Located in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular view, Hotel Urashima is a one-of-a-kind onsen resort with Japan’s largest natural cave hot spring. Built on a peninsula surrounded by the sea, the hotel offers natural beauty of the four seasons, abundant seafood, and a breathtaking cave onsen experience.
This article details the experience of visiting Hotel Urashima, how to make reservations, and how to access the hotel. For guests from overseas, Japan’s hot spring culture is one of its major attractions. Please use this information to help you plan your trip to Hotel Urashima, one of the most special experiences of its kind.
Outline of Hotel Urashima
Location and Features
Hotel Urashima is located in Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, in an excellent location overlooking the Kumano-nada Sea. Known as the southernmost hot spring resort in Honshu, it stands on the Katsuura Peninsula surrounded by the sea on all sides.
The biggest attraction is the natural cave hot spring called “Bokido. The multiple open-air baths built inside the caves offer a view of the ocean while listening to the sound of the waves, creating a truly “extraordinary” hot spring experience.
The hotel is also a large resort hotel consisting of four buildings with a total of over 850 guest rooms. The views from the guest rooms are spectacular, with many rooms offering expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.
Features of Hot Springs
Hotel Urashima’s hot springs have the following features:
- Bokido: The largest natural cave hot spring in Japan. Walk through the cave to reach the open-air bath in the back.
- Onsen Hot Spring Quality: Sodium calcium chloride spring water, which warms the body from the core.
- Five large baths: In addition to the Ogenkido, there are other large baths such as Hamayu no Yu, Genbudo, and Taki no Yu, each with a different atmosphere.
Lodging Experience
I actually stayed at Hotel Urashima for one night and two days this time, so I am posting my experience. It should be helpful for you in various ways.
First, we arrived at the hotel’s private parking lot. Note that the location is different from the hotel. From here, we took a private shuttle bus to the hotel.
I arrived at the hotel. I went to the front desk of the hotel and checked in. This hotel allows check-in from 3:00 p.m. I received the key and went to my room. I received the key and went to my room.
The room I stayed in this time was on the 5th floor of the main building. It was the lowest grade and lowest priced room, but it was clean and comfortable.
If you visit Hotel Urashima, I recommend you not to stay in your room all the time, but to explore the four different types of hot springs and the hotel grounds.
First, the hot springs. I visited all four types of hot springs. Among them, I would like to recommend the hotel’s specialty, Bokido (cave hot springs).
From the entrance, you feel like you are in a cave.
Photography is prohibited inside the hot springs because it is in Japan. Do not touch your phone even in the changing rooms.
When I actually entered, I felt like I was in a cave. You can also hear the sound of the ocean waves, so you can feel the nature.
There are also several game centers in the hotel. If you are interested, you can experience and see them. I had the impression that there were many retro games.
Next, I would like to introduce one of the largest escalators in Japan, the “Skywalk”, which takes you to the Sanjo-kan and Noroshiyama Amusement Park, where the higher grade rooms at Hotel Urashima are located. This is where you can enjoy both sunrise and sunset views of the inland sea and the open sea.
Unfortunately, Sanjo-kan was closed on the day I visited.
To regain your composure, take a walk around Noroshiyama Amusement Park. Outside, there are numerous red gates
Following the road, we found an observatory. You can see the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean and the city of Nachikatsuura. Unfortunately, the sunset time had passed, but it was a beautiful view.
Furthermore, near the observatory, there are monuments such as the Normanton Monument and the Canarika Monument. The footing here is poor, so please walk with care.
Finally, let me introduce the food. Both evening and breakfast meals are buffet style, and in addition, alcohol is free to drink at night! You can enjoy local and international cuisine (especially from Asia).
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Hotel Urashima, but here are the main ones.
Access by public transportation
- By train:
- Arrive at JR Kii-Katsuura Station (approx. 5 hours from Tokyo, 3 hours from Osaka)
- From the station, take the hotel’s shuttle boat for 5 minutes (free of charge).
- Or take a cab from the station for 5 minutes (charged).
- Express Bus:
- Express buses are available from Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, etc. to Nachikatsuura. –
- Highway buses to Nachikatsuura are available from Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, etc.
- -From Nachikatsuura Bus Center, take the hotel’s private shuttle boat or a local bus or cab.
Access by car
- Take the Hanwa Expressway or Kisei Expressway, get off at the Susami Minami IC, and drive south on Route 42.
- Approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes from Osaka, 4 hours from Nagoya
- Dedicated parking lot with capacity for 700 vehicles (free of charge)
Note: Search for “Hotel Urashima Parking Lot” on your car navigation system for the exact location.
How to make reservations and choose a room (via AGODA)
For international travelers, we recommend making reservations through AGODA. Here are the steps to follow:
- go to AGODA official website
- enter “Hotel Urashima” or “Hotel Urashima” in the search bar
- set the desired dates and number of guests and search
- Select Hotel Urashima from the search results displayed.
- Select the desired room type and proceed with the reservation procedure.
How to choose a room type
Hotel Urashima offers various types of rooms. Choose the one that best suits your budget and needs:
Ocean View Rooms
- Look for room types labeled “Ocean-side Japanese-style room” or “Ocean-side Japanese-Western style room”
- Best choice for enjoying a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean
- Slightly more expensive, but highly recommended for the view
Main Building Rooms (Honkan)
- Closest building to the hot spring area
- Searchable by keywords like “Honkan Japanese-style room”
- Rooms are older, but best for easy access to the hot springs
Sanjokan Rooms
- Newer and well-equipped rooms
- Slightly farther from the main hotel facilities
- Ideal for guests who prefer modern amenities
About Meal Plans
- “Half board” (breakfast and dinner) is the most common option, typically featuring Japanese kaiseki cuisine
- “Breakfast only” plans are also available
- If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please note them in the remarks section when making your reservation
Points to consider when making reservations
- Reservations should be made several months in advance during peak seasons (Golden Week, Obon, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Holidays).
- Foreign Language Support: AGODA offers reservations in English, Chinese, Korean, and other languages.
- Cancellation Policy: Be sure to check and understand the cancellation policy.
- Special Requests: Please indicate any room views, dietary restrictions, etc. at the time of reservation.
Summary
Hotel Urashima is a one-of-a-kind hot spring resort with the largest natural cave hot springs in Japan. The spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, the cuisine that makes the most of seafood, and most importantly, the special cave hot spring experience will be a wonderful memory of your trip to Japan.
Easy access by car makes it the perfect base for a Wakayama Prefecture road trip with a rental car, and you can easily make reservations through AGODA, so please visit us.
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