shirahama: white sand & ocean baths
for those of us from new mexico, getting a few days at the ocean and beach is a necessity!
our hotel in shirahama is located within walking distance to all that you want to see in town, the seaside baths and fish markets, the old center of izakaya and shops. and, of course, our seaside hotel has pretty sweet baths and our rooms have gorgeous views of the bay and ocean.
from the prefectural website: Shirahama: large leisure spot facing the Pacific Ocean. "Senjojiki Rock Plateau" huge multi-tiered rock that looks like a thousand "tatami" mats. Nanki, a generic name for the entire southwestern part of Wakayama, is a large spot of leisure containing various amusement facilities, beaches and places where you can enjoy marine sports, golfing and tennis. Shirahama, the center of Nanki, is a famous Onsen resort facing the Pacific Ocean in the Kii Peninsula and is known as one of Japan's three largest Onsens together with Beppu in Oita and Atami in Shizuoka. Collectively called the Shirahama Onsen Hot Springs comprises the Yuzaki Onsen, long known for open-air bathing in manually hollowed rock tubs and other hot springs at Shirahama opened early in the 20th century, Higashi-Shirahama, Tsunashirazu and others.
you may choose to take a boat ride out into the bay to visit the famous rock formations, or rent a bike and cruise around town. wander the beach, comb for shells, visit all the many baths. there are great hikes, optional boat rides (glass-bottomed reef viewing boats, fishing boats) as well as many great and lush golf courses for those so inclined. small temples can be found here and there, bakeries, grocery stores for a lunchtime picnic on the beach, even a zoo!
more from the prefectural website: In and around Shirahama are many places of natural beauty visited by a large number of tourists throughout the year, such as Engetsuto Island, an uninhabited rock isle with a round sea cave open in the middle of it, and Sandanbeki Rock Cliff with 50 to 60-meter-high precipitous rock walls extending about 2 kilometers from south to north. Another must-see is Senjojiki Rock Plateau, a huge multi-tiered rock that looks like a thousand "tatami" matted (senjo-jiki) floor created by the erosion of soft sandstone by raging waves.
one evening we will visit local chef tomo-san at his amazing izakaya, where he serves up each evening fish that he caught that very day. he will also serve some local speciaties not found in other areas of japan: more emphasis on seafood, for sure, but also the local citrus and vegetables. a good chance, also, to try the local sake: he will have available for us all of the local breweries’ products. a second evening we take over a new michelin-starred french restaurant along the bay. a feast to remember, for sure!
there is also a very new, community-supported fish market on the bay (in the direction of the most famous outdoor bath on the ocean) where you can buy your fish at the market and take upstairs to the rooftop restaurant. there they “rent” table-top BBQ grills so you can cook your fresh catch yourself! we reserve the whole rooftop, everyone buys their own fish and we enjoy the sea air as we grill our own food. they also have great local veggies and amazing local japanese beef for sale to grill.
dinner time will be announced in advance for all of you to get back from your day’s excursions in time. (keep in mind that golf needs to be reserved months in advance, and we will gladly get a group together ---kaz is an ace golfer!---if enough of you so desire. just let us know!)
