About | Access | Area Map | Attractions
About
Kinosaki Onsen (in Japanese; 城崎温泉) is one of the most popular Onsen Resort (Hot Springs Resort) destinations in Japan among Japanese, Expats living in Japan and overseas visitors to Japan. It has history of being an "Onsen Town" since the 8th century (about 1,300 years). Kinosaki Onsen is in Hyogo Prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan making it convenient for those in the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto). From Osaka Station the town can be reached in about two and a half hours on a limited express train although from Tokyo it is quite far, five to six hours. The town itself is built along a willow-lined river with various "old time" shops, Onsens, hotels & Ryokans (Japanese Inns) lining it's banks. There are over a hundred Ryokan (Japanese Inns) and Hotels in and around Kinosaki to choose from.
There are seven main "Public Onsen" bath houses in the town. If you stay at a Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen you will receive a "Free Pass" that allows you to enter any of the Public Onsens for free. In the evenings guests of Ryokan leisurely walk about town in Yukata and Geta (Japanese wooden clogs) visiting the Public Baths, shops and game arcades. There are also a couple temples, a shrine and a ropeway at the far end of the street that transports visitors to the top of Mt Taishi, from where you can get nice views of the town and coastline. The Sanin Line provides a JR rail connection to Kyoto and Osaka.
Access
The graphic above is a simplified "Quick Glance" at transportation options. Due to fluctuating schedules & pricing, Times & Costs are subject to change.
from Tokyo
- by Train
- Shinkansen & Ltd. Express - around 16,000 yen and takes about 5-6 hours plus transfer time.
Kinosaki is far from Tokyo and there is no direct train. However, the trip is fully covered by the JR Pass so if you leave in the morning you can get there in the afternoon.
- Shinkansen & Ltd. Express - around 16,000 yen and takes about 5-6 hours plus transfer time.
from Osaka
- by Train
- Ltd. Express - around 5,600 yen and takes about 2.5 hours.
Kinosaki is a major destination for Kansai people (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe) and can be easily reached by direct train from Osaka Station.
- Ltd. Express - around 5,600 yen and takes about 2.5 hours.
Area Map
Attractions
Here is a list of some of the top Attractions in & nearby Kinosaki Onsen.
Public Bath Houses
Although most all the Ryokans (Japanese Inns) and Hotels in Kinosaki have their own hot spring baths, it is traditional for visitors to not use the bath within the Ryokan/Hotel but rather take the "Kinosaki Public Bath Stroll" and visit the various Public Baths in town and sample as many as possible. If you do stay in Kinosaki Onsen your Ryokan/Hotel will give you a "Free Public Bath" ticket and you can visit all the baths below for free. If you are not staying in Kinosaki for the night and are just visiting on a day-trip you can still purchase a "Yumepa Ticket" for 1,200 yen which you can use to visit all the Public Baths... although, after soaking in a the baths all day it's very hard to get enough energy to get back on a train or drive home.
Note that if you are going to visit the Public Baths you should bring your own towel. You can bring a towel from the Ryokan/Hotel you are staying at (but don't lose it). You can purchase a towel at the Public Baths if you need to. All the Public Baths provide soap, shampoo and conditioner.
Sato No Yu
Hours: 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Monday
Sato No Yu is Kinosaki Onsens's largest Public Bath house. It is located right next to the train station and has a traditional Japanese style bath along with a "Roman" type bath. These two baths rotate on a daily basis between men/women. There are also a few smaller baths with nice Japanese gardens and waterfalls. Sato No Yu also has a mist room, steam room and dry sauna.
Jizou Yu
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Friday
Jizou Yu is known for is "high ceiling baths". They also have family Private Baths which you can rent for 3,000 yen per 40 min
Yanagi Yu
Hours: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Thursday
Yanagi Yu is the smallest bathhouse in Kinosaki Onsen but was renovated in 2016 and offers quaint and beautiful wooden baths made of of hand-cut wood. There is also a Foot Bath (Ashi Yu) in front of the building.
Ichi No Yu
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Wednesday
Ichi No Yu has granite white indoor baths while it's outdoor baths are in a cave! (cool) You can also rent family "Private Baths" for 3,000 yen per 40 min.
Gosho No Yu
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Closed: 1st and 3rd Tuesday
Gosho No Yu is one of the larger bathhouses in Kinosaki Onsen. There is a beautiful outdoor bath in a Japanese garden type setting with a waterfall along with other smaller "natural" and granite type baths. Gosho No Yu also has a very nice steam sauna.
Mandara Yu
Hours: 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Wednesday
Mandara Yu is slightly off the main Kinosaki Onsen road and to the south. However, it does have a reputation of having the prettiest bath in town!
Kou No Yu
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Tuesday
Kou No Yu was the first bathhouse in Kinosaki Onsen and it is said, according to legend, that storks would come here to heal their wounds. Kou No Yu has many beautiful outdoor baths with nice relaxing views of the surrounding forest.
Other Attractions
Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway
Cost - to the top: 900 yen, to Osenji Temple: 560 yen
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: 2nd and 4th Thursday
Kinosaki Ropeway is on the West side of town. You can ride it up to Onsenji Temple (see below) or all the way to the top where you can get a bird's eye view of Kinosaki Town.
Onsenji Temple
Cost - 400 yen (includes nearby art museum)
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed: 2nd and 4th Thursday
Onsenji Temple sits on a hill west of town and can be reached by walking (20 min. walk up a trail) or the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway (above). In the old days visitors to Kinosaki Onsen had to visit the temple before they could soak in the baths! We think it's a good idea to keep up tradition and makes a soak feel a whole lot better so... try it! The temple itself is dedicated to a Buddhist saint who prayed 1000 days in order to bring forth the hot spring water in Kinosaki Onsen. Near the temple is the Kinosaki Art Museum which has a small collection of historic and religious artifacts.
