshu and the Nihon Shoki. The pools are hollows in the sandstone shore, divided into separate sides for men and women. The lowest ones sit right at the waterline, so the temperature changes as waves wash in. Soap, shampoo and conditioner are not allowed, since the water drains to the sea, so treat it as a soak rather than a wash. A towel costs 200 yen and the lockers take a 100-yen coin. In rough weather the town closes it, and it also shuts on a few announced maintenance days a year, so check the Nanki-Shirahama Tourism Association's news page before a special trip. In 2026 typhoon damage closed part of it for a while; the sea-side bath reopened in August. For a proper wash, use one of the two town bathhouses: Muro-no-yu and Shirara-yu, both 420 yen. Since March 2024 they keep 7:00 to 9:00 for residents, so visitors come at 9:00 to 11:00 or from 14:00. The white sand beach is covered in the separate Shirahama Beach entry.

Location

Prefecture: Wakayama

Address: Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan

Nearest Station: Yuzaki bus stop (Meiko Bus, about 15 minutes from Shirahama Station), then about 5 minutes on foot

Opening hours: Mon–Sun 08:00–17:00

Closed: Sakinoyu has no regular closing day but shuts on announced maintenance days and in high seas or typhoons. Muro-no-yu closes on Tuesdays and Shirara-yu on Thursdays.

Hours note: Hours shown are Sakinoyu's October to March hours. It is open 8:00 to 18:00 from April to June and in September, and 7:00 to 19:00 in July and August, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The town baths Muro-no-yu and Shirara-yu take visitors from 9:00 to 11:00 (last entry 10:30) and 14:00 to 21:30 (last entry 21:00); 7:00 to 9:00 is for Shirahama residents only.

Best time to visit: Year-round. Sakinoyu is open longest in July and August (7:00 to 19:00) and is most pleasant from autumn to spring, when the sea air is cool; it closes in high seas and typhoons

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: Nothing at Sakinoyu itself. Look for seafood in the restaurants around Yuzaki and the beach, or at Toretore Market, a large fish market.

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Sakinoyu, and can I wash there?

It is 500 yen for anyone aged 3 and over. You cannot wash your hair or body there: soap, shampoo and conditioner are not allowed because the bath water flows into the sea. Towels are sold for 200 yen and lockers cost 100 yen. For a wash, go to Muro-no-yu or Shirara-yu (420 yen).

When is Sakinoyu open?

8:00 to 17:00 from October to March, 8:00 to 18:00 from April to June and in September, and 7:00 to 19:00 in July and August, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. There is no regular closing day, but it shuts on announced maintenance days and whenever the sea is rough, so check the Nanki-Shirahama Tourism Association's news before you go.

Can visitors use the town bathhouses in the early morning?

No. Since 1 March 2024, Muro-no-yu and Shirara-yu are for Shirahama residents only from 7:00 to 9:00. Visitors can bathe from 9:00 to 11:00 (last entry 10:30) and from 14:00 to 21:30 (last entry 21:00). Adults pay 420 yen. Muro-no-yu is closed on Tuesdays and Shirara-yu on Thursdays.