Shirahama, Wakayama

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This article is about the town in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. There is another town with the same name in Chiba Prefecture, see Shirahama, Chiba.

**Shirahama**
**白浜町**
Shirahama's location in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Wakayama Prefecture
District	Nishimuro District
Physical characteristics
Area	201.04 km² (77.62 sq mi)
Population (as of September 1, 2007)
Total	23,180
Density	115 /km² (298 /sq mi)
Symbols
Bird	Egret
Shirahama Government Office
Address	〒649-2211 1600 Shirahama-chō, Nara-ken
Phone number	0739-43-5555
Official website: Town of Shirahama

Shiraha beach, Shirahama, Wakayama-ken, Japan

View from the cliffs near Shirahama

Shirahama (白浜町, Shirahama-chō^?) is a town located in Nishimuro District, Wakayama, Japan.

As of September 1, 2007, the town has an estimated population of 23,180 and a density of 115 persons per km². The total area is 201.04 km².

Shirahama is a resort town on the south coast of Wakayama Prefecture. Its beaches are white sand, imported from Australia. Shirahama is also known for its hot springs.During the summer (July and August), there are fireworks every night on the beach.

Shirahama is about two and a half hours from Osaka by West Japan Railway's "Ocean Arrow". There are also daily flights from Nanki-Shirahama Airport to Tokyo's Tokyo International Airport (Haneda).

1 Geography
2 Places of note
3 Sister cities
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Located in southeastern Wakayama Prefecture, the town has a temperate climate. Many hot springs can be found here, most notably Nanki Shirahama Onsen and Tsubaki Onsen. Also, two paths that are located in the town are part of a World Heritage site. Shirahama is known to be one of the very few municipalities in Japan that do not have "azas", or towns and villages that previously existed within the boundaries of the present day Shirahama.

[edit] Places of note

Kumano Kodo (old road)
三段壁 (3 Step Cliff) Cliffs along on the ocean edge that are 50 meters high. It is said that pirates (kumano suigun)used to inhabit the caverns :and the remains of their dwellings can be seen.
千畳敷 A rocky point near Shirahama beach.
Minakata Kumagusu Museum houses much of scientist Minakata Kumagusu's books, specimens, and memorabilia.