How to Spend 2 Days in Shirahama with Kids

Traveled in May 2026

Most families visiting Japan stick to the big cities, assuming they’ll be easier to navigate with kids. But in our experience, getting out of the cities is actually what made traveling in Japan with a kid so much more enjoyable. Big cities can be crowded, overwhelming, and overstimulating. Not just for kids, but for the parents trying to manage them. That’s what made Shirahama such a refreshing change of pace. Instead of packed sidewalks and busy train stations, you’ll find wide open beaches, outdoor space to run around, and a slower pace that gives everyone a chance to relax. Kids can simply be kids, while parents can enjoy ocean views, fresh air, and a little downtime.

Many visitors either skip Shirahama or have never even heard of it. But it ended up being one of the most relaxing and memorable stops on our Japan trip. If you’re hesitant about venturing beyond the major cities, don’t be! This 2 day Shirahama with kids itinerary makes it easy to plan and enjoy a stress-free family getaway.

Shirahama with Kids Itinerary

When to Go

Shirahama is packed during summertime, when everyone flocks to the coast to escape the heat. July and August are peak season, especially because they coincide with Shirahama’s popular fireworks festival. So expect crowded beaches and higher hotel prices.

For a more relaxed experience, I would choose to visit in June or September. The weather is still warm enough for swimming, but you’ll avoid the worst of the crowds and humidity. Shirahama’s official beach season typically runs from early May through late August. While you can still swim outside those dates, lifeguards are not on duty, so enter the water at your own risk. We visited end of May and we had the beach almost all to ourselves.

How to Get There

Shirahama is located on the Kii Peninsula south of Osaka. It is directly connected to Osaka by the Kuroshio Ltd Express train line.

If you are heading further past Shirahama to Nachi Falls (like we did on our trip), then getting the Kansai WIDE Area Pass is the best way to save money on transportation. Just the trip to Nachi Falls and back more than pays for the pass.

• If the official website does not accept your credit card, the easiest way is to buy the 5 day Kansai Wide Area Pass on Klook.
• Get the 5 day Kansai Wide Area Pass on the official website to be able to book seat reservations ahead of time. But be warned that this website is not very user friendly to navigate. I stumbled upon the page for making seat reservations by luck.

Where to Stay

Most visitors come to Shirahama for its beautiful beach, so staying within walking distance of the beach makes the experience much more enjoyable. While there are a few hotels perched on the hills overlooking town, they’re less convenient if you plan to spend a lot of time at the beach. These are the two best beachfront hotels in Shirahama for families. Note that hotel rates fluctuate by season, and are more expensive during peak summer months.

• Shiraraso Grand Hotel ($$$-$$$$) – (where we stayed) We really loved this hotel! The location was amazing and waking up to the ocean views was sublime. This beachfront onsen hotel has direct beach access, and a playground right in front of the hotel so it is perfect for kids. We got the half board option for ourselves and the kaiseki dinner was such a treat. All the rooms have beach views and were really large. They also have gender-separated onsens on site. Or a private onsen that can be reserved for a fee for families that want to bathe together.
• Hotel Sanrakuso ($$$-$$$$) – Also a beachfront onsen hotel, but it is across the street from the beach. All rooms have beach views, and there are a variety of Japanese and Western style rooms. Some rooms even have an in-room private onsen!

How to Get Around

Shirahama has a couple of well connected bus lines that will take you everywhere you need to go. Lines 101 and 102 are the loop buses that take you around the main attractions in the city. You can pay cash on the bus by grabbing a ticket when you enter the back door, and paying in the front when you get off. This system was confusing to me because you have to look at a screen at the front of the bus to figure out your fare. The easier way to pay is just to tap your credit card on the reader when you get on and when you get off. Note that each person must tap their own credit card.

Because Shirahama is not very big, it can also be pretty affordable to ride taxis. Just make sure you have plenty of cash because the taxi drivers here did not accept credit cards or Suica.

Show Me the Money

The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen. Unlike many other countries, cash is still very widely used (and preferred) in Japan. While we usually rely mostly on our credit cards when traveling and only withdraw a small amount of cash, that was not the case in Japan. Many of the restaurants and smaller stores prefer cash and may not even accept credit cards. Especially in the Shirahama area, many restaurants, taxis, and stores only accepted cash.

