The Best Ryokans in Kinosaki Onsen 

Looking for the best Ryokans in Kinosaki Onsen? This guide will take you through options for every budget, with many featuring a private onsen.

Kinosaki Onsen, located around 2.5 hours from Kyoto, makes for one of the best onsen overnight stays. Acting as “one big Ryokan“, the town works together to create a magical atmosphere.

At night, the streets are filled with people wearing yukata and wooden geta sandals. The click-clacking of the sandals fills the air, while people use their free onsen passes to hop from one of the seven public baths to the next.

Kinosaki Onsen has easily turned into one of my favourite spots in Japan, but to get the full experience (onsen hopping, kaiseki dinner and more), it’s best to stay at least one night. Especially since it takes 2–3 hours from Kyoto or Osaka to get here, you want to give yourself enough time to enjoy all it’s got to offer.

The town has over 70 different Ryokan, most of which are run and owned by locals who were born and raised here. To help you decide where to stay in Kinosaki Onsen, I’ve put together this guide with some of the best options!

About Staying in Kinosaki Onsen

Kinosaki Onsen is often referred to as one of the best onsen towns in Japan. I’ve been to quite a few in my travels, and I have to say that Kinosaki Onsen has easily become my personal favourite too.

The cosy town offers an authentic Japanese experience, far away from the big crowded cities. Kinosaki Onsen has seven public bathhouses, scattered across the two main streets. You can easily walk between them, even while wearing the traditional wooden geta sandals.

On top of that, the town is very foreigner-friendly. Not only are there English signs pretty much anywhere, but all seven public bathhouses are tattoo-friendly (which isn’t the case for most onsen in Japan!). No matter the size of your tattoo, you’ll be allowed to bathe in them.

If you’re staying in one of the Ryokans in Kinosaki Onsen, you’ll be given a free Onsen Pass. With this pass, you can enter the seven public baths for free. You can use it until 3 PM of the day you check out. The Ryokans will

Some of the Ryokans here also have a public or private bath for guests, meaning you can enjoy even more onsen during your stay here. Plus, it’s the best way to try the local cuisine. Staying in a Ryokan comes with dinner and breakfast.

Typically, it’s a kaiseki dinner. This consists of multiple courses and dishes made from the finest local and seasonal ingredients. And seeing that Kinosaki Onsen is located in Hyogo Prefecture, you can expect some of the best beef (Tajima beef).

Kinosaki Onsen is also close to the ocean, meaning fresh seafood. If you happen to visit between November and March, you can also try Snow Crab. This local delicacy is incredibly popular and can only be enjoyed during the colder months. They are freshly caught in the morning, ready for you to enjoy for dinner!

Check out my in-depth Kinosaki Onsen itinerary with more information about the town and a handy 2-day itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.

Where to Stay in Kinosaki Onsen

Without further ado, here are the best ryokans in Kinosaki Onsen:

1. Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei

• Public and three reservable private onsen
• 23-minute walk from station, free shuttle bus available
• Western and Japanese rooms available (some with private onsen)

When I visited Kinosaki Onsen, I stayed at Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei. Located in the woods by Mount Kuruhi, this Ryokan offers 98 spacious Japanese- and Western-style rooms, public and private hot spring baths, delicious Kaiseki dinner and more.

I stayed in one of their Japanese-style rooms. It was beautiful! We had a little table to relax at, which was put to the side and replaced with comfy futons while we were out enjoying the town’s onsen.

The public baths at this ryokan are free for all guests and are open until 00:30 every day. As the last public onsen in Kinosaki Onsen closes around 11 PM, you can go back here to enjoy one last soak (that’s what I did!).

And they are beautiful! Both male and female baths come with an indoor and outdoor bath, along with a Jacuzzi and mist sauna. I absolutely loved the outdoor bath, as it’s located in a lovely garden with large rocks making out the onsen bath.

On top of that, this ryokan has three private open-air baths that can be reserved at an additional fee. The Japanese-style, Balinese-style and Chinese-style baths all come with a rock sauna, mineral water and some sparkling wine for you to enjoy.

I got to try the Japanese-style bath on the morning of our stay, and it was bliss. Super relaxing, and really nice to enjoy the bath in private.

