People with decorative tattoos are allowed into the 7 public hot springs in Kinosaki Onsen.

However, some accommodations have different rules regarding their own in-house baths.

(subject to change):

KONO-YU
Business Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
Closed Tuesday

MANDARA-YU
Business Hours: 3:00pm – 11:00pm
Closed Wednesday

GOSHONO-YU
Business Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
Closed Thursday

ICHINO-YU
Business Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
Closed Wednesday

YANAGI-YU
Business Hours: 3:00pm – 11:00pm
Closed Thursday

JIZO-YU
Business Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
Closed Monday

SATONO-YU (closed for renovations indefinitely from April 1 2024)

None of Kinosaki Onsen’s 7 public hot springs are mixed gender. Sides are divided by male and female.

Children up to age 10 may enter the hot spring side of the opposite gender if necessary.

We ask that all children are accompanied by an adult at all times.

The 7 public hot springs are natural hot springs.

More information on the minerals and potential benefits can be read about here.

A majority of the inns in Kinosaki also use the natural hot spring waters to fill their main baths and reservable private baths.

However, because of Kinosaki regulations, all accommodations’ private baths inside guest rooms are regular heated water.

All hot springs are approximately 42 degrees celsius, or 108 degrees fahrenheit.

You can purchase a day pass to all 7 public hot springs in Kinosaki Onsen at the reception counter of any hot spring.

The price of a one-day hot spring pass is 1,500 yen for adults, 750 yen for children middle school age and younger, and free for children under 3 years old.

Most inns in Kinosaki Onsen give a free hot spring pass at check-in.

The pass has a barcode and will give free access to all 7 public hot springs.

Just scan at the building entrance and you can use any public hot spring.

The pass will only be valid from check-in until 13:00 on the day of checkout.

Yes, some inns offer private hot springs.
Click here for more information.

Private Baths in Kinosaki Onsen

Private hot springs are only available for staying guests at an accommodation with a reservable private bath.

Casual or formal is okay.

We suggest wearing comfortable shoes good for walking.

If you are staying at an inn in town, it is highly recommended to change into the yukata provided once you have checked in.

What to wear:
If you are staying at a ryokan, you can wear the yukata and geta provided.

Regular clothes are also okay.

What to bring:
The hot spring pass received during check-in at your ryokan

Small towel and large towel

You do not need to bring soap, shampoo or conditioner. The 7 public hot springs have these in the bathing area.

Please see our guide How to use a Japanese bath

You can wash your hair in the shower area.

If you do not wish to wash your hair or if you have long hair, please tie it up or put it into a shower cap before entering the hot spring bath.

The 7 public hot springs in Kinosaki Onsen operate according to their regular schedules during the new year holiday.

Kinosaki is located near the Sea of Japan in Hyogo Prefecture.

Kinosaki can be accessed easily by limited express train from Kyoto or Osaka in about 2.5 hours.
See here for access information.

There is a shuttle bus running regularly from Kinosaki Onsen Station to local inns.

The bus is free for staying guests in town.

The shuttle bus does not have an official time schedule.

It runs in accordance with the arrivals and departures of limited express trains.

Generally the bus is available between 12:30 and 18:00.

There will be staff standing in front of the train station’s main entrance.

They will guide guests to the shuttle bus. Please let them know what accommodation you will be staying at.

Yes, Kinosaki Onsen Station is located on the Japan Rail (JR) Line.

For the most up to date bus and train timetables, please refer to Google Maps.

Coastal Kinosaki: Take the local Zentan Bus from Kinosaki Onsen Bus Stop to Hiyoriyama Bus Stop (10 mins)

Takeno Beach: Take the JR train from Kinosaki Onsen Station to Takeno Station (10 mins)

Downtown Toyooka: Take the JR train from Kinosaki Onsen Station to Toyooka Station (10 mins)

Izushi Castle Town: Take the local Zentan Bus from Kinosaki Onsen Bus Stop to Izushi Bus Stop (50 mins, 1 inbound and outbound direct bus each on weekdays, 3 inbound and outbound direct buses each on weekends)

Kannabe Highlands: Take the JR train from Kinosaki Onsen Station to Ebara Station (20 mins), then take the local Zentan Bus from Ebara Station Bus Stop to Kannabe Kougen Yutorogi Bus Stop (30 mins)

Tanto Farming Village: 50 minutes by car from Kinosaki Onsen Station

Yes. Please check here for details.

