Shirahama, Wakayama · Things to do
Things to Do in Shirahama: 10 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
10 things to do · checked October 23, 2026
10 things to do in Shirahama, from the beach outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 23, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Shirarahama Beach白良浜
Beach · Shirarahama
About 620 m of white quartz sand, around 90% silica, in the middle of the onsen town. The town's page says swimming runs from Golden Week to mid-September. Shirasuna, a free open-air bath at the same bus stop, is mixed and needs swimwear and opens daily 12:00–17:30 in July and August, and 10:00–15:00 on weekends and holidays in May, June and 1–13 September.
- Access
- Meiko Bus from JR Shirahama Station, about 15 minutes to the Shirarahama stop.
- Price
- Free. Shirasuna open-air bath free in fiscal 2026
2Shirara-yu白良湯
Public bath · Shirarahama
A town-run bathhouse by Shirarahama Beach, with free-flowing sodium chloride spring water. Towels (¥200), soap and shampoo are sold at the counter.
- Access
- Meiko Bus from JR Shirahama Station, about 15 minutes to the Shirarahama stop, right by the stop.
- Hours
- 9:00–11:00 (last entry 10:30) and 14:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00); 7:00–9:00 is for town residents only
- Closed on
- Thursdays
- Price
- Adults ¥420; children ¥140 or ¥80 by age band
3Engetsuto (Engetsu Island)円月島
Island and sunset view · Rinkai
A small island, officially called Takashima, about 130 m long and 25 m high, with a round sea-worn arch through its middle. The sunset behind it is one of Wakayama's 100 selected sunsets; the town gives about 18:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter as the time to see it.
- Access
- Seen from the shore of Rinkai Bay. Ryokan Musashi, in front of Shirahama Bus Center, gives 3 minutes on foot from the inn to the island view.
- Price
- Free
4Kyoto University Shirahama Aquarium京都大学白浜水族館
Aquarium · Rinkai
An aquarium run by Kyoto University's Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, showing about 500 species of local fish and invertebrates such as crabs and starfish. Cash only.
- Access
- Meiko Bus town circular line from JR Shirahama Station, about 20 minutes to the Rinkai stop, right by the stop.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Open all year
- Price
- High school and older ¥600; elementary and junior high ¥200; preschool free
5Sakinoyu崎の湯
Open-air public bath by the sea · Yuzaki
A town-run open-air bath facing the sea. Soap, shampoo and conditioner cannot be used because the bath water runs into the sea.
Closed from 12:30 on 26 October, 11 November and 26 November 2026.
- Access
- Meiko Bus from JR Shirahama Station toward Shin-Yuzaki, about 15 minutes to the Yuzaki stop, then about 5 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 8:00–17:00 (1 Oct–31 Mar); 8:00–18:00 (Apr–Jun and Sep); 7:00–19:00 (Jul–Aug). Last entry 30 min before closing
- Closed on
- Open daily except maintenance. Closed from 12:30 on 26 October, 11 November and 26 November 2026
- Price
- ¥500 from age 3
6Muro-no-yu牟婁の湯
Public bath · Yuzaki
A town-run bathhouse in Yuzaki with two baths, each fed by a different spring source.
- Access
- Meiko Bus from JR Shirahama Station, about 15 minutes to the Yuzaki stop, then about 2 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- 9:00–11:00 (last entry 10:30) and 14:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00); 7:00–9:00 is for town residents only
- Closed on
- Tuesdays
- Price
- Adults ¥420; children ¥140 or ¥80 by age band
7Senjojiki千畳敷
Rock platform on the coast · Senjojiki
A wide, sloping shelf of white, soft sandstone, formed 18 to 15 million years ago, running from the tip of Setozaki into the Pacific. The town warns that it can be very windy.
- Access
- Meiko Bus from JR Shirahama Station toward Sandanbeki (the Engetsuto–Shirarahama–Sandanbeki line). Sandanbeki, on the same coast to the south, is about 25 minutes from the station by bus.
- Price
- Free
8Sandanbeki and Sandanbeki Cave三段壁・三段壁洞窟
Sea cliffs and sea cave · Sandanbeki
Cliffs 50 m high that run for about 2 km south of Senjojiki. A lift takes 24 seconds to go 36 m down to the cave, where a 200 m loop (about 30 minutes) passes a large Benzaiten statue and a replica Kumano navy guard hut. There is a ramp for wheelchairs and strollers.
- Access
- About 25 minutes by bus or 15 minutes by taxi from JR Shirahama Station; about 6 minutes by bus from Nanki-Shirahama Airport.
- Hours
- 8:00–17:00 (last entry 16:50)
- Closed on
- Open all year; closed 8–11 December 2026 for inspection
- Price
- Junior high and older ¥1,500; elementary ¥750; under school age free
9Adventure Worldアドベンチャーワールド
Zoo, aquarium and amusement park · Katata (near the airport)
An animal park 10 minutes by bus from Shirahama Station. On 23 October 2026 its home page promoted a giant panda character, Smile, appearing in the playground from 24 October; it did not say that live giant pandas are on show.
- Access
- Route bus from JR Shirahama Station, about 10 minutes (Meiko Bus fare ¥300); about 5 minutes by bus from Nanki-Shirahama Airport.