The easiest way to withdraw cash in Japan is to look for a local 7-Eleven or the 7 Bank atm in train stations. The ATMs in the 7-Elevens accept international debit cards and are open all the time. (7-Elevens in Japan are magical and deserve a tribute post of their own. We went into one at least once a day – for breakfast, a snack, or cash, and it never disappoints.) The ATM in Lawson in Shirahama worked for us as well. Always choose to withdraw cash in Yen for the best exchange rate!

Saving tip: to avoid ATM fees (from the foreign bank and your bank), look for a checking account that offers ATM fee reimbursements. I can personally recommend the Schwab investors checking account and the Betterment checking account for this purpose.

How to Stay Connected

You absolutely need internet when you are in Japan. We were on our phones all day looking things up, from following Google Maps to figuring out transit or where to eat. There are three main options for staying connected in Japan. You can use a pocket wifi, an e-sim, or a physical sim card. My recommendation is the E-sim because it’s the easiest and cheapest option.

E-Sim

• Good For: people with unlocked phones who only need internet data
• Pros:
  • Easiest and cheapest option to have internet data available on the phone right after landing. You can install the e-sim while back at home, and just toggle it on once you get to Japan.
  • The data packages are surprisingly cheap, and it’s easy to top up more data as you go. Airalo is our favorite e-sim company and we have used it in Canada and Europe without problems. You can buy a Japan only e-sim or a regional Asia e-sim if traveling to multiple Asian countries.
    • Use my referral code ATEASP4988 for $3 off your first Airalo e-sim!
• Cons:
  • Must have an unlocked phone to install an e-sim.
  • The e-sim only provides data and has no cellular service for making or receiving calls.

Pocket Wifi

• Good For: groups that are traveling together who will not be splitting up.
• Pros:
  • Good for phones that are still locked because you can’t change sim cards.
  • If you’re planning on going to Tokyo Disney, then having a pocket wifi might come in handy to ensure you have fast internet to book the passes since cell service might be slow.
• Cons:
  • It is an extra device to keep charged and carry around during the day.
  • Must arrange for delivery to receive it and send it back at the end of the trip.

Shirahama with Kids Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity	Sleep In
1	Train to Shirahama Shirahama Beach	Shirahama
2	Adventure World	Shirahama

Day 1: Travel to Shirahama

The Kii Peninsula is known for its beautiful coastline, sandy beach, and stunning natural scenery. For us, Shirahama was the perfect break from Japan’s busier cities. That seemed to be the consensus amongst the other tourist families we met in Shirahama. After navigating the crowds and constant activity of a major city with young children, we all appreciated having space to relax, play outdoors, and just slow down for a couple of days.

Another big reason we chose to visit Shirahama was so our kid could ride the “Panda Train.” As a bit of background, Adventure World in Shirahama used to be home to several pandas. Since Japan loves pandas, some of the Kuroshio Ltd Express trains were decorated to look like pandas too.

Since Japan is a country full of serious train enthusiasts, there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to unique and themed trains around the country. After watching a YouTube video about the “Panda Train” before our trip, our kid was super excited to ride it in real life.

Getting to Shirahama Beach from Shirahama Station

Our hotel (which we absolutely loved) was right on Shirahama Beach. Shirahama Beach is located about 11 minutes away by taxi from Shirahama Station. There are a couple bus lines that run between the station and the hotel that take around 20 minutes, but we opted for a taxi because it was a short ride. Note that taxis here are cash only.

• Kids do not need car seats to ride in taxis in Japan. For extra safety, bring a Ride Safer Travel Vest if you will be taking many car rides – it’s so much more portable than a regular car seat!

There are a couple ramen places on the main street in Shirahama which are good options for lunch. We stumbled upon this cute cafe called “豆の湯” instead. We were enticed by the egg sandos and amazing smelling Japanese curry.

