FIVE SPRING RESORT THE SHIRAHAMA is a luxurious hideaway hotel in Nanki Shirahama where you can enjoy the feeling of being at a beach resort overseas, even while in Japan.
It takes about an hour to get from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Nanki Shirahama Airport, and about two and a half hours by car from Osaka, and stands out among the many resort hotels in Nanki Shirahama. Step inside the hotel and you'll find yourself away from the hustle and bustle, surrounded by the ultimate in private space.
In September 2025, the hotel will be the 19th hotel in Japan to be added to the global hotel brand group Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH). It is one of the world's unparalleled small luxury hotels, and is a testament to the hotel's promise of an exceptional stay.
The coast stretches out before me.
Enjoy a private stay with only 18 rooms to unwind and unwind
What makes our hotel so luxurious?
There are only 18 guest rooms, and different types of rooms are divided into three buildings.
Each building is named after a constellation, and the largest Premier Suite Ocean View is named "GREAT BEAR."
The room is 145 square meters in size, including the terrace, and has four beds, so three generations can stay together as long as small children sleep together.
Some rooms also come equipped with saunas and jacuzzis, allowing you to enjoy your time without worrying about being seen by others.
"GREAT BEAR" guest room.
GIRAFFE is a 120㎡ junior suite deluxe. It comes with a semi-open-air bath that juts out onto the terrace, and if you book the kids-friendly plan on the official website, you'll find a play area for children in the room and children's items in the bathroom, so it's great for traveling light even when traveling with children, who tend to carry a lot of luggage.
A guest room at "GIRAFFE."
If you choose the kids-friendly plan, your room will come equipped with a play area for children.
There are a variety of items for children available in the bathroom.
At the Pool Garden Deluxe "DRAGON," you can jump into the pool from your room's terrace, just like at a luxury beach resort hotel. Jump into the pool in your swimsuit, relax on your room's terrace, and then jump back into the pool.
It's surprising to find that you can experience a stay in Japan that feels like you're at a luxury beach resort overseas.
Guest room of "DRAGON (Dragon)".
Direct access to the pool from the terrace.
In addition, all rooms are equipped with electrolyzed hydrogen water, which can be bottled and enjoyed at any time. This hydrogen water is said to be effective for health and beauty.
Of course, all the drinks in the room's refrigerator are free, and you can order more if you run out.
Immerse yourself in the hot springs of Nanki Shirahama Onsen. Experience the pure hot spring water flowing directly from the source inside the hotel.
Nanki Shirahama Onsen is one of the "Three Oldest Springs of Japan," along with Arima Onsen and Dogo Onsen, and is a hot spring that appears in the Nihon Shoki and Manyoshu. It is a historic place where emperors and members of the imperial family are said to have visited for hot spring therapy since ancient times.
Private hot spring source on the premises.
The large communal bath also has an open-air bath. There is also a laundry room in the bathroom, and ice cream is available to cool you down after a bath.
I heard that the construction of this hotel began with the first step of digging for the hot spring. The existence of a hot spring was so essential that the hotel construction would have been abandoned if the drilling had not been successful. The source that was successfully dug was named "Junsen" (Pure Spring), and the hotel's own source, which is pumped up from 1,000 meters underground within the premises, is located in the center of the facility. This rare deep natural hot spring gushes forth 24 hours a day. What a luxury.
While it's nice to relax in the bath in your room, a large public bath is essential in a hot spring resort. The large public bath, Goko no Yu, which combines an open-air bath and an indoor bath, is a space where you can gaze up at the sky while being blown by the sea breeze, and feel as if your soul is being released to its core.
In addition, the pool, which is only available to guests, can be used all year round as it becomes a hot spring pool in the winter.
The experience of immersing yourself in the pool while listening to the birds chirping in the morning and gazing up at the starry sky at night is the very essence of a tropical resort.
In 2025, a wooden barrel-shaped "barrel sauna" will be installed by the pool, further enhancing the resort's appeal as a wellness resort. Warm up your chilled body in the pool, wash off the sweat, and then jump back in. This is a luxury that you won't be able to experience at overseas resorts.
More than just a place to stay, it's a stay experience that will stay with you for a lifetime
The accommodation style is all-inclusive.
The accommodation fee includes everything from meals to alcoholic drinks, use of the hot spring facilities, and cocktail hour at the bar, allowing guests to forget about their watches and wallets and enjoy a truly free time.
The bar space is available for guests to use freely, offering a wide range of drinks, from alcoholic beverages such as sake, wine, and beer to non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.
The last thing we would like to introduce is a meal where you can enjoy your fill of the rich ingredients of southern Kii.
The restaurant building has partitioned spaces and private rooms, allowing you to dine at your own pace without worrying about others. Dinner is a course meal, and you can enjoy kaiseki cuisine incorporating the bounty of the Kishu sea and mountains. All of the ingredients are carefully selected. The chef puts his heart and soul into each and every dish, creating the "art of local production and consumption," a taste that will stay in your memory.
Amazingly tender Kumano beef teppanyaki.
Enjoy fresh seafood as sashimi.
After finishing our meal, we were relaxing by the pool as night fell, when a laser mapping show began to be projected across the vast grounds.
In the silence, your eyes will be captivated by the fantastical stage of light.
Messages that appear from time to time are those left at check-in, making it a great way to convey your feelings to loved ones during your stay.
At night, a laser mapping show begins, projecting messages from guests.
For breakfast, a sumptuous buffet awaits in the restaurant building.
In addition to Kumano beef, spiny lobster, abalone, and turban shells, fresh local vegetables are lined up, and you can grill whatever you like. The sight of abalone dancing on the grill is a rare sight, making for a truly luxurious meal. There is also a beautiful selection of sashimi on display. You'll find yourself saying, "I'm glad I came here!" as you encounter this extraordinary morning scene.
A breakfast featuring high-quality ingredients.
My stay at "Five Spring Resort The Shirahama" was truly a dream come true.
Here you will find the joy of "doing nothing" - something you may have forgotten in the city.
This is a hotel that makes you truly want to come back here someday.
Text by Yuko Taniguchi
300-2 Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
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