We’re planning to walk the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo in spring 2024 and are looking for a good onsen stop for one night before we return to Kyoto after our hike.
If you were picking between Kii-Katsuura and Shirahama for a chill relaxing onsen visit, which would you pick and why? We would like to stay in a nice ryokan- recommendations appreciated.
Another detail to note is that we will already have one night in Kii-Katsuura in a minshuku or small hotel after our last day of hiking, so if we were to choose this option it would mean staying an *additional* night in Kii-Katsuura vs. hopping on the train for a few hours and stopping in Shirahama.
Thanks for your thoughts!
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Shirahama is much more of a built up touristy resort vibe and Kii-Katsuura is a sleepy fishing village; there is really nothing to do there other than the shrine/temple at Nachi, taking the bus to Nachi beach, and maybe an hour or two walking around.
> nice ryokan in Kii-Katsuura
Nakanoshima (碧き島の宿 熊野別邸 中の島) is the fancy option in town. I really liked Manseiro, it’s not very posh but the food was great, service nice but not overbearing (I don’t like excessive explanations), onsen was nice, and free use of the rock baths at Hotel Urashima.