Kinosaki Onsen

Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉) is a popular hot spring town in Kansai. The town is full of ryokans (Japanese style lodge) and hotels that have their own hot spring baths, plus there are 7 public baths around town to enjoy (600-800 yen). Kouno-yu is the oldest and our favourite with its open-air bath, but others are splendid as well and short walks from the station.

Budget travel tips

• Bicycles can be rented from the Tourist Information center outside the station, which is also a good place to visit to decide which hot springs are best for you.
• If you stay at a hotel or ryokan then you will get complimentary tickets for the public hot springs around town, so you don’t need to worry about the cost for these.
• Book hotels as early in advance as possible to avoid super high prices. If you are traveling on a rail pass, consider just coming here for a day trip and then continuing on to your next location.

How to get there

With a Japan Rail Pass or JR West pass

From Osaka, take a Limited Express Konotori to Kinosaki Onsen (2 hours, 50 mins).

From Kyoto, take a Limited Express Kinosaki to Kinosaki Onsen (2 and a half hours).

From Tokyo, first make your way to one of the above on the Shinkansen.

Without a rail pass

From Osaka, take a bus from Umeda station to Kinosaki Onsen (3 hours, 3650 yen). Reservations required at the Zentan Bus stall in Umeda station (ask at Tourist Information Center there for help). Buses to Kinosaki Onsen are at 9:20, 13:20 and 18:20. Buses back are at 7:30, 12:00 and 14:40.

From Tokyo, take a bus with with Willer Bus (eligible for Bus Pass).

Hostels and cheap hotels

Toyooka Green Hotel Morris

A few stops away on the train, this is a reasonable business hotel with small but clean and functional rooms.

More at Booking.com. Please note that most cheap places are not actually in central Kinosaki Onsen, but in the city of Toyooka.