Journey World and Sightseeing Spots with Youngsters in Shirahama (Wakayama, Japan)

I’ve been lucky sufficient to dwell in Japan for over a decade and journey to 40 completely different prefectures. One place that I by no means thought I might journey to earlier than I moved to Kansai, nevertheless, was Wakayama, and now having visited, I can’t suggest it sufficient!

Wakayama is crammed with lovely sightseeing spots, and it’s additionally an excellent place to take youngsters on a household trip. On this article, I can be sharing some spots to go to in Shirahama, a city southwest of the prefecture.

There’s a map on the finish of the article that has the places pinned so be happy to make use of it when planning your journey!

A Transient Overview of Shirahama in Wakayama, Japan

Shirahama (白浜) means “white seashore” and true to its identify, it’s well-known for its white sandy seashores in addition to its onsen.

My daughter truly didn’t just like the ocean at a resort positioned in mainland Okinawa because the sand was a bit exhausting and the water cloudy from the sand. Nevertheless, she liked Shirahama Seashore. The sand is unbelievably mushy and the water is crystal clear to the purpose that you would be able to see small fishes proper close to the shore. It’s similar to seashores positioned on the outer islands of Okinawa, however solely positioned just a few hours from Osaka!

If it occurs to rain whilst you’re in Shirahama, you possibly can take a look at Shirahama Power Land, which is a theme park that looks as if it focuses on vitality and dinosaurs. I haven’t been so I can’t vouch for it however I assumed I ought to point out it as a wet day choice.

To keep away from the warmth or rain, you may as well go to the Kyoto College Shirahama Aquarium.

Kyoto College Shirahama Aquarium

This can be a small aquarium however has an incredible number of sea creatures which can be all native to Shirahama, starting from small sharks to large spider crabs. It wasn’t crowded regardless of having visited on a weekend, so my daughter was in a position to take her time taking a look at all the things. She particularly liked the large seabream.

At 600 yen for adults and 200 yen for school-aged kids, the doorway charge can be very budget-friendly.

If in case you have time, you would possibly need to take a look at the park close by that has a stunning view of the ocean (in keeping with Google Maps). That is really helpful by a Wakayama-based mother however we sadly didn’t go because it was fairly sizzling and our daughter was cranky exterior.

Earlier than or after you go to, I counsel additionally trying out the glass boat tour close by, which runs as soon as an hour or so. My daughter was nervous because it was her first boat trip (she’s like when she experiences one thing new) however my husband and I no less than loved taking a look at all of the completely different fish, as did the opposite youngsters on the boat.

Journey World

If in case you have youngsters they usually love animals, you’ll need to carry them to Journey World. Journey World is a big 800,000 sq. km out of doors advanced close to Nanki Shirahama Airport. It boasts a zoo, aquarium, rides, an enormous indoor playground, and in the summertime, a really small splash park.

There are 5 predominant areas to see various kinds of animals:

• Big Pandas
  These are the zoo’s declare to fame, which is why you’re prone to see plenty of panda-themed souvenirs in Shirahama. They’ve pandas that you would be able to see up shut within the Breeding Middle and ones in an expansive constructing referred to as Panda Love.
• Herbivores
  Many of those animals are positioned within the Safari World space, comparable to giraffes, zebras, and rhinos.
• Carnivores
  These include lions, tigers, cheetahs, bears, and so forth, that are additionally in Safari World.
• Aquatic animals
  There are primarily massive marine animals like dolphins, false killer whales, and penguins (and all of them made my daughter very completely satisfied).
• Small animals
  These are principally positioned within the “Feeling Space” (ふれあい広場), with ones you possibly can contact (like rabbits) and others you possibly can see up shut with out a big glass wall blocking your view (like macaws, squirrel monkeys, and lemurs). Youngsters may trip horses or stroll alongside ponies (for a charge) within the Household Sq..

At sure occasions in the course of the day, you possibly can feed animals in all of those places, even lions and hippos! (My four-year-old was too scared to feed any of the animals, although!)

Suggestions for Journey World

As Journey World is sort of massive, listed below are some ideas that is likely to be useful.

• Whenever you enter Journey World (and even earlier than you permit) ensure to cease by the Welcome Room close to the doorway. That is the place they home a pink panda that freely goes forwards and backwards throughout a bit of wooden proper above your head! I’ve by no means seen a pink panda so up shut earlier than so it was a very nice expertise.

