Enjoy Nanki Shirahama by renting a bicycle
Nanki Shirahama is one of Japan's leading resort areas, located in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture. It is a popular spot that every Japanese person has visited at least once, with hot springs, beautiful white sand beaches, Adventure World, famous for its dolphin shows and pandas, and several other scenic spots. One of its charms is that it can be enjoyed regardless of the season. It is a place I love and have visited more than five times. So, I've been thinking for a while that Shirahama isn't that big, so I could get around it all by bicycle. I usually go there by car, but if I could take the train to Shirahama and go sightseeing by bicycle, I could eat and drink more. Recently, I often see rental bicycles (shared bicycles) in the city, so I wonder if there are any in tourist areas? I searched and...oh, there are! When I checked this site , I found that there are many rental bicycles in Shirahama! Maybe I'm behind the times, but there are actually quite a few.
Foreign tourists will probably come to Shirahama by plane or train, so a report on sightseeing by bicycle might be useful.
We arrived at JR Shirahama Station! It's hot! (The interview was conducted in early September.)
JR Shirahama Station
From Osaka, it takes about 2.5 hours on the Kuroshio Express, and from Tokyo, it takes about an hour by plane from Haneda Airport to get to Nanki Shirahama Airport. This time, we will start from JR Shirahama Station, but don't worry, there is also a COGICOGI share cycle port at Nanki Shirahama Airport!
For this article, we asked the local "Ido Tatami Shop" for some recommended spots. Ido Tatami Shop makes geta sandals using rush grass that they grow themselves, so we'll introduce them at the end of the article.
Now let's go rent a bike!
Bicycle rental COGICOGI
This purple ornament is the landmark!
There were three bicycles at this port (as of 8:30am). There was another port nearby with fewer bikes, but four.
First, check the tire air and charge level. The battery level is 60-70%. I'm a little worried, so I choose a bike with 70% battery. Renting is easy using the smartphone app.
The app is compatible with both Android and iOS, and no identification such as a passport is required. People from overseas can borrow with peace of mind. The app is available in Japanese, English, and Korean .
Purchasing a longer-term plan will be cheaper per hour, but if you return the bike, the time will not be used up, so if you return it to the port and use it as a rental, you do not necessarily need to purchase a ticket for the entire duration of your stay.
By the way, the rates in the Shirahama area are as follows. For all plans, extensions are 110 yen (tax included) per hour. (Prices seem to vary depending on the area.)
- 12 hours: 2,310 yen (tax included)
- 24 hours: 2,640 yen (tax included)
- 48 hours: 3,960 yen (tax included)
This time, I plan to visit many places in one day, so I bought a 12-hour ticket in advance and rented a bicycle. I turned on my smartphone's Bluetooth, searched for bicycles on the app, selected the bicycle I wanted to rent, and brought my smartphone close to the lock...
The lock wouldn't open. No matter how many times I tried, it wouldn't open. Choosing a different bike didn't work either. Suddenly, I was faced with a challenge... Maybe I bought the ticket for the wrong area. Bingo! For some reason, I had accidentally bought a ticket for the Kyoto area. Please be careful, because if the area is wrong, the lock won't open.
I bought a ticket for the correct area again and tried again!! "Oh, I think I can do it!?...Huh?" It still didn't work. I removed my smartphone case, the stickers that were in between the phone and the thin metal plate that was used to attach it to the car's smartphone holder, and tried again!!
"Click!" The door was unlocked without a hitch. Everyone, please be careful not to get the ticket area wrong, and be careful that if your smartphone case is thick or there is something between your phone and the door, the Bluetooth response will be poor. We've lost more than 30 minutes, so let's pull ourselves together and start our rental bike journey!!
First, head to Toretore Market Nanki Shirahama, about 2km from JR Shirahama Station. There is a fairly steep hill to get to Toretore Market, so turn on your electric bike!
On flat roads, I was able to move forward normally even with the power turned off. The electric bicycle I usually use to take my children to and from school is heavy to pedal and doesn't move forward when the power is turned off, but this rental bicycle is light and easy! I turned off the power on flat roads to save battery power. In the clean, refreshing air, I arrived in about 10 minutes.
Toretore Market Nanki Shirahama Store
There are lots of fresh fish on display at the market, as well as a wide selection of skewered seafood for barbecues. As a drinker, I love the selection of snacks to go with my drink. There are also plenty of locally grown fruits, local sake, and souvenirs, so I'd like to stop by again at the end of my trip.
