Best Japanese Inns and Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen | Relax in an Onsen

Photo courtesy of Tokiwa Bekkan

Located in the north of Hyogo prefecture is the onsen town of Kinosaki. Kinosaki Onsen has 7 public onsens with various healing effects that are popular among local Japanese and tourists alike. Take the Kinosaki Ropeway to the top of Mount Taishi to get a great view of Kinosaki and the Sea of Japan. Don’t forget to visit the popular Onsenji Temple before going down.

There are many activities that you can enjoy in Kinosaki Onsen, like straw crafts, museums, and of course, onsen. It is perfectly normal to take a stroll in the town while wearing a yukata or traditional Japanese clothing.

If any of these interests you, keep reading to get a feel for some of the various types of Japanese ryokan that you can stay at in Kinosaki.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

1. Kiraku (喜楽)
2. Ginka (銀花)
3. Tokiwa Bekkan(ときわ別館)
4. Nishimuraya Honkan (西村屋本館)
5. Tajimaya (但馬屋)
6. Oyado Seri (お宿 芹)
7. Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Gardens (湯楽 Spa&Gardens)
8. Hakusan Hanamandara (白山 花まんだら)
9. Sensui (城崎温泉 泉翠)
10. Tsukino Shizuku (月のしずく)
11. Conclusion

Kiraku (喜楽)

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0:00 – Kiraku is a Japanese ryokan located on one of the main streets of Kinosaki. It’s located about a 10-minute walk from Kinosaki Station, but there is a free shuttle bus that will take you from the station to the inn.

0:55 – Sit at the hearth after a long journey and warm up. Check-in and head to your room.

1:25 – Have a look at the large public onsen at Kiraku. The bright wood gives a relaxing atmosphere. This is the largest size of bath that is allowed in Kinosaki Onsen.

1:45 – There are free-to-use private rental onsen. If you have tattoos, came with your family or loved one, or just prefer to bathe alone, book a Japanese inn with a private onsen.

2:05 – Kiraku has delicious Japanese meals. There are a lot of small dishes with various flavors and one main dish, along with rice and drinks. You can expect a lot of fresh vegetables and local specialties like beef.

3:40 – After breakfast and before checking out, hop in the onsen one more time. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to start the journey home.

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Ginka (銀花)

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0:00 – Ginka is a luxury hotel located opposite Kinosaki Onsen Station on the Maruyama River. To get there from Kinosaki Onsen Station, you’ll have to go across the bridge. Drive or take a 10-minute taxi. This video also includes various other sights around Kinosaki Onsen, so check it out if you like! If you want to see Ginka, skip to 6:00.

6:00 – Here is the outside view of Ginka. Beautiful gardens are kept year-round; no details are missed. A peaceful area that is actually located far away from the onsen district. Ginka is a large luxury Japanese ryokan, perfect for a quiet vacation. In classic Japanese style, they have Yakult and gelato for guests to eat after getting out of the onsen. The public onsen at Ginka is available 24 hours a day.

7:40 – Let’s check out the room. This room is large and has tatami mats with a great view of the Maruyama River and mountain range. This room also has a private onsen attached. You can relax in private rejuvenating water while listening to the peaceful sounds of the river. Put on the Japanese yukata while in your room for the full experience.

10:05 – Kinosaki Onsen has a lively onsen district, but Ginka is located further away than most Onsen. Book a relaxing night at Ginka and enjoy an amazing sunset just like this!

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Tokiwa Bekkan(ときわ別館)

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0:00 – From Osaka, Kinosaki Onsen Station is about 3 hours by train. Tokiwa Bekkan has many different types of rooms, including rooms that have private outdoor onsen.

2:30 – Here we are back at the ryokan. As soon as you step in, you can feel the peaceful atmosphere.

2:55 – The room that is being shown off is one of the rooms with a private onsen. Make sure to take off your shoes at the entrance of your room so you don’t destroy the tatami mats or dirty the room. This room has a nice Japanese garden that you can appreciate from the onsen. Put on the yukata provided in your room and start to enjoy your time in a traditional Japanese atmosphere.

3:40 – Time for dinner. Instead of moving to a cafeteria or restaurant in the ryokan, you eat your meals in your room as they are delivered by staff. Tokiwa Bekkan has large portions of fresh and delicious food that will leave you satisfied and ready for a bath.

4:20 – The best part about rooms with private onsen attached is the amount of freedom you have. Hop in the rejuvenating waters whenever you feel like it. Before you go to sleep, after you wake up, and before you check out. If you’re interested in this luxury experience, have a look at Tokiwa Bekkan’s website.

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Nishimuraya Honkan (西村屋本館)

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0:00 – Nishimuraya Honkan is a luxury Japanese ryokan located on one of the main streets at Kinosaki Onsen. This video shows travel by car, but it’s only a 10-minute walk from Kinosaki Onsen Station.

