Explore Shirahama, Japan

Shirahama is a well developed onsen resort south of Osaka, and one of Japan's biggest. In Japanese, Shirahama means "white beach", and the town is indeed set on a 500 meter long white sand beach, where nightly fireworks are held during summer. First mention of the town's hot springs was recorded over a thousand years ago and Shirahama onsen is known as one of the three oldest in the country. There are six bath houses with hot spring baths open to the public, most of which have only indoor facilities. However, two outdoor baths, the coastal Sakinoyu and the Shirasuna on the sand beach, are of particularly popular with visitors.