There are very few businesses that accept credit cards.

We suggest bringing enough JPY in cash with you.

You can exchange money at IROHA Yukata Shop & Rental.

Foreign currency accepted: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CNY, HKD, KRW, TWD, SGD, THB, IDR, MYR

Up to 20,000JPY limit per group.

You can withdraw JPY from the ATMs in local convenience stores Family Mart and Lawson.

Some accommodations offer dry cleaning services for an additional charge.

There are also coin laundromats located in town.

If your accommodation is unable to hold onto your luggage for you, you can leave your luggage at the Kinosaki Onsen Ryokan Service Center in front of JR Kinosaki Onsen Station and it will be sent to your accommodation for a fee.

Most accommodations participate in this service.

You can also leave your luggage at SOZORO Tourist Information Center for a fee. Please note there is no forwarding service to your accommodation at SOZORO.

There are also coin lockers located around Kinosaki Onsen Station.

A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn.

The majority of ryokan are located in scenic rural areas and are more difficult to find in large cities like Tokyo.

Some ryokan also offer breakfast and elaborate meals called kaiseki with your stay. This is why a stay at a ryokan might seem a little more expensive than your average hotel.

See here for more information on what it is like staying in a ryokan and ryokan ettiquite.

Prices range from about 7,000 JPY and up per person depending on which ryokan you stay in and if your stay includes dinner and or breakfast.

Nishimuraya Hotel Shougetsutei
Yamamotoya
Mikuniya
En
Kobayashiya
Morizuya
Sennen No Yu Koman
Kawaguchiya Kinosaki Riverside
Okeshou
Ookawa
Yamatoya
Yamayoshi
Shinonomesou
Kinsui
Suigou
Tenbouen
Mikiya
Higashiyamasou
Tsubakino
Tajimaya
Matsuya
Shinkameya
Ryokan Sensui
Yuraku
Ichidaya
Seri
Kourakuen
Tsuchiya Annex

Most ryokan offer for free the use of their private bath during your stay, but some ryokan may ask for an additional fee such as Nishimuraya Shogetsutei. Please ask your ryokan for more information regarding prices and times.

-Yuraku
-Higashiyamasou
-Nishimuraya Honkan
-Tokiwabekkan
-Shinonomesou
-Kawaguchiya Kinosaki Riverside
-Sennen No Yu Koman
-Nishimuraya Hotel Shougetsutei
-Terakawa
-Sennen No Yu Gonzaemon

Please directly ask your ryokan to book this type of room if you are interested.

Please check here for details.

Please contact your ryokan directly.

Please contact our team.

Please ask your accommodation for assistance.

Most of the ryokan start to open bookings 4 to 6 months in advance. If you are searching for a room beyond this time frame, please try again closer to your desired check-in date.

Please contact your accommodation directly.

Please first select the number of adults for your booking and then click whichever open date you would like to book on the accommodation calendar.

The next page will then show options to add children to your booking.

Please note some accommodations do not accept child guests.

Bicycle rentals

Please check our events page for the most updated information.

Dates for many events in the area are decided within about 2 months of the event start, but here is a general schedule.

March: First Day of the Horse Festival

April: Tanto Tulip Festival, Onsen Festival

May: Toyooka Music Festival, Takeno Beach Kitamae Festival

June: Cabbage Festival

July: Kinosaki Fireworks, Takeno Beach Fireworks Show, Hidaka Summer Festival

August: Kinosaki and Izushi Bon Odori Dance, Kinosaki Fireworks, Kinosaki Lantern Festival, Toyooka Yanagi Matsuri, Izushi Atago Fire Festival, Tanto Sunflower Festival

September: Toyooka Theater Festival

October: Kinosaki and Izushi Fall Danjiri Festivals

November: Ankokuji Temple Fall Foliage, Izushi Castle Festival, Crab Festival

December: Kinosaki Crab Santa

Check our activity list on this page.

Then fill out the request form and submit it. Our team will be in touch soon afterwards.

Yes, please book here.

The ski resorts open from the end of December or beginning of January until the end of March, but it depends on the snow. Please check the weather forecast before visiting.

Depending on the weather, it is possible that the slopes close, even during the winter season.
To check if the ski resorts are running, please check their websites:
–Up Kannabe
–Manba
–Oku Kannabe
(The latest updates might only be in Japanese, so please use Google translate)

Yes, snow tires are necessary when it snows.

Please click this link for more details.