The best Onsen in Wakayama 2024 | ONSENISTA - Specialized media for Japanese Onsen(hot springs) -

Get to know Wakayama

Access

Wakayama Prefecture belongs to the Kinki region of the Japan archipelago and is located in the southwestern part of the Kii Peninsula.

Wakayama Prefecture occupies many mountains in the prefecture, but access is relatively good. There are various main ways to get there, such as by air, sea, and rail.

First of all, the nearest airports are Nanki-Shirahama Airport and Kansai International Airport. Kansai International Airport is the main route for international flights, and access to Wakayama City from the airport is also recommended.

As for railways, access to Wakayama Prefecture is good, and it is possible to move smoothly from various places.

In addition, if you are using a bus or car, you can access various places by expressway. As you can see, Wakayama Prefecture is a very convenient city for tourists because it is easy to get to your destination with public transportation and transportation networks.

From Tokyo

<Shinkansen / Train>
Tokyo Station → Shin-Osaka Station (Tokaido shinkansen (about 2 hours 30 minutes)→ Wakayama Station(JR Tokaido Main Line Kuroshio about 1 hours 10 minutes)

<Airplan and Train>
Haneda Airport→ Kansai International Airport ( about 1 hour 25 minutes)→ Hineno Station → Wakayama Station (JR kishu Rapid about 30 minutes)

<Shinkansen / Train>
Tokyo Station → Shin-Osaka Station (Tokaido shinkansen (about 2 hours 30 minutes)→ Shirahama Station (JR Tokaido Main Line Kuroshio about 2 hours 41 minutes)

<Airplan and Bus>
Haneda Airport→ Nankishirahama Airport ( about 1 hour 15 minutes) → Shirahama Station ( Shirahama Town Circulation Line about 30 minutes)

From Nagoya

<Shinkansen / Train>
Nagoya Station → Shin-Osaka Station (Tokaido shinkansen about 50 minutes)→ Wakayama Station (JR Tokaido Main Line Kuroshio about 1 hours 10 minutes)

<Train>
Kintetsu Nagoya Station → Osaka Nanba Station (Kintetsu Limited Express about 2 hours 20 minutes)→ Nanba Station→ Wakayama Town Station ( Nankai Express about 1 hours )

<Shinkansen / Train>
Nagoya Station → Shin-Osaka Station (Tokaido shinkansen (about 50 minutes)→ Station (JR Tokaido Main Line Kuroshio about 2 hours 41 minutes)

From Osaka

<Train>
Osaka Station → Wakayama Station ( JR Kishu Road Rapid 1 hours 30 minutes)

<Train>
Shin-Osaka Station → Shirahama Station (JR Tokaido Main Line Kuroshio about 2 hours 41 minutes)

History

Wakayama Prefecture has a very deep history, and its traces can be traced in various parts of the prefecture.

In the mountainous area around the Kinokawa River, which flows through the prefecture, traces of the Paleolithic period, which is the oldest and is about 15,000 to 25,000 years old, have been excavated. From the Jomon period to the Yayoi period, the Ota and Kuroda ruins in Wakayama Prefecture are famous as the remains of settlements where people worked to cultivate flat land such as rice paddies and dwellings.

In this way, it can be seen that Wakayama Prefecture has played an important role since ancient times, with documents remaining in the "Kojiki" and "Japan Shoki". In the Edo period, Wakayama Castle was repaired and expanded by the order of the famous warlord "Toyotomi Hideyoshi", and the castle town around Wakayama Castle developed with the times.

Wakayama Prefecture, which has a lot of history and has left a legacy to the present day, has a thriving culture of Onsens.

In Wakayama Prefecture, there are Onsen resorts such as Shirahama Onsen and Katsuura Onsen that have been popular with people for a long time. The wide variety of springs that spring up in various places heal fatigue and wounds, and are deeply related to the great people who have left their names in history. In particular, Shirahama Onsen, which is famous as one of the most scenic spots in the Kansai region, has existed for about 1350 years and is one of the three major ancient Onsens in Japan.

It can be said that the Onsen resorts of Wakayama Prefecture play an important role in experiencing its history and culture.

Onsen areas

Nanki-Shirahama Onsen

Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is a Onsen resort located in Nishi-Mui District, Wakayama Prefecture.

Nanki-Shirahama Onsen, which represents Wakayama Prefecture, is one of the three ancient Onsens in Japan and has a very long history. Nanki-Shirahama Onsen first appeared in history about 1350 years ago, and is recorded in ancient documents such as the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and Man'yōshū. Ancient documents tell us that successive emperors and palace officials visited the Onsens to heal their bodies, and we can see that it has a long history.

The characteristic of Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is that it has a wide variety of Onsens.

There are a total of 15 types of sources of Nanki-Shirahama Onsen, and there are various sources such as "Suiyu Source", "Honeydew Onsen Source", and "Gyoko Source". The basic spring quality is chloride selection, sulfur spring, bicarbonate spring, and simple Onsen, and these spring qualities are combined.

There are more than 50 accommodation facilities around the Onsen resort, and it is a real pleasure to enjoy a variety of Onsens. The main effects are wide-ranging, including muscle pain, joint pain, neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, and rheumatism.

