Wakayama · Nanki-Shirahama Onsen
Shirahama Onsen Shirara-yu
白浜温泉 白良湯
A town-run bathhouse right in front of Shirara-hama, the famous white-sand beach. Built like an old-fashioned sentō with an attendant's counter, its second-floor bathroom opens through big windows onto the beach, blue sea and sky — a ¥420 view bath you would never expect in a resort. The 66.8°C sodium-chloride 'Suzushi-yu' source flows freely, and the strongly salty water keeps you warm long after. Open 09:00–11:00 and 14:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00; 07:00–09:00 is residents only), closed Thursdays. Soap and shampoo sold for ¥40; no hair dryers. One of Shirahama's 'sotoyu' circuit with Saki-no-yu and Muro-no-yu — locals rinse off the sand after a swim and come straight in. About 15 minutes by bus from Shirahama Station to 'Shirarahama'.
- Price (adult)
- ¥420
- Hours
- 09:00–11:00 (last entry 10:30) / 14:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00)
- Closed
- Thu
- Access
- About 15 min by Meikō bus from JR Shirahama Station to 'Shirarahama'; about 15 min by car from Nanki-Shirahama IC
- Water type
- Simple spring
- Tattoos
- Ask ahead
- Admission
- Adults ¥420 / ages 6–11 ¥140 / 3–5 ¥80. 10-ticket book ¥3,000. Towels ¥200, soap ¥40, shampoo ¥40 sold. 7:00–9:00 is residents-only
- Baths
- Bath on the 2nd floor, with wide-open windows directly facing Shirara-hama’s white sand and blue sea. Indoor baths per gender (hot and mild), washing area and showers (bring or buy soap). Rest space downstairs. Ideal after the beach
- Water
- Sodium chloride spring, clear, slightly salty and hot. One of Shirahama’s public “soto-yu” baths (Saki-no-yu, Muro-no-yu, Shirara-yu, Matsuno-yu, Tsuna-no-yu, Shirasuna)
- Phone
- 0739-43-2614
- Official site
- town.shirahama.wakayama.jp ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
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Why go
- Second-floor window over Shirara beach, ¥420
- Free-flowing 66.8°C chloride spring
- Circuit with Saki-no-yu and Muro-no-yu
Right on Shirara-hama beach: a ¥420 bath with a view
Shirara-yu is a town-run public bath standing directly opposite Shirara-hama, Shirahama’s famous white-sand beach. The bathroom is upstairs, its wide-open windows framing the beach and sea head-on, and in summer it serves as the “beach bathhouse” where swimmers rinse off the sand and warm up in the spring. There are washing stations and showers (soap sold), and it costs just ¥420. Of Shirahama’s public baths it is the most convenient for sightseers; pair it with soak-only Saki-no-yu for the complete “scenic rotenburo plus a proper wash” combination.
Tips & cautions
- Two sessions: 9–11 and 14–21:30; closed 11–14. 7–9 is residents only — tourists cannot enter.
- Closed Thursdays. No soap or shampoo provided (¥40 to buy).
- The water is hot — start in the milder tub.
- Busy on summer afternoons. Use the paid car parks around Shirara-hama (virtually no dedicated parking).
- One minute from “Shirasuna”, the free swimsuit rotenburo on the beach.
Getting there
~15 min by Meiko bus from JR Shirahama Station to “Shirara-hama”, then 1 min on foot (Shirahama 3313-1). ~10 min by car from Nanki-Shirahama Airport. No dedicated parking (paid lots nearby).
Before you go
- No official tattoo policy is published — ask at reception.
- As a communal bath there is no soap or shampoo — bring your own or buy at the shop.
- Payment is usually by ticket machine in cash — bring coins.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Price
Who with
Only here
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 Operating status and rates cross-checked against the official site and onsen guides (full source notes in Japanese on the JA page)
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Saki-no-Yu
An open-air-only bath at the edge of the Pacific. One of Japan's oldest springs, mentioned in the 8th-century Nihon Shoki; on rough days sea spray reaches the tubs. No roof, no wash stations.
Shirahama Onsen Muro-no-yu
Shirahama's other classic public bath, on the Yuzaki seafront near Saki-no-yu. Its draw: two distinct springs — Mabuyu and Miyukiyu — under one roof. 7 am to 10 pm, ¥420.
Ryujin Onsen Motoyu
The source bath of Ryujin Onsen, counted with Yunokawa and Kawanaka among Japan's 'three beauty baths'. It stands on the Hidaka River deep in the Kii mountains, with a cypress indoor bath and a rock rotenburo overlooking the stream. The silky bicarbonate water is famous for leaving skin smooth. ¥800, 7:00–21:00, open daily. An hour by car from Koyasan via the Koya-Ryujin Skyline, or about 80 minutes by bus from Kii-Tanabe.
