On Feb 15, 5:57 am, "Giny@geenrotzooi_xs4all.nl" > Ages ago I have
been in Shirahama (Wakayama-ken).
> My husband and I plan to go to Japan again in May and visit a.o. the village
> of Yunomine, Kumano Kodo and other places.
> We will rent a small car.
> I like old scenery, nice villages and tradition.
>
> My husband wants to go to Shirahama again for a few days , because Japanese
> friends told him it has changed and is nice now, lovely views, beautiful
> scenery and not yasu-poi.

I've been to Shirahama a few times, but only in the summer. If the
beach during May in Shirahama in Wakayama is similar to swimming
beaches such as Goza Shirahama (Mie Pref.) then I suspect it will have
a fair amount of rubbish and storm debris still on it. Swimming
beaches usually aren't "scrubbed" until immediately before the
official season opens. I've got a few photos somewhere.

The area behind the beach is fairly nice if you like either cheap
kitsche, or high class living, but not something in between. Its quite
upmarket these days. I remember a hotel called "Seamore" being OK.

Personally I wouldn't spend more than 2 nights in Shirahama at most.
Good place for jetlag recovery if you are crossing a few time zones,
but if not, maybe only 1 night.

Yunomine Onsen is a nice village. The tsubo-no-yu is fun, but if you
are arriving before 3pm then 1 night only is enough though. I like to
spend a few nights around Taiji, Kii Katsuura and Nachi. Driving
upstream from Shingu is pretty scenic. Route 169 through to Kiwa is
cool.