Here, we bought some "Mehari Sushi" for breakfast! It's not a specialty of Shirahama, but it is a local dish of Wakayama Prefecture. It is a rice ball wrapped in mustard leaves, and the saltiness is exquisitely delicious. Please give it a try!
With our stomachs full, we head to Shirahama Beach next. We plan to visit the outdoor baths along the way. Shirahama has about 10 outdoor baths and foot baths, which is a must-see for hot spring lovers.
Chosei no Yu
The first hot spring we visited was "Chosei-no-Yu." It takes about 10 minutes to get there, walking down the hill from Toretore Market!
But... what? I thought it was quiet, but it turns out they're closed on Thursdays... So early on! However, the foot bath was open, so I decided to take a quick dip.
This foot bath is shallower than the others, and the seating position is higher, so your pants won't get wet. And, it seems like you can drink the hot spring water here! I didn't try it, but it seems worth a try.
After refreshing in the foot bath, on the way to Shirarahama Beach, I discovered "Kagero Cafe"! It's a shop famous for its famous fresh Kagero sweets. I decided to stop by later and continued on.
Shirahama Mifune Footbath
Next we arrived at "Shirahama Mifune Footbath." The view here is amazing!
However, it was a little lukewarm... If the foot bath isn't warm, it's not comfortable at all. It's a little disappointing, but I can forgive it because the view was amazing! The sea is beautiful, and the Engetsuto Island can be seen in the distance.
Due to time constraints, I wasn't able to see the sunset, but if you visit in the evening, you can see the beautiful sight of the sun fitting perfectly into the hole in Engetsuto. I recommend it! Engetsuto can be seen from the coast if you go close by, and there are stairs that you can go down like this.
If you go down, you can get a beautiful view of Engetsuto Island.
Shirarahama Beach
Next, we finally arrived at Shirahama Beach! No matter how many times we come, the white sand and clear water are magnificent.
Even though it was a weekday in early September, many people were enjoying swimming in the sea. It is said that jellyfish appear on many beaches in Japan after the Obon holiday, but it seems that they are safe here. If you come in the summer, be sure to bring a swimsuit!
Shirarayu
There is an outdoor bath called "Shirayoshiyu" right next to the beach, so I went to wash off the sweat, but it was closed again. It seems that many places in Shirahama are closed on Thursdays. Be careful when traveling.
I asked the Ido Tatami Shop later, and it turns out that many stores are closed on Thursdays. Japan's summer vacation (July to August) is the travel season, and many stores are open during this period, but most stores are closed from September onwards. So it's best to avoid Thursdays!
One thing to note about visiting the outdoor baths in Shirahama is that there is a designated time period in the morning for locals to bathe, so if you are a tourist, the afternoon is the recommended time to go.
From here, we will head to my personal recommendation, "Yanagibashi Footbath," a little further into the city. From the previous location, we will walk through "Ginza Street," which is a must-see in Japanese hot spring areas.
]
Yanagibashi Footbath
As the name suggests, there are willow trees next to the park and there is even a parking lot.
And the reason why I personally like this place is because... this foot bath is hotter than others! Be careful because your feet will turn red after just a few minutes in the bath. I was a bit worried about the shell object that the hot water comes out of, but I felt refreshed again, so I headed to the next place.
Next, we head to the "Yuzaki District." I'm looking forward to going there because I've heard the scenery is beautiful. Along the way, there are spots to stop by, such as "Tsukumoto Footbath" and "Muro no Yu."
There are many public toilets in Shirahama, so you can enjoy sightseeing in peace.
Our destination in the Yuzaki area is Raigoji Temple. If you push your bike along the narrow road, you will come across a staircase, so it's best to park your bike and walk there.
Yuzaki District Raikoji Temple
After climbing a narrow hill, we finally arrived!
It's a small temple, but it looks like it has a nice atmosphere. After passing through the entrance, I turned around and there was a staircase!
This view is also quite nice. There is a bell at the top of the stairs, and you can ring it freely.
The sound of the poke was soothing and touched my heart. Please give it a try. The view from the small window is also spectacular!
Next, we head to Saki no Yu.
Saki no Yu
I've been here once before and highly recommend the natural hot springs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's about a 10-minute bike ride from Raigoji Temple.
This is a place I definitely wanted to go in to. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside, so I only took a photo of the exterior.
The ocean is right next to it, and the water here is salty, so be careful not to get it in your mouth.
You can access the seaside right next to the baths, so it feels great to feel the breeze after soaking in the hot springs, and it's also a great place for taking photos!
After enjoying the hot springs, we headed to Senjojiki. There were some steep hills along the way, but we arrived there quickly on our electric bicycles!