  

  

  We went into this constructing proper earlier than we left at round 3 PM on a Friday and nobody was in there apart from us and the pink panda, so it was fairly a memorable expertise.

• Try the rental buggies for teenagers in cute animal shapes on the entrance. It’s a bit costly but it surely was additionally completely value it. My daughter selected a pink seal buggy and he or she liked driving in it, a lot that even immediately after we have been planning our subsequent journey, she requested to go to the zoo and for that very same “child automotive”!
  

  

  She will get drained simply, particularly in the summertime, so my husband was glad that he rented the buggy so he didn’t have to hold her round! It was additionally very easy for her to get on and off, which gave her extra freedom when it got here as to if she wished to get off and see an animal up shut.

• There are 4 places the place you possibly can change diapers (referred to as the Child Care Room or ベビーケアルーム). I can’t bear in mind if they’re on the bodily map you’ll get if you enter however you may as well discover the spots on-line right here.
• Take the free prepare (positioned on the Kenya Boarding Space) to discover Safari World. You too can lease a car for a charge however the prepare is the best, most cost-effective, and maybe most secure choice. Safari World is large (which makes me very completely satisfied for the animals) and strolling will seemingly tire out your little tyke (and even you!) fairly quick.

  

• Journey World has a number of exhibits all through the day, and the places and occasions are arrange in a approach that you would be able to go simply from one to a different. My recommendation is to see the Marine Stay first (among the best dolphin and whale exhibits I’ve ever seen!) at The Huge Ocean space after which head straight to Animal Motion at Animal Land as they’re fairly shut. You may see the dolphins in The Huge Ocean after the present however in case you do, you may not get seat for Animal Motion.

  

  

  After Animal Motion, we wished to see the Breeding Middle and Safari World, so we headed again in the direction of The Huge Ocean. We grabbed some meals at a stall proper exterior and ate at a desk on the left aspect of The Huge Ocean whereas watching the dolphins swim about. It was very nice (and inexpensive!).

  

  There are additionally loads of eating places with cute animal-themed meals so I feel if we go to Animal World once more, we’ll attempt going to a type of if my daughter desires.

We spent about 4 hours at Journey World, which gave us sufficient time to see two exhibits and all the animals. My daughter was exhausted however she had a very nice time.

When you don’t care an excessive amount of about going swimming on the seashore and would favor dipping into one in all Shirahama’s well-known onsen, then I like to recommend visiting Journey World throughout a cooler season as I may inform my daughter was getting cranky from the summer time warmth (maybe the animals have been as effectively!).

Observe that the doorway charge is 4800 yen for adults and 3300 yen for kids, so it does make a dent within the pockets. Nevertheless, when contemplating the dimensions of Journey World, it is smart. I’ve been to many zoos since my daughter was born and I can confidently say that this one is the very best to this point!

Different Notable Locations to Go to with Youngsters in Shirahama

Sandanbeki Cave

Situated on the coast, the Sandanbeki Cave was used multiple thousand years in the past by the Kumano Navy to cover their ships. The cave additionally homes a small shrine containing Benzaiten, the deity of knowledge and water, and is thus thought-about to be a “energy spot”.

You may see the ocean water crashing in opposition to the rocks contained in the caverns and one cool factor is that in case you lookup, you possibly can see that the rocks have imprints of waves that have been made round 16 million years in the past.

Little tots may not discover that as spectacular as older kids or adults do, however my daughter nonetheless loved her first go to to a mysterious-looking cave.

We spent about quarter-hour right here earlier than trying out the encompassing view of the cliffs and the deep blue Pacific Ocean, which was attractive.

Senjojiki

A few five-minute drive away from Sandanbeki Cave, Senjojiki is a formation of comparatively clean and layered rocks that have been fashioned following hundreds of years of the Pacific Ocean crashing into it. The view of the rocks in opposition to the ocean is beautiful.

This can be a considerably harmful place as you possibly can freely climb on the rocks and there’s no one working there to warn you in case you’re doing one thing that you simply would possibly remorse, so ensure to maintain a really shut eye in your baby! I wouldn’t allow them to wander on their very own by any means.

Have you ever visited Shirahama in Wakayama? In that case, are there any extra sightseeing spots you’ll suggest? Let me know within the feedback!