Wakayama’s 10 Best Onsen: Overnight Stays & Day-Trip Baths
Wakayama Prefecture is home to many distinctive onsen towns. In this article, we highlight five recommended onsen stays and five great day-use hot springs.
From family-friendly baths to spots perfectly located for sightseeing, we’ve got options for different needs and travel styles.
5 Onsen Stays in Wakayama for a Relaxing Getaway
Let’s start with our top picks for onsen hotels where you can stay overnight.
Explore the Sacred Mount Koya — Fukuchiin Temple Stay
With a history of 800 years, Fukuchiin Temple was founded by the monk Kakuin Ajari and houses relics from Ii Naosuke and other notable feudal lords.
Koyasan has more than 50 shukubo (temple lodgings) that welcome general visitors, but Fukuchiin is the only one with its own natural hot spring.
The separate men’s and women’s areas each have a different ambiance, with saunas and multiple open-air baths. There are also carbonated baths and a private family bath suitable for guests who need assistance.
Around the lobby you’ll find historic artworks, a coffee corner overlooking the Yusen-tei garden, morning services from 6:00 a.m., and shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) that offers a glimpse into monastic life—experiences you can enjoy only on Mount Koya.
Address.
〒648-0211 657, Koyasan, Koyamachi, Ito-gun, Wakayama
Access.
10 mins by bus from JR Koyasan Station.
Official website.
Relieve the fatigue of trekking the Kumano Kodo｜Yunomine Onsen Yoshinoya
Yunomine Onsen—said to be Japan’s oldest hot spring—has a number of traditional inns. Among them, Yoshinoya is a small, family-run ryokan where you’ll feel the owners’ warm hospitality, and the creative cuisine consistently earns high praise.
Here, the kitchen even uses Yunomine hot spring water in its dishes. It draws out the flavors of fine Wakayama ingredients and adds extra nutrients—good for body and soul.
Yunomine Onsen is believed to have been discovered around the 4th century. Since ancient times, pilgrims walking the Kumano Kodo toward the three grand shrines—Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha—have stopped here to soothe their fatigue.
All baths at Yoshinoya are free-flowing (kakenagashi). You’ll see yunohana (natural mineral flakes) in the indoor baths, and the open-air bath can be reserved for private use—making for a truly luxurious soak.
Spring quality.
Sulphur spring, sodium chloride hydrogencarbonate spring
Address.
〒647-1732 359, Yunomine, Hongu-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama
Access.
1 hour 40 minutes by bus from JR Kii-Tanabe Station, 1 hour 5 minutes by bus from JR Shingu Station.
Official website
It’s like being on a boat!｜Shirahama Onsen Hamachidori-no-yu Kaishu
Built on a cape with sweeping views of the Pacific, Kaishu is designed to feel like a ship at sea—famous for ocean-view hot spring baths.
Dinner features the bounty of Wakayama’s waters, with two dining venues to choose from, and there’s a full-fledged spa using 100% natural-mineral Dead Sea water and Dead Sea mud imported from Jordan—perfect for deep relaxation.
Every guest room comes with a private open-air bath, and you’ll also find local Wakayama drinks and coffee on hand for the perfect post-bath refreshment.
At the very tip of the cape lies Hamachidori-no-yu, an open-air bath for mixed bathing. Aiki-no-yu and Monju-no-yu offer spectacular views from their cypress-lined indoor baths, while other open-air options include cypress-barrel tubs and rock baths—each with its own character. The post-bath lounge serves chilled drinks and even ice pops.
There’s also a dry sauna, complete with ume salt—salt recrystallized from plum vinegar—available for self-massage, a uniquely Wakayama touch from Japan’s renowned plum-growing region.
Spring quality.
Sodium chloride and bicarbonate hot springs
Address.
〒649-2211 1698-1, Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama
Access.
10-minute drive from Nanki Shirahama Airport; 30-minute free shuttle bus ride from JR Shirahama Station.
Official website
https://www.hotespa.net/hotels/kaisyu/
Hot springs for relieving fatigue｜Tsurunoyu Hot Springs
Minabe Town in Wakayama Prefecture—home to Tsuru-no-Yu Onsen—is famous for Kishu ume (plums).
In addition to indoor and open-air baths, the property offers an assisted-access private family bath—ideal for travelers who need extra support or families with small children. Naturally, these baths also use water straight from the source.
The iron-rich, tea-brown waters are known for soothing tired muscles, and the open-air tubs look out over beautiful mountain scenery.
