Wakayama prefecture’s Kushimoto town is Honshu island’s southernmost point. Kushimoto Royal Hotel stands on a hill with a view to the ocean where Kuroshio Current passes. This is not only Honshu’s southernmost hot spring resort, but also one of the best places to enjoy the sunrise in Japan! Here you can also enjoy the taste of the locally bred maguro tuna fish which is gaining bigger popularity in Japan. You can relax completely in this southernmost resort!
A white seaside resort hotel standing at Honshu’s southernmost point
Cape Shionomisaki in Wakayama prefecture’s Kushimoto town is known as Honshu island’s southernmost point. Standing on a hill around 38 meters above sea level is one of the town’s landmarks – Kushimoto Royal Hotel with its impressive chalk white 13-storey building.
Few people notice, but although Kushimoto town is on Honshu, it’s actually on the same latitude as Hachijojima Island (one of the Izu Islands in the Pacific Ocean)! The famous Kuroshio Current passes right in front of the town guaranteeing a warm climate and an average temperature of 17 degrees. This is also the northernmost habitat of the coral reefs, and part of the sea is protected by the Ramsar Convention. Kushimoto Royal Hotel is located right in the middle of this natural paradise.
You can see the panorama view to the popular Hashikuiiwa Rocks from the room!
Hashikuiiwa Rocks are a series of 40 large and small lined pillar-shaped natural formations which are the symbol of Kushimoto’s nature. The legend says that Kobo Daishi and Amanojaku built them overnight over a wager. From the hotel room you can have a perfect view towards the rocks.
You can also see Wakayama prefecture’s largest Kiioshima Island and the endless ocean. The view is so magnificent that you can watch it for a long time.
The hotel has ocean-view rooms and mountain-view rooms, but I strongly recommend booking an ocean-view one! In summer you can see Hashikuiiwa Rocks even from the outdoor pool!
Wake up early for a brilliant view! One of Japan’s best sunrise scenes!
Be sure to wake up early in the morning! Kushimoto has been chosen as one of Japan’s best 100 places to welcome the sunrise. Even from your room you can fully enjoy the splendid view of the rising sun! Don’t miss it!
In spring and summer the sun rises near Hashikuiiwa Rocks, while in autumn and winter it rises behind Kiioshima Island. The panorama is truly impressive and you will remember it!
But the sunset at Kushimoto is also beautiful and worth seeing. The hotel provides a schedule of the sunrise and sunset times, so you can enjoy both. Of course, all you need to hope for is good weather!
The open-air bath with a view to the Pacific Ocean
Kushimoto Onsen’s hot spring source appeared in 1993 and became Honshu’s southernmost natural hot spring. From the open-air bath you can enjoy the same panorama view to the Hashikuiiwa Rocks. Enjoy the time spent in the bath while feeling the gentle sea breeze.
Welcoming the sunrise from this open-air bath is also quite popular. The pool is open every morning right before sunrise and you will be surprised to find out how many people come here early. Waiting for the first sun beams is also one of the brilliant experiences of going to an open-air hot spring bath.
The water type is calcium-sodium chloride (neutral, hypertonic). The salt embraces your body gently and has a good treatment effect so be sure to spend a relaxing time in the pool while watching the sunrise.
The local specialty – “Kushimoto maguro shabu-shabu”!
Wakayama prefecture is well-known for its large quantities of maguro tuna fish, but Kushimoto was the first place in the world to succeed in breeding Pacific bluefin tuna. In recent years the population of this species is growing thanks to the efforts of its breeding off the coast of Kushimoto.
The local specialty is “Kushimoto maguro shabu-shabu”. It is a shabu-shabu dish (thinly sliced pieces of meat dipped in sauce) which makes full use of Kushimoto’s Pacific bluefin tuna fish! There are over 7 different sauces and various parts of the fish served for eating, so maguro tuna lovers must definitely try this!
Only 4 places in the town offer this dish and Kushimoto Royal Hotel is one of them. You can try it even if you’re not a guest of the hotel. The quantities are limited, so I recommend a reservation in advance.
Let’s go to Honshu’s southernmost point!
Reaching Honshu’s southernmost point Kushimoto is by no means an easy task. It takes about 3 hours on JR trains from Osaka. With a car it takes about 3 hours and a half. Although in recent years the highway roads in Japan are increasing, there are still none in Kii Peninsula. Even in the old times Kii Peninsula was known for its difficult access and had the image of “the earth’s end”.
However, Kushimoto is attractive with its nature and rural life exactly because of its remoteness. This is one of the best places to escape from the turmoil of the big city and relax casually. Kushimoto Royal Hotel offers exactly such kind of experiences. The cost-performance is guaranteed by the comfortable rooms and the panorama view towards the ocean.
Other popular hot springs in southern Kii are Shirahama and Nachi-Katsuura. Kushimoto never had popularity as anything more than a passing point, but I recommend staying here and enjoying what this place offers. You will surely be amazed by its charm!
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