Shirahama Beach

Shirahama Beach in Wakayama is the sister beach of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii (there’s even a sign to prove it!). (Note that there is another Shirahama Beach in Shizuoka on the Izu Peninsula, closer to Tokyo. Don’t book a hotel in the wrong Shirahama Beach!) This crescent white sand beach is stunning. And the waters are really calm, which is perfect for kids. I’ve seen photos of it packed with people in the summer, but when we visited in mid-May it was not crowded at all. The beach is pristine, and there are periodic announcements over the loudspeakers reminding people to keep it that way. This is also the first beach where I’ve seen staff using a frontloader and rakes to keep the shoreline clean from seaweed and other debris. This is a man made beach, with sand imported from Australia, so maybe that is another reason for the raking.

The water in mid-May still felt cool to me initially. So it’s not quite as warm as Hawaii beaches. Our kid still splashed in without hesitation and had a grand time. I loved that our hotel had direct beach access – it made it so easy to walk to the beach and get cleaned up after. And waking up to the beach views from our room was so luxurious. A beachfront stay here felt much more affordable than a beachfront room in Waikiki, thanks to the exchange rate and traveling off season.

Shirahamakaigan Park

Another reason our hotel was perfect for us was because there is a playground right outside the hotel next to the beach. Our kid may actually have spent more time on this playground than on the beach itself! The playground has a boat play structure and an octopus play structure. The octopus was definitely the big hit with all the kids. We met a couple other tourist families at the playground. It’s always heartwarming seeing kids of different cultures playing together!

Kaiseki Dinner

Many onsen resort hotels offer kaiseki dinners that you can book as part of your stay. It’s definitely a bucket list thing to do in Japan and a food experience you can only find in Japan. It can be pricey, but it’s so worth it! A kaiseki dinner is a multicourse Japanese meal using local seasonal ingredients, and it’s always beautifully plated. Many family-friendly resort hotels will also have a kid’s version, if you choose to pay for meals for your kid. We have tried those kids meals before on our previous Japan trip, and our kid hardly ate any of it. Our hotel showed us a picture of what the kids meal would look like, and it didn’t look like food our kid would eat. So this time around, we just ordered him some udon noodles and kara-age a la carte to save money and avoid wasting food.

If you choose not to include the kaiseki dinner with your hotel stay, there are many restaurants on the main drag in Shirahama across from the beach. There is also a large Gourmet City supermarket across the street from our hotel that is open 24 hours, which also sells prepared food.

Day 6: Adventure World

Adventure World

• Age Range: all ages
• Cost: 1 day admission is 5300 yen for adults, 4300 yen for kids age 12-18, 3300 yen for kids age 4-11, free for kids under 4
  • While you can buy tickets online, the website is in Japanese and I found it confusing. You can buy adult tickets on Klook here. Our hotel had a discount on tickets through the gift shop, so we purchased them there (cash only).
• How to Get There: take the 101 loop bus (note there are only a few buses per hour on weekdays, pay by tapping your credit card on the reader or with cash) or take a taxi
• Hours: 10am – 5pm, closed on Wednesdays

Adventure World used to be famous for being a breeding center for pandas (hence all the panda stuff everywhere in this area). The pandas were returned to China early in 2026, so now they have red pandas there in their place. Still cute, but not as big of a draw to the locals as the pandas.

Adventure World reminds me of a mix of a zoo and Sea World in the 90s, with dolphin shows and animal encounters. Kids obviously love it, but it’s also very nostalgic for adults! Being there brought me back to visiting theme parks in my childhood. I probably would have visited even if we didn’t have our kid with us. But there is definitely a lot more childlike wonder, joy, and excitement when visiting theme parks with him.

I’m also always surprised by the animal experiences you can have in Japan, because you can get much closer to the animals than you can in the US. For example, I saw in the brochure that one of the paid experiences is feeding lions!

Attractions included in the admission fee include the dolphin show, the penguin and zoo areas, and the safari train. They also have other rides like roller coasters, a ferris wheel, go karts, and a carousel that you have to pay extra for. Indoors, they have a play area for kids that our kid spent a good amount of time in (also paid), which was a nice break for us. There are multiple cafes serving cute animal-themed food. We went on a weekday and it was mostly school groups there, so there were hardly any lines.

We spent a good couple hours here before heading back to our hotel for some more playground time before dinner. To get back to our hotel, we took the 102 loop bus.

Other Attractions in Shirahama

If Adventure World is not your jam and you’re looking for more scenic outdoor things to do in Shirahama, take advantage of the amazing coastline here. These sights are all along the 101 and 102 loop bus line, so it’s easy to hop on and off to explore. Most are easy walks that kids can handle, but there are no barriers so just watch them near the cliffs.