The on-site restaurant is another reason to stay here. Using local and fresh ingredients, Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei puts together the finest Kaisaki dinner. If you’re visiting between November and March, you can also opt for the special snow crab dinner – a Kinosaki speciality. Plus, Tajima Beef is served year-round.

The breakfast buffet gives you a ton of choices too. From Western-style dishes to your more traditional Japanese-style breakfast, you’ll be spoiled for choice. It’s great to see there was so much variety, especially if you’ve been travelling around Japan for a few weeks.

A free shuttle bus runs between the Ryokan and the town centre, which is ideal if you want to go onsen-hopping. I took the shuttle into the town but walked back in the evening. It’s not too far from the main street at all! On top of that, the Ryokan provides bikes you can use for free during your stay.

2. Nishimuraya Honkan

• Public and reservable private onsen available
• 13-minute walk from station, free shuttle bus available
• Western and Japanese rooms available (some with private onsen)

A sister accommodation of Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei, Nishimuraya Honkan is one of the most beautiful Ryokans in Kinosaki Onsen. In the past, Lonely Planet named it the best Ryokan in Japan. Only a short walk from popular attractions in town including Kinosaki Ropeway and Kinosaki Museum.

Boasting 160 years of history, a gorgeous design, and world-class service, this Ryokan is a top pick. Here, you can enjoy a charming Japanese garden, a gallery full of traditional artwork, and free bicycle rentals.

At Nishimuraya Honkan, you can choose from a variety of Japanese-style rooms, some of which sleep up to 6 people. They feature a private bathroom, air conditioning, free WiFi, and a flat-screen TV.

You’ll have breakfast and dinner included in your stay and the property has stunning hot spring baths that you can enjoy. In true Kinosaki Onsen fashion, they serve the popular snow crab between November and March.

Guests at this Ryokan can also reserve the private onsen in Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei (10-minute walk, or free shuttle bus), as this is their sister property. Keep in mind that this does come at an additional fee.

3. Sensui

• Three reservable private onsen
• 5-minute walk from station, free shuttle bus available
• Western and Japanese rooms available

Sensui is just a 5-minute walk from JR Kinosaki Onsen Train Station, but there’s also a free shuttle available. That puts you in a great location for exploring the area – plus, it’s one of the more affordable options in Kinosaki Onsen.

At this Ryokan, there are a variety of Japanese-style rooms to choose from. There’s a shared bathroom for guests to use, but each room does have a private toilet.

While it doesn’t have a public onsen, you can reserve one of the three private onsen baths at Sensui. Of course, you’ll also be given the free onsen pass to enjoy the seven public baths in Kinosaki Onsen too.

You can enjoy a traditional multi-course dinner, where you’ll try local dishes such as Tajima beef and snow crab. Sensui also offers free WiFi, free parking, and drinks vending machines.

4. 城崎温泉 但馬屋-Tajimaya

• Three reservable private onsen
• 10-minute walk from station, free shuttle bus available
• Japanese rooms available

Finally, there’s 城崎温泉 但馬屋-Tajimaya. This is another top option if you’re after a Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen with a private bath! 

If you stay here, you’ll be just a short walk from the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway, where you’ll be treated to scenic views of the area and the Japanese Sea. The property also offers a free shuttle to and from JR Kinosaki Station.

The hot spring baths on-site are beautiful and in a stunning setting, with ambient lighting. In-room massages can even be arranged, making it the perfect spot for a relaxing getaway.

The Japanese-style rooms at this Ryokan sleep up to 4 people. You can also enjoy a traditional multi-course dinner that features regional dishes, including Tajima beef and snow crab.

Another great thing about this Ryokan is that it offers rental bicycles, a 24-hour front desk, a souvenir shop, and drinks vending machines.

Conclusion – The Best Ryokans in Kinosaki Onsen

Despite it being a small town, Kinosaki Onsen has over 70 Ryokans to choose from, making it difficult to pick the perfect one for your stay.

Think about what your needs are for this stay. Do you want a private onsen option? How far away from the train station can it be? Do you want Western-style beds or futons?

Hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of the top options. Whether you’re after a more affordable Ryokan or something luxurious, this charming town has some great options.

If you’ve stayed in another Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen that you think deserves a spot on this list, please let me know in the comments below so I can try it out on my next visit!