0:35 – Welcome to Nishimuraya Honkan. There is plenty of staff members around to make your stay as comfortable as possible. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be able to feel the atmosphere of a ryokan that has been in business for a long time. In the lobby, there are picturesque views of Kinosaki’s nature.

0:55 – Here is one of the rooms that have a private onsen attached. Notice the tatami and floor seats. There are 2 showers in the private onsen, so you can bathe with your family, friends, or loved ones.

1:55 – If you don’t book a room with a private onsen, don’t worry. They actually have 2 large public onsen areas, so there will be enough room no matter where you go. This is the first main public onsen.

2:00 – Like all Japanese ryokan, there is a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and goods local to Kinosaki. Go upstairs and check out the small museum, where treasures and historic artifacts are kept on display for guests.

3:10 – Let’s eat dinner. At Nishimuraya, you can enjoy dinner in the privacy of your own room. On tonight’s menu is fresh crab along with a number of other delicious dishes.

6:05 – Take a look at breakfast too. A wide variety of Japanese dishes, including things like rice porridge, fruits, and vegetables are sure to be a great start to your day exploring Kinosaki Onsen. If you want to stay at a luxury onsen in the heart of Kinosaki, check out the homepage for Nishimuraya Honkan below.

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Tajimaya (但馬屋)

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0:00 – Tajimaya is a traditional Japanese ryokan on the main street of Kinosaki Onsen. One of the best parts of Tajimaya is there 3 different private rental onsen baths. There are 12 different rooms, and which room you stay in is picked for you by staff members. After you book a plan, they will decide everything for you.

7:45 – Here we are at Tajimaya. First up is the room tour. This is one of the larger rooms. There is tatami mat flooring and a service ticket for the various onsen outside Tajimaya in Kinosaki.

9:10 – This is one of the meals in the wintertime when snow crab is the seafood of the season. It’s nice to be able to eat in the privacy of your room. Enjoy high-quality Japanese foods, like wagyu and shabu shabu.

10:25 – After dinner, put on the yukata provided in your room and take a stroll outside. There are plenty of things to do in Kinosaki Onsen, so make sure you explore to your heart’s content.

14:50 – Here is a look at one of the private rental onsen. You can use the private rental onsen at Tajimaya as much as you like! This ryokan is perfect for those who have tattoos or families, and want to enjoy Kinosaki Onsen’s rejuvenating waters. This onsen has jets in it!

15:30 – Breakfast is also prepared in your room! If Tajimaya looks like an experience you’d be interested in, have a look at their website below.

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Oyado Seri (お宿 芹)

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0:00 – We are headed to Oyado Seri. If you want to check out various areas of Kinosaki, including the view from the top of the ropeway, keep watching. If you’re only interested in Oyado Seri, skip ahead to 4:30.

4:30 – Oyado Seri is located slightly far away from the main street of Kinosaki Onsen. It’s a 15-minute walk from Kinosaki Onsen Station, so we recommend taking a taxi or the shared bus that runs to various onsen around Kinosaki.

4:50 – Let’s check out the room. This is one of the larger rooms, located at the end of the hallway. It has western-style beds along with tatami mats and can sleep up to 4 people. If you have trouble sleeping on the floor, consider Oyado Seri, as most ryokan in Kinosaki only provide tatami mats and futons. There is an amazing view of the Maruyama River that you can wake up to every morning.

6:30 – In classic ryokan fashion, you’ll be served dinner in your room. Tonight’s menu has various kinds of seafoods for starters and Japanese wagyu as a main, which will be prepared to perfection right in front of you.

7:50 – Here’s a look at the onsen. There is almost no one there at night! Take a shower and then hop in the onsen before bed.

8:20 – Breakfast is in the cafeteria on the second floor, with an amazing view of the river. The rest of the video shows Kinosaki Onsen and the various fun and relaxing things you can do around town. If you want to know more about Oyado Seri, check out their website below.

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Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Gardens

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0:00 – We are headed to Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Gardens. They provide a pass to all of the 7 different onsen waters throughout Kinosaki, all located within walking distance of Yuraku. Put on the yukata that they provide and take a walk through the onsen town.

0:25 – Here we are at Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Garden. There are beautiful Japanese gardens that surround the modern ryokan. Relax in the lobby after checking in.

0:50 – This is one of the full-course Japanese dinners that are provided at Yuraku. Crab is a very popular meal in the winter in Kinosaki Onsen. Enjoy it fresh along with other Japanese foods.

1:45 – There are 3 different private rental onsen that you can use while staying at Yuraku Spa&Garden. This first one has nice flowers and an outdoor private onsen that you can use if the weather is nice. If you want to stay near the 7 waters of Kinosaki and get a free pass to all of them, take a look at Yuraku Kinosaki Spa&Garden.

