8 Best Private Onsen in Kinosaki | Experience the Nostalgic and Photogenic Town

Kinosaki Onsen is a long-admired onsen town in Hyogo Prefecture, believed to have been discovered over a millennium ago. Many ryokans and restaurants line up along the Otani River, and visitors stroll the retro alleys in their yukata (Japanese garment).

Although many people bathe in the seven onsen open to the public, there are several accommodations where you can enjoy a private onsen experience!

Thus, in this article, we’ll introduce eight ryokans and hotels with a private onsen for those who prefer a secluded setting.
Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Types of Private Onsen

8 Best Ryokans and Hotels with Private Onsen in Kinosaki

1. Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei（西村屋ホテル招月庭）
2. Tsubakino（旅館　つばき乃）
3. Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Gardens（湯楽））
4. Kawaguchiya Riverside Hotel（川口屋城崎リバーサイドホテル）
5. Tajimaya（但馬屋）
6. Ginka（城崎 円山川温泉 銀花）
7. Tsukino Shizuku（喧噪の隠れ家　月のしずく）
8. Ichidaya（いちだや）

Conclusion

Types of Private Onsen

Before getting into the details of each ryokan, let’s go over the types of private onsen that you can find.
There are two types in particular.

• • Rentable baths: Called “Kashikiri Buro” in Japanese, these are indoor and/or outdoor private baths available for guests to rent out for a specific amount of time.
  • Rooms with private baths: Indoor baths or outdoor baths attached to your hotel suite.

The following is a breakdown of the pros and cons of each private onsen type.

A side note: In Kinosaki Onsen, accommodations are prohibited from drawing onsen water to the guest rooms. Therefore, plain heated water is used in the baths in ryokan or hotel rooms.

If you are looking to travel on a budget but still want to experience a private onsen, we recommend you look for a ryokan with a rentable bath available. On the other hand, you should consider getting a room with a private onsen if you want a luxury ryokan experience.

Google Map of Kinosaki (Hyogo Prefecture)

12 Best Ryokans and Hotels with Private Onsen in Kusatsu

Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei（西村屋ホテル招月庭）

Shogetsutei is a ryokan located seven minutes by car from Kinosaki Onsen Station. One of the traits of this ryokan is the serenity created by the surrounding forests and gardens, perfect for relaxing in onsen.

Guests are offered three types of kashikiri buro with the price of 8,800 JPY for up to four people (Max. of 70 min. per use). The onsen below (Japanese Gingetsu) is a half-open-air onsen where you can overlook the aesthetic forest of Kinosaki. The other two onsen, the bamboo Balinese-styled onsen and the retro Chinese-styled onsen, are recommended too!

You can also enjoy onsen in your room as the ryokan provides two room types with a private onsen. The special room below, Keigetsu, has a spacious rock-made onsen that matches perfectly with the tranquil garden of Shogetsutei.

We also recommend trying out the outdoor onsen below (private booking is unavailable). There is even a jacuzzi and a mist sauna to entertain yourself!

Check the video below for more details!

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Tsubakino（旅館　つばき乃)

Tsubakino is a traditional Japanese-styled ryokan for those who prefer a quiet, sophisticated atmosphere. It is also easily accessible, only a five-minute walk from the Kinosaki Onsen Station.

There are two types of kashikiri buro for guests to enjoy with no additional fee. We highly recommend the micro-bubble onsen below, as Tsubakino is the only accommodation with one in Kinosaki. The bubbles and the skin-beautifying waters have the best relaxing effects!

They offer a special room that comes with an indoor onsen. This is a goemon onsen, which is a kettle bathtub that is heated by a stove below. These are rare to find, so stay in this room if you’re interested!

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Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Gardens（湯楽）

We recommend this spa for those looking for accommodation with a wide variety of kashikiri buro. This spa offers three types of half-open-air onsen and four types of indoor onsen. A free shuttle bus from the Kinosaki Station is also available.

This ryokan is distinctive as it offers unique onsen, such as the apple onsen below. In Japan, we sometimes put fruits in onsen to facilitate metabolism and fatigue recovery. Not to mention, the fruity scent also has soothing effects!

Besides the apple onsen, there are orange lime onsen and flower onsen (the one below), too. Guests can rent out these onsen for free, so give it a try!

As we mentioned, the spa also offers four types of indoor onsen you can rent out. With “sanshisuimei” (a phrase portraying the beauty of Japan’s nature), each onsen has different scenery and atmosphere for you to enjoy. Non-guests can also rent out the onsen for 2,200 JPY.