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00 on open days; may change in busy periods
- Closed on
- Wednesdays in November 2026 (4, 11, 18, 25); 1, 2, 8, 9 and 16 December 2026; see the park calendar for 2027
- Price
- Adults (18+) ¥5,300; 65+ ¥4,800; ages 12–17 ¥4,300; ages 4–11 ¥3,300
10Toretore Marketとれとれ市場
Seafood market · Near Shirahama Station
A seafood market that its operator calls one of the largest in western Japan, part of a complex with places to eat and a BBQ corner.
- Access
- About 5 minutes by car from JR Shirahama Station. Route buses between the airport and Shirahama Station stop at Toretore Market. Free parking.
- Hours
- 8:30–18:30 (food orders stop around 17:30)
Good to know
Most of Shirahama is one bus line from JR Shirahama Station. Meiko Bus takes about 15 minutes to Shirarahama Beach and the Yuzaki baths, about 20 minutes to Rinkai for Engetsuto and the Kyoto University aquarium, and about 25 minutes to Sandanbeki. Adventure World and Toretore Market are on the station and airport side, 5 to 10 minutes away.
The three town baths have different rest days: Shirara-yu closes on Thursdays, Muro-no-yu on Tuesdays, and Sakinoyu is open daily but shuts from 12:30 on 26 October, 11 November and 26 November 2026. Sakinoyu closes at 17:00 from October to March; the other two stay open until 21:30.
Other dates to plan around: Adventure World closes on Wednesdays in November and on 1, 2, 8, 9 and 16 December 2026, and Sandanbeki Cave closes 8–11 December 2026. Swimming at Shirarahama runs from Golden Week to mid-September.
Beach, Yuzaki, Rinkai, the cliffs, or the station side
Getting there from JR Shirahama Station, what it costs to get in, and how late you can still start. Adult prices; children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | From JR Shirahama Station | Entry (adult) | Latest start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirarahama: the beach and Shirara-yu | Meiko Bus about 15 min to the Shirarahama stop | Beach free · Shirara-yu ¥420 | Shirara-yu last entry 21:00 (closed Thursdays) |
| Yuzaki: Sakinoyu and Muro-no-yu | Meiko Bus about 15 min to Yuzaki, then 5 min (Sakinoyu) or 2 min (Muro-no-yu) on foot | Sakinoyu ¥500 · Muro-no-yu ¥420 | Sakinoyu 16:30 (Oct–Mar) · Muro-no-yu 21:00 (closed Tuesdays) |
| Rinkai: Engetsuto and the Kyoto University aquarium | Meiko Bus circular line about 20 min to Rinkai | Engetsuto free · aquarium ¥600 | Aquarium 16:30 |
| Senjojiki and Sandanbeki Cave | Bus about 25 min to Sandanbeki, or taxi about 15 min | Senjojiki free · cave ¥1,500 | Cave 16:50 |
| Station side: Adventure World and Toretore Market | Bus about 10 min (Adventure World) · car about 5 min (Toretore) | Adventure World ¥5,300 · market — | Adventure World closes 17:00 · market 18:30 |
By kind of trip
First trip, one day
Shirarahama Beach and Engetsuto are free, Sakinoyu is ¥500, and Sandanbeki Cave is ¥1,500. Start at Sandanbeki and Sakinoyu, which close first (16:50 and 16:30 last entry from October to March).
Shirarahama Beach · Engetsuto (Engetsu Island) · Sakinoyu · Sandanbeki and Sandanbeki Cave
A bath after dark
Shirara-yu and Muro-no-yu take their last bathers at 21:00. Pick by the day: Shirara-yu is closed on Thursdays, Muro-no-yu on Tuesdays.
With children
The aquarium is ¥200 for elementary and junior high and free before school age, and Sandanbeki Cave is ¥750 for elementary age and free before. Adventure World is ¥3,300 for ages 4–11.
Kyoto University Shirahama Aquarium · Sandanbeki and Sandanbeki Cave · Adventure World
Rain
The aquarium is indoors and the cave is underground; both are open daily (except the cave's 8–11 December 2026 inspection).
Kyoto University Shirahama Aquarium · Sandanbeki and Sandanbeki Cave
Free
The beach, the view of Engetsuto and the Senjojiki rock shelf cost nothing. The town gives about 18:30 in summer and 16:30 in winter for the sunset behind Engetsuto.
Questions
Are there giant pandas at Adventure World now?
On 23 October 2026, Adventure World's home page promoted a giant panda character, Smile, who appears in the playground from 24 October. It did not say that live giant pandas are on show. Check the park's own site before you go.
What are the opening hours and closing days of Shirahama's public baths?
Sakinoyu: 8:00–17:00 from October to March (later from April to September), ¥500, open daily but closed from 12:30 on 26 October, 11 November and 26 November 2026. Shirara-yu and Muro-no-yu: 9:00–11:00 and 14:00–21:30 for visitors, adults ¥420; Shirara-yu closes Thursdays, Muro-no-yu Tuesdays.
Is there a bus pass for getting around Shirahama?
Meiko Bus sells a free-ride pass for the lines between Shirahama Station and the sights: 1 day ¥1,100 (child ¥550), 2 days ¥1,600 (¥800). A 3-day pass (¥1,900) is sold only in digital form. It is not valid on highway buses.
When can you swim at Shirarahama Beach?
The town's page says swimming runs from Golden Week (early May) to mid-September. The free Shirasuna open-air bath at the beach opens daily in July and August and on weekends and holidays in May, June and early September; swimwear is required.