VisitWakayama.jp The Official
Wakayama Travel Guide

From centrally located Shirahama Station, visitors can access the area's main attractions, including Adventure World, Shirarahama Beach and the jagged cliffs of Sandanbeki. Explore the area by renting a bicycle from the shop at the station, or head to the coast by bus and the rental shops located there.

Adventure World is an expansive wildlife park, home to the mascots of Shirahama—the pandas. Many of the enclosures are free-roaming, meaning you can wander around with a diverse range of wildlife from flamingoes to toucans, to capybaras. The play zone has roller coasters and go-karts for children, and the Safari World section can be explored on foot, by sightseeing train or by rental jeep.

Ride to the coast for ocean views both above and below the water. The observation platform at the end of a short pier offers fantastic views across the ocean as far as the horizon. Head down the stairs and peek through the portholes to see what lies beneath the waves.

Drop by this quaint store for some locally made gelato. Serving both traditional and more imaginative flavours, take your gelato out onto the terrace and enjoy views of the ocean. Purchase some of the locally produced olive oil and bring the taste of Shirahama home with you.

Just a few hundred meters from Olive & Gelato are the Sandanbeki cliffs and caves. Watch the waves crash against the steep, craggy cliffs and take the elevator down to explore the caverns below. Ride one kilometre up the coast to Senjojiki—a naturally formed rock plateau stretching out to sea.

Dip your feet in the natural hot spring water at the Mifune foot bath. Sit under the wooden shelter and look across the ocean to Engetsuto Island.

Continue riding up the coastal path as it curves around the bay. Time your visit for sunset, and watch as the sun drops into the natural arch in the rock of Engetsuto Island. Expect a small crowd taking photographs of this beautiful scene.

If you arrive in the area before sunset, explore the Rinkai area. Route 34 hugs the coast around Tanabe Bay offering great views of the ocean as you ride.

Pescatore serves authentic Italian cuisine in a fantastic setting overlooking the ocean. Reservations are highly recommended. Ask for a table on the terrace when booking. Be aware that in Japanese law, there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drinking alcohol and driving—including riding bicycles. Consider returning your rental bike before enjoying your evening meal.