Tsuru-no-Yu Onsen is also close to Shirahama’s popular beaches and several large golf courses, making it easy to pair your soak with a day of leisure.
Spring quality.
Sodium hydrogen carbonate hot spring
Address.
〒645-0028 47 Kumasegawa, Minabe-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama
Access.
20-minute drive from the Minabe IC on the Hanwa Expressway and 20-minute drive from JR Nanbu Station.
Official website
Reaching across the sea｜Hotel Urashima
Hotel Urashima in Nachikatsuura—famous for its tuna—offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
There’s even an all-you-can-eat tuna buffet. Pair melt-in-your-mouth cuts with Kishu plum wine or local sake and indulge to your heart’s content. Room-only plans are available, but we highly recommend savoring Nachi’s tuna.
The hotel sits about a two-hour walk from Kumano Nachi Taisha and a 20-minute drive from Daimonzaka—an easy, beginner-friendly section of the Kumano Kodo—making it convenient for combining short hikes with driving.
From Katsuura Port’s Tourist Pier, a dedicated boat (about a 6-minute walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station) ferries guests across the bay to the hotel—a fairy-tale approach that evokes the legend of Urashima Taro.
One highlight is the property’s expansive hot-spring area with multiple baths. Kibōdō is a spectacular cavern bath where the spring bubbles up inside a vast sea cave; from its entrance, the ocean spreads out before you. The view is said to be so mesmerizing that Kishu domain lord Tokugawa Yorimichi named it “so captivating you forget to return.” You’ll hear the crash of Pacific waves up close as you soak.
There are plenty of other baths to explore: Genbudō, a cave bath facing the open sea; Harumine-no-Yu for sunsets over the Kii mountains; Taki-no-Yu with a natural rock waterfall; Hamayū-no-Yu known for skin-beautifying waters; and Iso-no-Yu, ideal for therapeutic soaks.
Spring quality.
Include sulphur-sodium calcium chloride spring (weakly alkaline hypotonic high hot spring)
Address.
〒649-5334 1165-2, Katsuura, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama
Access.
Hotel Urashima private boat from the boarding point about 6 minutes’ walk from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.
Official website
http://www.hotelurashima.co.jp
Feel free to drop in!Five day spa recommendations
After a day of swimming or trekking, nothing beats a quick soak at a day-trip onsen to reset.
Here are our recommended day-use hot springs in Wakayama—from spots where you can arrive empty-handed to affordable baths that deliver a genuine onsen experience.
You might see a sea of clouds!｜Kirinosato-Takahara
Kiri-no-Sato Takahara, set along the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Kumano Kodo, is an ideal base for walkers—just a two-minute walk from the Nakahechi route.
Perched at 320 meters, Takahara is famed for its sea of clouds on lucky mornings and offers different scenery with each season.
Its concept is “No borders, no language barriers here.” Travelers from across Japan and around the world gather and connect before and after their Kumano Kodo journeys.
The onsen here is supplied from nearby Watarase Onsen. Heated with wood-fired boilers using locally thinned timber, the water feels gentle on the skin.
Just a 10-minute walk away, SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA is an excellent base for hikers.
Opening hours.
11:00-20:00 (Tuesdays from 15:00).
Amenities
Rinse-in shampoo, body soap.
Bathing fee.
Adults 600 yen
Child 400 yen
Address.
〒646-1416 826 Takahara, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Access.
45 minutes by bus from JR Kii-Tanabe Station, 30 minutes by bus from JR Shingu Station.
Official website
https://kirinosato-takahara.com
If you want to go trekking in Nakabeji｜Chikaruro Onsen Hisui no Yu
This one-day hot spring is located 400 m from the sightseeing spot Chikatsura Oji along the Kumano Kodo (Nakahechi). The guest house Chikatsuyu is next door.
The colourless, clear, lukewarm hot spring water is free-flowing. This hot water is the only private source at the guest house along the Nakabeji. It is an indoor bath, but it has a large window which, when opened, offers a panoramic view of the Hioki River and the mountains of Kumano.
The container villa accommodation facility SEN.RETREAT CHIKATSUYU has just opened nearby in April 2022. Dogs are welcome, and there are BBQ facilities and a pizza oven, so if you like outdoor activities, we recommend staying at this accommodation.
営業時間
14:00〜20:00(木曜定休)
Amenities
Shampoo and soap
Bathing fee
600 yen (250 yen for children aged 4 to primary schools)
Address.