Senjojiki
No matter how many times I look at this place, the natural beauty is overwhelming. I decided to have a light meal while looking out at the vast Pacific Ocean. This time I ordered the "Original Tuna Cutlet Burger" for 580 yen. It's light, but filling and delicious! I recommend eating it with plum cider, a Wakayama specialty.
There is an eat-in space here where you can enjoy the view of Senjojiki while you eat. Ice cream, shaved ice, fruit, cider, beer, and more are also available, so you can take a relaxing break.
In fact, Shirahama is famous for its tuna, as it is home to the Kinki University research center, famous for being the first in the world to successfully cultivate bluefin tuna. There are many other restaurants where you can eat tuna cutlet burgers besides Sandanbeki, so why not give them a try?
Once you've had your fill, head to the final destination, Sandanbeki. There's a slight hill, but you can get there in about 10 minutes by electric bike.
Sandanheki Three-tiered wall
Senjojiki was an amazing sight, but this view is just as spectacular.
This place also offers a spectacular view, which is very impressive. There is also a foot bath, and soaking your feet in the bath while looking out at the Pacific Ocean is the ultimate luxury.
I also discovered this!
Is it something like locking it and pledging eternal love? It might be a good memory for couples!
summary
I checked the time and it was 2:30 p.m. I started at 9 a.m. and rode about 15 km for about 5 and a half hours. The battery was still at 30%, so I could enjoy sightseeing comfortably by turning it on only when necessary.
There are also plenty of bicycle rental ports, so if you find yourself worrying about the battery running low or the tires getting low on air, you can easily switch to another bike.
This time, many shops were closed, and we were unable to enjoy as much gourmet food as we had hoped, but we found that it was possible to fully explore Shirahama by bicycle. Being able to leisurely stroll around the town by bicycle is also a big attraction, as it allows you to discover spots and shops that you would miss if you were in a car. Please give this eco-friendly and comfortable bicycle trip a try!
Let me introduce "Kagerou Cafe" which I visited again.
Kagerou Cafe
Here you can enjoy the famous confectionery, Nama Kagero. The interior of the shop is stylish, and the view from the deck is amazing!
Chinese Noodles Marutaya
For dinner, we went to Marutaya, a restaurant famous for its Wakayama ramen.
Wakayama ramen is known for its rich pork bone and soy sauce soup, and is characterised by the presence of boiled eggs and "haya-zushi", a type of mackerel battera sushi, on the table.
Remember, you only have to report how much you've eaten. If you like ramen, you should definitely try Wakayama ramen! It's so tasty you'll want to drink up the soup.
The tuna bowl is also recommended. Of course, it is made with tuna from Wakayama. If you are hungry, we recommend ordering both the ramen and the bowl!
A bonus piece.
Sunset along the coast of Shirahama. The sun sinking into the Pacific Ocean is a spectacular sight, especially when viewed from the rocks. It was the perfect way to end our trip.
Finally, we would like to introduce Ido Tatami Store , who cooperated with us in this interview.
Ido tatami shop "inoca"
Ido Tatami Store is a tatami store that has been in business for four generations in Wakayama, a region that is home to many World Heritage Sites. The store's representative work is inocaSETTA, which was born when a tatami mat made from "Kishu Igusa (produced in Wakayama Prefecture)" that the store itself has grown came together with a Nara setta craftsman who has been making setta sandals for a long time. The store operates the brand "inoca," which is based on the concept of "bringing the scent of igusa into your life."
The natural rush used in tatami mats, with its soothing scent and clean air due to its purifying properties, has long been a symbol of unique, high-quality Japanese homes. "inoca" is a lifestyle brand that aims to harmonize this culture with modern society, proposing geta sandals and everyday items that utilize rush, which can be used in any cultural sphere.
In a world dominated by fast fashion and mass production, we propose time-consuming, handmade products. Each item is handmade by skilled craftsmen in Japan. There are 48 unique color variations, so you can choose your favorite color.
LUXCRAS sells geta sandals and card cases, so please come and take a look.
Nanki Shirahama Inoshiba
In addition, Ido Tatami store will open a private hot spring called " Inoshiba " in July 2024 in a nostalgic back alley just near Shirarahama Beach, where you can enjoy "free-flowing hot spring water," "full-time private rental," and "all services completed online."
This is a popular spot for couples and families as it is a private space where you can relax and unwind. There are four different spaces, so you can enjoy it over and over again and experience the quality of the rush grass and tatami mats. Please drop by.