Shirahama Beach
Kansai's most beautiful white sand beach — Shirahama means "white beach" and the quartz-sand shore lives up to the name. The resort town has offshore hot spring water piped into beachfront baths. Cliff coastline walks to Sandanbeki (the Sea Cave Cliffs) and Senjojiki (Rock Terrace) frame the Pacific dramatically.
1–2 days
Free (beach), onsen ¥440–1,000
Beach: always open; Saki-no-Yu (cliff-top public bath): seasonal hours, e.g. Oct–Mar 8:00–17:00, Apr–Jun & Sep 8:00–18:00, Jul–Aug 7:00–19:00; no regular weekly closing (check for maintenance).
July–August (beach), Year-round (onsen)
Shirahama Station on JR Kisei Line (2h 40m from Osaka)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
Kansai's finest sandy beach — white quartz sand imported from Australia in the 20th century now replenished naturally
- 2
崎の湯 (Sakino-yu) — an outdoor cliff-edge onsen bath open directly to the Pacific Ocean
- 3
Sandanbeki sea caves have a hidden pirate legend and a 50m cliff-edge viewing platform
Local Tips
The white sand beach (the name means 'white beach') is one of Japan's finest on the Pacific coast — the colour contrast between the sand and deep blue sea is beautiful. The Saki-no-Yu open-air foot bath perched on the cliff above the ocean is free and one of Japan's most dramatic onsen settings. Combine with Senjo-jiki rock platform and Sandanbeki cliffs for a full Shirahama day.
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