Yanagiya

680. Yanagiya, Shirahama, Wakayama ★ Stayed overnight. No higaeri available. Ordered double portion of food for one; dinner was kaiseki served in the room - liked it. The room had a massage chair. Staff are mostly Japanese, but there's foreign staff for communicating in English with foreign guests. One of the staff members also spoke Russian. They stamp the Wakayama 88 Onsen book. They sell the Wakayama 12 Onsen stamp book. The ryokan's distinctive feature for Shirahama, where many hotels are Westernized, is that Yanagiya provides a classic quality concrete ryokan experience: tatami rooms, delicious kaiseki, lots of Japanese staff, good service, the whole vibe. There are private baths for 2200, but they use tap water, which the staff informs you about in advance (didn't take them). There is a gender rotation for baths. 1. First bath set by gender. 1.1. Indoor bath. Windows face the outdoor area with the bath. Clear water with a small amount of sediment, strong slippery/soapy feel. Temperature around 41. Breathing inside is good. 1.2. Outdoor bath. No view, enclosed balcony type. Clear water, slight slippery/soapy feel. Temperature around 40.5. There's a small shrine in the outdoor area. 2. Second bath set by gender. Photos of baths from the internet match. 2.1. Indoor bath. Glass was heavily fogged up in the morning, so there was no view from the window. Clear water, slight slippery/soapy feel. Temperature around 42. Breathing inside is fine. 2.2. Outdoor bath. No view, enclosed balcony type. Clear water, strong slippery/soapy feel. Temperature around 42. Pleasant place. If you need a classic-format ryokan in Shirahama, this is a great choice. 09.11.2025 10.11.2025