40 Chikaro, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Access.
From JR Kii-Tanabe Station, approx. 70 mins by Ryujin Bus or 50 mins by Ryujin Bus from Kumano Hongu Taisha, 2 mins walk from Chikarou Oji bus stop.
Official website
https://nakahechi641002.wixsite.com/minsyuku-chikatsuyu
Natural water bath in sauna hut!｜Kishu Ninobi-no-yu Ninomaru Onsen
Fresh off a full renovation, this lodge-style facility features a playful, modern design. Soak in an open-air bath with the Yamada River flowing right in front of you, unwind in a hinoki (cypress) tub, sweat it out in the sauna, and cool down in a cold plunge. The alkaline simple spring is known for its skin-beautifying effects.
There’s also a reservation-only Finnish-style sauna hut with a traditional Goemon cauldron bath. Enjoy unlimited self-löyly by pouring water over the sauna stones, then jump straight into the Yamada River’s clear stream for a natural cool-down—a sauna experience immersed in nature.
Slip into the facility’s loungewear to wander around in comfort, and grab a specialty bowl at Strike-Ken, the ramen shop famous for its long lines. If you’d like to stay overnight, there’s a cottage-style accommodation and temple lodging right next door. A small campground limited to one group per day is also available—perfect for feasting and making a night of it.
Opening hours
Weekdays 10:00-21:30, weekends and holidays 8:00-21:30.
Sauna huts are open weekdays 11:00-18:30, weekends and holidays 9:00-18:30.
Amenities.
clothes, towels (at extra cost), body towels (at extra cost), shampoo and body shampoo.
Bathing fees
Adults 1200 yen, children 500 yen
Sauna hut 3000 yen (90 min)
Address.
〒643-0001 1638-1 Yamada, Yuasa-cho, Arita-gun, Wakayama
Access.
10-minute drive from Yuasa IC, 15-minute drive from JR Yuasa Station.
Official website
Excellent view!| Yuasa Onsen Yuasa Castle
Yuasa—home to Yuasa Onsen—is said to be the birthplace of soy sauce brewing. Streets that prospered during the brewing heyday still remain, making it a charming area for a stroll.
As its name suggests, Yuasa Castle is designed like a castle, complete with a beautiful Japanese garden on the first floor of the keep and an observation deck on the fifth floor with panoramic views over town.
The onsen features a slightly silky, alkaline spring known for skin-smoothing benefits. Although the baths are indoors, large windows frame views of Yuasa’s townscape and the sea, with cherry blossoms in spring. The men’s and women’s areas alternate daily.
The water type is a simple sulfur spring, traditionally said to help with neuralgia. Overnight stays are available, and there’s also a dining venue on site.
Opening hours.
12:00-22:00.
Amenity.
Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, lotion/milky lotion, bath towels (at cost).
Bathing fees.
Adults 500 yen, children 250 yen
Address.
〒643‐0002 75 Aoki, Yuasa-cho, Arita-gun, Wakayama
Access.
40-minute drive from Wakayama IC, 5-minute drive from JR Yuasa Station.
Official website
Hot springs that keep the water warm｜Katsuragi Hot Springs Happo-no-yu
From Katsuragi Onsen, it’s a 40-minute drive to Koyasan, 45 minutes to Wakayama Castle, and 20 minutes to Niutsuhime Shrine—an ideal base for sightseeing.
This onsen is rare for its mineral-rich waters containing “fossil seawater,” which keep you warm long after your soak. The large bath area has two indoor tubs—one lukewarm and one hot—plus an open-air bath, all kakenagashi (free-flowing from the source). You’ll also find a reclining bath, single-pot tubs, a dry sauna, and a cold plunge—everything onsen lovers need.
Day-use bathing is available, and there’s also a day-use plan for a private room with its own open-air bath—perfect if you want a touch of luxury. Relax in your room and enjoy an indulgent lunch as part of the package.
For evening visits, check out the Bath + Meal Night Plan (¥1,760 or ¥2,200), which offers a value set with dinner.
Opening hours.
10:00-22:00 (last admission 21:00)
Amenities
Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, lotion/milky lotion, towels, bath towels, housecoat (all free of charge).
Bathing fee
Junior high school students and over Weekdays 1,300 yen Weekends and holidays 1,500 yen After 8 pm 700 yen
4 years old – primary schools students Weekdays 600 yen Weekends and holidays 700 yen After 8pm 300 yen
Address.
〒649-7174 702 Sano, Katsuragi-machi, Itsu-gun, Wakayama
Access.
5-minute walk from JR Kasada Station, 20-minute drive from Hashimoto Station on the Nankai Koya Line.
Official website
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