Overview
Nanki-Katsuura Onsen is a hot spring resort in Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture — an area once part of Kii Province — known for baths set within seaside caves. Within the Kinki region it is often referred to simply as "Katsuura."
Highlights
- ●A rare hot spring with baths set inside seaside caves
- ●Scenery nicknamed the "Matsushima of Kii"
- ●Ranked among Japan's Top 100 Onsens by Kankokeizai Shimbun
- ●A history of renaming from "Katsuura Onsen" to "Nanki-Katsuura Onsen"
History
The resort was originally known simply as "Katsuura Onsen." In more recent years, the "Nanki-" prefix came into use, adopted by the travel industry and tourism association, and it also helps distinguish this hot spring from another onsen of the same name in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture.
Access
The onsen is located in Nachikatsuura town, Higashimuro District, along the coast of the Kii Peninsula. Since specific train and bus routes or travel times may change, it is worth checking current transportation information before your visit.
Best season
Being a coastal hot spring, it is generally considered enjoyable year-round, though no specific record of a peak season or seasonal events is available in current sources.
Map
33.6284, 135.9418 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Arrive in Nachikatsuura town and check in at a hot spring inn
- 2Enjoy a bath in one of the onsen's seaside cave baths
- 3Take in the coastal scenery known as the "Matsushima of Kii"
- 4Stroll around Katsuura harbor before departing
Did you know?
💡 Nicknamed the "Matsushima of Kii," the onsen has also been selected among Japan's "Top 100 Onsens" by Kankokeizai Shimbun, and is noted as one of the country's most popular hot spring areas due to its baths set within coastal caves.
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