The area around Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is also famous as a resort area, and there are many sightseeing spots. Reminiscent of a tropical resort, "Shirarahama" is a very beautiful spot where you can enjoy marine sports in the best location. There are many other attractive sightseeing spots, such as "Adventure World" where pandas are popular.

The charm of Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is not only the Onsens and sightseeing spots. Fresh seafood caught locally is popular in the surrounding area, and you can enjoy the blessings of Shirahama to your heart's content. Access to Nanki-Shirahama Onsen is also smooth, and it is easy to visit from other cities.

Nanki-Shirahama Onsen can be said to be a Onsen resort where you can enjoy sightseeing in Wakayama, from historical Onsens to leisure and gourmet food.

Nanki-Katsuura Onsen

Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is located in Higashi-Mui District, Wakayama Prefecture, and is one of the representative Onsen resorts in the prefecture on a par with Nanki-Shirahama Onsen.

Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is surrounded by lush nature and is home to many historical tourist attractions. There are many historical places in the surrounding area, such as Nachi Falls and Kumano Sanzan, which are registered as World Heritage Sites, and many people from Japan and abroad visit.

By air or rail, it takes about 3 hours from Tokyo and Osaka, and has good access to Nanki-Katsuura Onsen.

When you visit Nanki-Katsuura Onsen, the standard spots that you should definitely visit are "Nachi Falls" and "Kumano Nachi Taisha".

First of all, Nachi Falls, which has been selected as one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan, has a drop of 133 meters and a waterfall basin of 10 meters. Nachi Falls, which has been visited by worshippers since ancient times, has been a place for waterfall pilgrimages and practices in the waterfall for about 1,300 years. The waterfall is a spectacular scenery and is very popular with tourists.

Kumano Nachi Taisha is one of the Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha, collectively known as the Kumano Sanzan. The Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, with its sacred atmosphere, is still deeply worshipped and visited by many worshippers.

After sightseeing in such fascinating spots, the Onsens are also indispensable.

The area around Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is a treasure trove of Onsens, and there are more than 100 of them. The quality of the springs is diverse, such as sulfur-sodium, calcium-chloride springs, simple sulfur springs, and alkaline simple Onsens, and has various effects. The main effects are various such as muscle pain, joint pain, neuralgia, burns, and sensitivity to cold, and you can also enjoy visiting Onsens.

Some of the Onsens are well-located while looking at the sea, and some are relaxing Onsens surrounded by the pleasant scent of cypress.

In addition, the famous tuna is also popular in this area, and it can be said that tasting the gourmet food of Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is one of the pleasures.

Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is an attractive Onsen resort where you can heal your fatigue while enjoying history and nature.

Yunomine Onsen

Yunomine Onsen is a Onsen located in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture.

Yunomine Onsen is known as the oldest Onsen in Japan and has been appearing in history since about 1800 years ago. Yunomine Onsen has been known as a sacred place where travelers cleanse themselves and heal their fatigue during the "Kumano Pilgrimage" that tours the three mountains of Kumano.

One of the most popular spots in Yunomine Onsen is Tsuboyu. Tsuboyu is a natural rock bath, and it is a beautiful Onsen that is said to change color 7 times a day. In addition, Tsuboyu is registered as a World Heritage Site, and it is attracting attention as the only Onsen where you can bathe in it among the certified Onsens.

The quality of the Onsen is bicarbonate spring, and it has various other effects such as neuralgia, diabetes, rheumatism, and skin diseases.

In addition, there is a legend in Yunomine Onsen called "The Tale of Oguri Judge and Terutehime". The story is about a man named Judge Oguri, who suffers from starvation disease, and miraculously recovers after soaking in Onsens. "The Tale of Oguri Judge and Terutehime" is still told in kabuki and other performances today, and has been cherished historically.

Yunomine Onsen, where you can enjoy history, has plenty of accommodations even though it is in the mountains, so you can go sightseeing with peace of mind. It is easily accessible and a shuttle bus is available from the property.

The oldest Onsen in Japan, Yunomine Onsen, is a place where you can fully appreciate both its history and the natural scenery.

Ryujin Onsen

Ryujin Onsen is a historic Onsen resort along the Hidakagawa River, which flows through the Koya Ryujin Quasi-National Park, which is rich in nature in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture.

Ryujin Onsen is also famous as one of Japan's Three Most Famous Onsens for Beautification, and is on a par with Yunokawa Onsen in Shimane Prefecture and Kawanaka Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. Ryujin Onsen, which is called the Onsens for Beautification, has the quality of a sodium-bicarbonate spring, and is characterized by the moisturizing skin after bathing.

The main effects are wide-ranging, such as skin diseases, neuralgia, joint pain, and burns. There are also benefits obtained by drinking Onsens, and it is said to be effective for chronic digestive diseases, diabetes, gout, etc.

The quality of this spring is the reason why Ryujin Onsen has a long history of 1300 years and has been loved by many people since ancient times.

There are a wide variety of Onsens around the Onsen resort, such as cypress baths where you can enjoy a good scent and open-air baths where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. The experience of relaxing and soaking in the Onsens while admiring the beautiful nature at Ryujin Onsen will be an unforgettable memory.