It's summer again and you know what that means? Beach season! During these 2 years of the pandemic, a lot of the popular beaches were closed to curb the spread of the virus. However, this year is finally the year the beaches are open and I, of course, jumped on the bandwagon and hightailed to one of my bucket list beaches of all time - Shirahama Beach.
*Check my other blog post about bucket list-worthy beaches near Kansai!
Getting to Shirahama Beach
Shirahama Beach is located in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, which is located south of Osaka. It took my friends and I about a 3-hour drive from Osaka city centre to Shirahama Beach. Since we drove, we had to pay ¥4,410 and ¥5,400 in tolls on the way there and back respectively.
Shirahama is also accessible by public transportation. Just take the JR Kuroshio Limited Express train from JR Tennoji Station and slightly over 2 hours later, you will arrive in JR Shirahama Station. A one-way ticket costs ¥5,170. After that, transfer to the bus which will directly take you to Shirahama Beach.
Facilities
As Shirahama is one of the most popular beaches in Kansai, it is equipped with most of the facilities you may need. There is a FamilyMart convenience store near the beach. Parking directly by the beach is available but on the steeper end, so I recommend parking near either end of the beach which tends to be cheaper. The parking space we parked at was only ¥500 for the whole day as it was the off-peak season ( 10/1 - 6/30). It was right by the convenience store and just 3-minute walking distance till you get to the beach. However, during peak season, weekend parking can be expensive but weekdays are still reasonable.
There are outdoor showers as well as a couple of restrooms scattered along the beach. Changing rooms are available for a fee. During peak season, there is an outdoor bath by the beach and it is a foot bath during off-peak, but it was closed when we went there. Probably because of the pandemic. As my friends and I did not want to pay for the changing rooms, we just showered off as much of the sand and saltwater using the outdoor showers and changed in the public restrooms. While it was less than ideal as the restrooms were cramped and not the cleanest, it sufficed.
There are multiple hotels by the beach, so you can easily walk down from your hotel and go right onto the beach. I recommend checking out Hotel Shirahamakan and Hotel Sanrakuso as they have great amenities and located right by the beach.
The Beach
So, the important part - the beach. Shirahama Beach absolutely lived up to its hype. The shoreline is clean and lined with sparking, white sand as workers regularly clear the beach of washed-up seaweed and debris. The beach is also long, about 600m wide, so you can find a private spot for yourself during weekdays or off-peak seasons. However, that can not be said during the peak season as it is one of the go-to spots for beachgoers. Regardless, the sand and sea make up for it.
Talking about the sea, the water is crystal clear and the waves are gentle, perfect for children and adults to swim. You could even see shoals of fish swimming close to the shore. That's how clear it was! You could literally see the bottom of the sea floor. Just gazing out to the turquoise sea was so pleasing to the eyes and soul.
Also, as we went at the end of June, the water was slightly cold, but it was so refreshing in the hot weather.
Verdict
I highly recommend going to Shirahama Beach if you have the chance. You will not be disappointed. The pristine beach, with its white, soft sand and amazingly clear water, is the perfect spot for your next beach trip.
While parking might be expensive and the lack of free shower facilities is less than ideal, there are workarounds and the beach experience you will get more than makes up for it.
Thank you for making to the end! While you are still here, check out the short vlog of my trip to Shirahama Beach!
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