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Road trip from Osaka · About 2 hr 15 by car
Shirahama
Shirahama, on the Pacific coast of southern Wakayama, is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts and has a dazzling white-sand beach, Shirarahama. Along the coast are dramatic rock formations: Engetsu Island with its sea arch, the terraced rock shelf of Senjojiki and the cliffs of Sandanbeki.
It is the longest drive in this list, but the expressway now runs all the way. Combine beach time, a seaside open-air bath and the sea cliffs, or spend a full day at Adventure World's zoo, safari and marine park.
Where to go
1Shirarahama Beach 白良浜About 620 m of fine white quartz sand in the middle of the hot spring town, the busiest swimming beach in Kansai in summer.1–3 hr · FreeMap ↗
2Sandanbeki Cave 三段壁洞窟A lift drops 36 m inside the 50 m sea cliffs to caves where Pacific waves crash in.30–45 min · Middle school and over ¥1,500, elementary ¥750, preschool freeMap ↗
3Senjojiki 千畳敷A huge, gently sloping shelf of layered sandstone running into the ocean.30 min · FreeMap ↗
4Engetsu Island 円月島Small island with a natural arch; the sunset through the hole is one of Japan's famous sunset views.20 min · Free (viewed from the shore)Map ↗
5Adventure World アドベンチャーワールドCombined zoo, safari, aquarium and amusement park with dolphin shows, a large penguin house and a safari zone. The giant pandas returned to China in June 2025.Full day · Adult ¥5,300, junior/senior high ¥4,300, child (4+) ¥3,300Map ↗
A day there
- 7:30Leave south Osaka; about 2 hr 15 min to Shirahama
- 10:00Sandanbeki Cave (free parking), then walk out on Senjojiki
- 12:00Seafood lunch at the Toretore Ichiba market
- 13:30Beach time at Shirarahama
- 15:30Dip in the open-air seaside bath Saki-no-Yu (¥500, check closing time)
- 17:00Engetsu Island at sunset, then drive home (about 2.5 hours)
What to eat
Fresh sashimi, grilled seafood and tunaToretore Ichiba fish market near Shirahama
Kishu umeboshi (Wakayama pickled plums)Souvenir shops in the hot spring town
Seafood rice bowlsRestaurants around the hot spring town and the market
With kids
Adventure World is an easy full day for families; the beach has shallow, calm water in summer. Sandanbeki's cave lift is exciting, but the caves are damp and dark.
Good to know
- Saki-no-Yu, the 1,400-year-old seaside open-air bath (¥500, age 3+), closes at 17:00 in October–March and has only 15 parking spaces; no soap or shampoo is allowed.
- It is a long day. Share the driving and leave Shirahama by about 17:00 to be back in Osaka by evening.
- Sandanbeki closes in bad weather, so check if the sea is rough.