Shirahama's main beach is famous for its white sand – though what's there now was imported from Perth in the '90s, as the original sand was lost to erosion. It's a crescent-shaped cove, relatively sheltered from the currents, making it very popular with families during summer holidays (mid-July to August); otherwise it's mostly deserted.
![Shirara Beach, Wakayama, Japan](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2019-06/e4fa1db1c3a88c9792527ac54635186c-shirara-hama.jpg?auto=format&w=1920&h=640&fit=crop&crop=faces,edges&q=75)
Getty Images/amana images RM
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
27.01 MILES
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In 2000 this giant torii (entrance gate to a Shintō shrine) – 33.9m tall and 42m wide, made out of steel, painted dramatic black and the largest in Japan …
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