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Hakusan Hanamandara (白山 花まんだら)

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0:00 – Next up is Hakusan Hanamandara. If you want to stay at a ryokan near Mandara Yu, Hanamandara is right next door. If you decide to go by car, be careful as the roads are narrow.

1:40 – We’ve arrive at Hanamandara. Here’s what it looks like from the outside. It has a retro atmosphere instead of the traditional Japanese style. Pick up a couple of nostalgic Japanese snacks before heading to your room.

3:00 – Let’s take a look at one of the rooms. This room has enough space for 4 people, a family or a large group of friends. Enjoy snacks in your room while you wind down and get ready to walk around Kinosaki Onsen.

4:05 – Grab a yukata and towel downstairs before visiting the 7 different waters around Kinosaki. Choose your favorite designs and style and then head out.

4:40 – Of course, dinner is served in your room. In Kinosaki Onsen style, crab is the main flavor and focus of the meal. Various seafood along with local beef, miso, and hot pot are featured on this menu. Add eggs to the hot pot for extra flavor.

7:45 – At Hanamandara, there are 4 private rental onsen available for guests. Check out this wooden bath with a view of the inside garden. If you don’t visit all of the different onsen waters around Kinosaki Onsen, definitely make time to use the private rental onsen for the ultimate relaxation.

8:50 – If breakfast looks like something that you want to try, have a look at the homepage of Hakusan Hanamandara below.

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Sensui (城崎温泉 泉翠)

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0:00 – Kinosaki Onsen is known for the number of different rejuvenating waters around the town, and Sensui is known for being in the middle of all of them. If you plan on exploring the Kinosaki Onsen town, Sensui is in the perfect location.

2:30 – Sensui is a beautiful and stylish Japanese ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen. After a long journey, enjoy a cup of welcome tea and sweets.

3:30 – Let’s check out what you can expect from a room at Sensui. There are Western-style beds and tatami mats along with various services around the room, like yukata room wear and mineral water. There are also traditional bags for when you decide to go out and need something to hold your towels.

6:00 – At Sensui, there are no large public onsen. Instead, they have 3 private rental onsen. Before you go in, flip the card over to “being borrowed” to let others know not to enter. This first onsen is a large tub made of ceramics. It’s good for healing various aches and pains.

7:15 – Enjoy dinner after being guided to the restaurant. Because it’s winter in Kinosaki the various dishes being served have crab in them. Various seafoods, fish, and fresh wasabi are appetizers. The main dish is crab hot pot and grilled crab.

13:30 – After enjoying a walk around Kinosaki at night, head back to Sensui and choose another private onsen. This time, the wooden onsen is being featured. It looks small but can fit at least 2 people.

14:20 – Because there are no TVs at Sensui, enjoy a good book and a calming atmosphere in the library before heading to bed. If Sensui looks like an interesting experience, book a night when you go to Kinosaki Onsen.

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Tsukino Shizuku (月のしずく)

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0:00 – Tsukino Shizuku is a Japanese ryokan off the beaten path, but still near the heart of Kinosaki Onsen. If you want an authentic experience, Tsukino might be perfect for you.

0:30 – He we are at Tsukino Shizuku. It’s located in a quieter area compared to the rest of Kinosaki Onsen. Many areas of this Japanese ryokan are floored with tatami mats, so you’ll have to wear slippers. Enjoy the sounds of a waterfall while sipping on one of the many complimentary drinks.

1:35 – After checking in, head to the room. You can expect Japanese sliding doors, tatami mats, floor seating, and a nice calming view the of Kinosaki wilderness. The fridge is full of drinks for you to enjoy, and the room has various moon-based items to fit the theme of the ryokan.

3:35 – Come back from exploring and eat dinner in your room. The foods are fresh and prepared with mind of what’s in season and what will taste best. Dessert is a slice of cake and fruit, very luxurious considering how expensive and high-quality fruits are in Japan.

5:30 – Explore the various onsen waters of Kinosaki, then come back and sit back in a massage chair while listening to the sounds of the waterfall in the lobby.

6:20 – Sleep well after relaxing well, then wake up for breakfast. Various fresh foods will give you a great start to your day.

6:50 – Use the private rental onsen for free with your stay. Choose between a stone bath or a wooden bath (or both). Not shown in this video was the large public onsen. If you’re interested in booking a night or two, check out Tsukino Shizuku’s website below.

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Conclusion

Have you decided where you want to stay when you go to Kinosaki Onsen?

Choose between a quieter place on the outskirts, or stay in the center of Kinosaki and go visit all of the famous 7 public onsen, each with various specialty healing effects.

We hope this edit of videos helped you decide what kind of ryokan you want to spend your nights in Kinosaki at.

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