Shirahama Onsen

Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture is one of Japan's three oldest hot spring resorts, with a bathing history stretching back over 1,300 years. Unlike the mountain-surrounded onsen of the nearby Kumano area, Shirahama offers the rare treat of soaking in mineral-rich waters while gazing across the Pacific Ocean. The clifftop Sandanbeki outdoor baths and the beachside Shirasuna public bath are particular highlights, with waters rich in sodium chloride said to benefit skin conditions and fatigue. Beyond the springs, the town features a stunning white sand beach, the dramatic Sandanbeki cliffs with their hidden sea cave, and the circular Engetsuto rock formation that glows at sunset.