SHIRAHAMA ONSEN

Kii Peninsula – A Restorative Escape in Shirahama’s Hot Springs

The Kii Peninsula is home to three major sacred areas—Mount Kōya, Yoshino–Ōmine, and the Kumano Sanzan—recognized together as the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”
These sites reflect a unique fusion of Shinto mountain worship and Buddhist practices, a tradition that has shaped Japan’s spiritual culture for more than a thousand years.

Since ancient times, this area has been revered as a place where deities reside. The Kumano Kodō pilgrimage routes, which wind through the mountains, have a history of over a thousand years and are often considered the origin of Japan’s spiritual journeys.

Hot‑Spring Culture and Ancient Beliefs in Japan

Shirahama Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest hot springs. The Nihon Shoki (720) records the visit of Prince Arima in 657, followed by Empress Saimei in 658, and later the visits of Empress Jitō and Emperor Monmu. During the period of pilgrimages to Kumano, Emperor Go‑Shirakawa and nobles from the capital are also said to have bathed here. The same chronicle mentions Arima Onsen and Dogo Onsen, forming the basis for the idea of Japan’s “three ancient hot springs”: Arima, Dogo, and Shirahama.

Today, Saki‑no‑Yu, maintained as a public bath, conveys the atmosphere of these early times. The Pacific Ocean opens directly before it, and the waves reach the edge of the rocks—a setting that highlights the elemental character long associated with Shirahama Onsen.

The rare transition from a mining area to a hot‑spring village is also reflected in local beliefs. Yama Shrine served both as the guardian of the lead mines and as a shrine protecting the hot springs. During the annual Kentōsai ritual, the “first water” drawn from the spring at dawn is offered to the shrine. Across Japan, hot‑spring culture has grown in close connection with local landscapes and history.

Shirahama Onsen is part of this tradition, shaped by centuries of life along the sea. Why don’t you take a moment to enjoy its quiet character and the sense of time that lingers here.

Japan’s religious landscape grew from this reverence for nature, forming a blended religious tradition in which Buddhism, Shinto, Taoism, and Onmyōdō came together. In Shugendō, a uniquely Japanese practice, mountain deities were understood as manifestations of the Buddha. This worldview shaped the sacred sites of the Kii Peninsula and the faith of Kumano.

The Kumano pilgrimage routes welcomed people from all walks of life, including those with physical disabilities and women—an inclusive tradition rare for its time. From emperors to commoners, countless travelers made their way to these mountains, and today the paths continue to draw visitors from around the world.
Near Shirahama Onsen, Sodoji Temple marks the entrance to Tondazaka, a stone‑paved mountain pass on the Ohechi Route of the Kumano Kodo. The pass retains the atmosphere of earlier centuries and is recognized as part of the World Heritage site. In spring, the temple grounds fill with cherry blossoms, offering a landscape that reflects Japan’s seasons, its sensitivity to nature, and the quiet spirit of pilgrimage. Enjoy the calm of Shirahama Onsen, and let the Kumano Kodo draw you gently into the deeper spirit of the Kii Peninsula.