Engetsu Island Viewpoint

Engetsu Island is one of Shirahama’s most iconic coastal landmarks, famous for its natural sea arch carved through a small offshore rock island. The best way to see Engetsu Island is from the roadside viewpoint along the coast. The best time to visit is during sunset, sunset, when the sun seems to pass through the arch for an amazing photo op.

• How to Get There: take the bus to the Rinkai (Engetsujima) bus stop, or walk 15 minutes from the Shirahama Bus Center stop.

Senjojiki

Senjojiki translates to “one thousand tatami mats,” because it looks like a giant outdoor floor covered with tatami mats. This rock plateau with dramatic layers of flat sandstone rock stretching out toward the ocean makes for a scenic and unique coastal hike.

• How to Get There: take the bus to the Senjo-guchi stop.

Sandanbeki Cliffs and Cave

The Sandanbeki Cliffs are a series of cliffs towering above the ocean, creating a dramatic coastline view. You can walk along the cliff-top viewpoint to take in the sweeping ocean views and watch the powerful waves pound against the rocks below. You can also go into the the Sandanbeki Cave, a large sea cave hidden beneath the cliffs that you can access by elevator.

• How to Get There: take the bus to Sandanbeki stop.

Shirahama Energy Land

We passed by Shirahama Energy Land on the bus, and the dinosaur cartoons outside looked intriguing. It’s a retro-style amusement park that combines science exhibits, optical illusions, hands-on activities, and classic theme park rides for kids to experiment and explore. There are also dinosaur-themed areas, mazes, and some amusement rides. It looks a bit dated, but it could be a good rainy day activity for kids.

• How to Get There: take the bus to the Shirarahama stop.
• Cost: Adults (high school students and older) 2400 yen, Seniors (age 60 and older) 2000 yen, Kids age 6-15 1500 yen, Kids age 3-5 600 yen

Day Trips from Shirahama

Kushimoto

We noticed a lot of tourists getting off at Kushimoto on our way to Kii-Katsuura, and as the train went past we realized why! There are some really unique jagged rock pillars rising out of the water here at Hashigui-iwa. They also have a Marine Park here with an aquarium with a tunnel tank and undersea observation tower. It’s about an hour train ride south from Shirahama. So if you have extra time in Shirahama and are not going all the way to Kii-Katsuura, it would make for a nice day trip.

Wakayama

Wakayama City is another famous castle town in Japan, but there’s more to do here than just the castle. Inside the castle grounds, you’ll find a small zoo, which is a fun bonus for children. For seafood lovers, the nearby Kuroshio Market is famous for its live tuna cutting demonstrations. Right next door is Porto Europa, a European-themed amusement park with rides and mazes for younger kids. Wakayama City is about a 1.5-hour train ride north of Shirahama, making it a convenient stop on the way back toward Osaka.

Packing Essentials for Kids in Shirahama

• Layers of clothing:
  • Light rain jacket: it’s helpful to keep a packable rain jacket that doesn’t take up too much space in your everyday bag. We didn’t want to bother with carrying multiple umbrellas so a rain jacket was clutch on the sprinkly days.
  • Comfortable walking shoes: everyone does a lot more walking in Japan than usual. Make sure kids have comfortable shoes that are easy on and off! The ones we love have grippy soles, wide toe boxes, and are super easy for kids to put on and take off on their own.
  • Sun hat: the sun in Japan can feel intense. We especially like the sun hats with neck protection because I always forget to apply sunscreen to the back of my kid’s neck.
  • Socks: part of Japanese culture is taking shoes off indoors, so you will find yourself removing your shoes much more than usual. Make sure to pack the good socks without holes!
  • Long sleeve rash guard and swim trunks: a long sleeve rash guard for maximum sun coverage is clutch because there is no shade on the beach here!
  • Kids swim goggles: these swim goggles for kids are easy to put on, keep water out, and are actually comfortable enough to wear that my kid keeps it on with no fuss!
  • Japan is a shopping mecca (for tips on what to get, check out my curated list in this Japan shopping guide for moms!). If you forget to pack anything, you can probably find what you need at Muji or Uniqlo at a good price.
• Snacks and hydration:
  • Favorite snacks: Japan is a snack paradise, so I’m sure your kiddo will eventually find something that they like at the convenience stores. But bring some favorite snacks from home to tide you over until you figure out which Japanese snacks your kids love. Don’t forget to bring snack containers! There are no public trash cans so using reusable snack containers will limit the trash you have to carry during the day.
  • Water bottle: tap water is generally safe to drink in Japan, though we still prefer bottled water to avoid stomach upset as a result of the difference in mineral content.

