Shirahama

What to know

Shirahama (白浜) is a well-developed hot spring resort located 100 kilometers south of Osaka. Its popularity as an entertainment destination and proximity to Osaka have made it one of Japan's three largest onsen resorts, alongside Beppu in Kyushu and Atami on the Izu Peninsula.

The name Shirahama means "white beach" in Japanese, referring to the resort's other major attraction: a 500-meter-long sandy beach. Many large hotels are situated around the beach, placing visitors just steps from the water. Fireworks are held on select summer evenings.

While beach culture and amusement parks may be relatively recent additions, Shirahama's status as a travel destination is not. The town's hot springs were first recorded over a thousand years ago. Shirahama is even ranked alongside Kobe's Arima Onsen and Matsuyama's Dogo Onsen as one of Japan's three oldest onsen.

Six public bathhouses offer hot spring baths, most with indoor facilities only. However, two outdoor baths—the coastal Sakinoyu and the Shirasuna on the sand beach—are of particular interest to visitors.

Shirahama is a major station on the JR Kisei Line, connected to Osaka by hourly limited express trains. The town is also home to Nanki-Shirahama Airport, with direct flights to Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

Shirahama Station is a 10-minute, 340 yen bus ride from the town center. Several buses per hour connect the station with Shirahama Bus Center near the beach. There are also buses from Shirahama Station to Adventure World (10 minutes, 300 yen) and Sandanbeki (20 minutes, 480 yen).