Best around Kumano Kodo, Shingu, Shirahama Spot List

Located just one meter away from the sea, this is a public open-air bath that Shirahama Onsen is famous for. According to the ancient history books, such as the Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan) and the Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), Prince Arima visited this place about 1,350 years ago.

This is a specialty restaurant serving meharizushi (rice balls wrapped in pickled takana (leaf mustard greens)), which is a local specialty that passes down a simple traditional taste to the modern day. This restaurant’s meharizushi is characterized by the rice containing chopped stalks of takana, which is marinated in the special secret sauce. The rice is then wrapped in a large takana leaf. Popular menu items include a pack of four meharizushi (560 JPY) and a sample set containing meharizushi, kushikatsu (deep-fried skewer of meat) and tonjiru (miso soup with pork and vegetables) (1,300 JPY). The meharizuke-making set (1,890 JPY), where you can make your own meharizushi, is an ideal souvenir.

The perfect cafe to take a break in

This open-air bath is right next to Shirahama Beach. Since you can wear a swimsuit while soaking in this pool-like bathtub, it's convenient to visit after a day at the beach. The hot water that springs from its own source is constantly replenished, ensuring the water is always fresh. During the non-summer seasons, it's used as a footbath instead.