• Entertainment options for downtime:
  • Screens will usually keep kids occupied, and while our kiddo gets a lot more screen time than usual when traveling, we don’t like to rely solely on screens for entertainment because there are usually more massive meltdowns when we try to turn it off. Make sure you pack kids headphones if using screens, because trains and public spaces are very quiet.
  • We bring one new book (search and find books or lift the flap books are great!), Water Wow coloring books, sticker books, and drawing pads for travel days.
  • We usually make a toy store one of our first stops and get a small toy for our kid to play with during the trip. This also doubles as a souvenir, because whenever he plays with the toy at home he remembers where he got it. In Japan, he picked out some Tomica Thomas Trains that he loved.

• Kids supplies for daily living:
  • Sleep essentials: bring anything that your kid needs to sleep well to encourage good sleep while traveling. For us, that is a sound machine.
  • Medications: it goes without saying to pack any prescription medications your kid is taking. I also bring over-the-counter kids medications like Children’s Tylenol and Children’s Zyrtec, just in case. I’m okay with buying Japanese OTC meds for myself and winging it with the translation, but I prefer using the kids’ OTC meds we’re familiar with because I am sure about the dosing and ingredients.
  • Sunscreen: the sun is no joke in Japan in the summer. And since we were walking around all day, we put sunscreen on our kid every day. This sunscreen stick was a gamechanger for actually getting him to put sunscreen on his face.
  • If you forgot anything, look for these stores in Japan that sell all kinds of kids goods: Nishimatsuya, Babies “R” Us, Akachan Honpo
• Travel Stroller: If your kid is not used to walking a lot at home it can be helpful to bring a stroller. But keep in mind that Japan is not as stroller friendly as the US. There are many stairs in train stations and elevators are small and require a longer walk to find. Many restaurants and stores are small and can’t always accommodate a stroller. While we did use our stroller, we folded it up and carried it quite a bit during train transfers to avoid having to take the long way around. If you do bring a stroller, bringing a smaller travel stroller is key. We love our Yoyo. The Gb Pockit strollers also pack up amazingly small.
• Hip Seat Carrier: A better alternative to a stroller if your kid is still small enough to carry is a hip seat carrier. We loved using ours during our trip to Switzerland because it’s one less thing to carry through train stations. The hip seat is clutch because it’s more comfortable to sit in for longer periods. We loved our version that had straps and could be worn in the front or back. It’s especially helpful for crowded places like Japan where maneuvering a stroller can be tricky.
• Ride Safer Travel Vest: taxis in Japan don’t require car seats. But that can be nerve wracking for parents. And you don’t want to lug around a car seat for the one or two car rides you may take in Japan. That’s where the compact Ride Safer Travel Vest comes in to keep kids safe in cars without taking up too much luggage space.
• Power plug adapters: Japan uses two pronged plugs similar to the US, except the prongs are the same length. Most 2 pronged chargers will work fine without adapters. If you have any chargers that have 3 prongs, then you’ll need an adapter.

Reality Check of Visiting Shirahama with Kids

No reality check here, for once! Shirahama was honestly one of the easiest and most enjoyable stops on our Japan trip with kids. Beach? Good! Animals? Good! This was honestly the easiest leg of our trip to plan, simply because there wasn’t much planning for me to do. Having the beach and a fun playground right outside our hotel took care of activities. And having breakfast and dinner included with our hotel stay eliminated much of my mental load around planning meals.

It truly ended up being the relaxing beach vacation I had hoped for. Most people don’t think about traveling all the way to Japan just to go to the beach. But building in a few slower days away from sightseeing can make a huge difference, especially when traveling with kids. After a few busy days exploring the cities, Shirahama was the perfect reset for all of us.