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Kawaguchiya Riverside Hotel（川口屋城崎リバーサイドホテル）

As mentioned in the name, this hotel is located along the Maruyama River. The hotel takes pride in the fantastic view guests can see from their rooms. It also has easy access, a six-minute walk from the Kinosaki Onsen Station.

The hotel offers two half-open-air onsen that are kashikiri buro. Both grant users a view of the tranquil river and the beautiful mountains of Kinosaki. Guests will need a reservation, so if you are interested, be sure to ask the staff when checking in.

On the top floor, suite rooms are available that come with a private onsen. The rooms have excellent views and lots of space, which is recommended for those who want a luxurious stay. The wonderful view can also be enjoyed in the bath, and you can add flower petals for free (reservation is necessary)!

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Tajimaya（但馬屋）

This ryokan replicated the atmosphere of kominkan (Japanese folk house), mixing modern designs with antique furniture. Another feature of this ryokan is the three distinctive kashikiri buro. Guests can rent them out for no charge, and no reservation is necessary.

The first onsen below, “Kagen no yu,” expresses the glimmer of flowers with the lights above the onsen. Most onsen are surrounded by nature, but this glamorous and photogenic setting will also be memorable!

The second onsen, “Chikuyou no yu”, is surrounded by partitions of woven bamboo. The warm dim lights and the tatami floor are perfect for some peace and quiet.

The third onsen, “Kirara no yu,” is a half-open-air onsen that lets you feel the nature of Kinosaki. The quaint ceramic-made onsen and the breeze of the outdoors are also great for a relaxing time!

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Ginka（城崎 円山川温泉 銀花）

Two types of kashikiri buro are available for guests at no additional charge. The first one is the onsen below, a secluded onsen with a hint of bamboo to give a tranquil, calm atmosphere. The second one is a more compact onsen, recommended for those who want to enjoy the onsen by themself.

The hotel also provides some rooms that come with a private bath. The bath is placed right next to the window, which overlooks the alluring landscape of Kinosaki. The water may not be from a hot spring source, but a bath with a beautiful view is always worth a try!

Although it isn’t a kashikiri buro, we also recommend the half-open-air onsen below. The view of the river and the serene mountains are great to pair with the hinoki onsen.

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Tsukino Shizuku（喧噪の隠れ家　月のしずく）

This ryokan is located a bit far from the central area of Kinosaki Onsen. You can get here by taxi (5 min.) or bus (15 min.) from the Kinosaki Onsen Station.

Two types of kashikiri buro are provided. One of them is the hinoki (cypress) onsen below. The aroma scent of the cypress and the green surrounding the onsen is perfect for healing fatigue.

Another kashikiri buro is an indoor onsen made using natural stones. The stones keep the water warm, so you can have a nice, long bath and keep your body warm.

The ryokan also offers a room with a private bath. Although the water is not from a hot spring source, you can enjoy a bath in your room for those seeking privacy. Moreover, the half-open-air onsen has a scenic view overlooking Kinosaki.

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Ichidaya（いちだや）

Ichidaya is in the center of the seven public onsen, but the calm, peaceful atmosphere of Japanese ryokans remains. It is also easily accessible, about a five-minute walk from Kinosaki Onsen Station. The ryokan takes pride in its hospitality and delicious cuisine using the fresh seafood of Hyogo Prefecture.

In this ryokan, you can enjoy two types of kashikiri buro-type indoor onsen. The first one is the one below, a stone-made onsen placed in a quiet, secluded setting that is recommended for those seeking to bathe in privacy.

The other onsen is ceramic and rather compact, suited for one person or two. The illuminating lights give an aesthetic and soothing vibe! Those interested in these rentable onsen require a reservation when checking in at the ryokan.

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Conclusion

What do you think? We introduced eight ryokans and hotels where you can enjoy Japanese-style onsen privately in Kinosaki.

Although many visitors enjoy the seven onsen open to the public, there are many accommodations to choose from for those who favor a secluded setting or want to try both public and private onsen.

The onsen culture is deeply rooted in Kinosaki, and many ryokans and shops welcome visitors with hospitality and offer great onsen plans.

Consider the recommendations in this article when choosing an onsen to have the best onsen experience during your stay in Kinosaki!

If you want to read up on onsen etiquette in Japan, check out this article below.

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