Kinosaki Onsen Travel Guide: Walk to All 7 Public Bathhouses and Enjoy the Charming Streets

From Tokyo to Kinosaki Onsen: 4 hours 40 minutes.
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Shinkansen Nozomi to Kyoto Station.
Transfer to the Limited Express Kinosaki, and you’ll arrive at Kinosaki Onsen Station in Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes.

From Osaka to Kinosaki Onsen: 2 hours 40 minutes.
From Osaka Station, you can reach Kinosaki Onsen Station directly on the Limited Express Kounotori, with no transfers.

From Nagoya Station to Kinosaki Onsen Station: 3 hours.
From Nagoya Station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto Station.
Transfer to the Limited Express Kinosaki, and you’ll arrive at Kinosaki Onsen Station in Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes.

Located near the center of the hot spring town, Ichino-yu is a symbolic presence in Kinosaki.
Its highlight is the cave bath, where soaking surrounded by natural rock surfaces feels truly blissful.

In the mid-Edo period, Ichino-yu was called Arayu (“New Bath”), but in Ippondo Yakusen, written by the renowned doctor Kagawa Shūtoku, it was described as “Kinosaki’s New Bath is the best in the land.”
Praised as the best hot spring, Arayu was later renamed Ichino-yu.
Known as a bath for good luck and fortune, it’s said to bring blessings such as traffic safety and success in exams.

Goshono-yu stands out for its beautiful building.
It was named after its connection to Emperor Go-Horikawa, who appears in the historical tale Masukagami from the Nanboku-cho period.
Soaking in the open-air bath while looking at the powerful waterfall flowing through the outdoor area is truly soothing.
Also known as a “bath for good relationships and beauty,” it’s especially popular with women.

There’s a legend that the monk Dochi Shonin chanted sutras for 1,000 days, and when his wish was fulfilled, a sacred hot spring welled up—marking the beginning of Kinosaki Onsen. Because of that Buddhist connection, it was named Mandara-yu.
Also called the “one wish in a lifetime” bath, it’s said to bring blessings for prosperous business and a bountiful harvest.

Jizo-yu features a simple, modern exterior.
It’s said to have gotten its name because a Jizo statue emerged from the spring source here.
The Jizo that gave the bath its name is enshrined in the courtyard.
In addition to a large bath, the second floor also has family baths and a spacious lounge, making it ideal for families to relax.
As a bath said to bring salvation to all living beings, it offers blessings for family safety.

Loved by many, Kouno-yu is especially popular for its garden open-air bath.
There’s a legend that a stork with an injured leg was healing there—and when people looked closely, they found hot spring water bubbling up.
Another story says a pair of storks healed their injured legs here, and Kouno-yu is said to bring blessings for a happy marriage.

Though it’s the smallest of the public bathhouses, it has a charming atmosphere.
The deep bath with hotter water and the warmth of the wooden bathhouse make it deeply relaxing.
It was named Yanagi-yu because a willow tree was transplanted from West Lake, a famous scenic spot in China, and hot spring water began to well up beneath it—bringing blessings for safe childbirth and fertility.

Satono-yu is the newest public bathhouse in Kinosaki Onsen.
It features both an exotic Western-style bath and a Japanese-style bath, plus a dry sauna, mist sauna, and a warmly heated room with an aromatic scent—well-equipped all around.
From the open-air bath overlooking the Maruyama River, you may even spot the Oriental stork, a Special Natural Monument of Japan.

At the Kinosaki Ropeway, you can enjoy an Approx. 7-minute ride up to the summit of Mt. Daishiyama (231 m above sea level).
From the mountaintop observation deck, you’ll get sweeping views of Kinosaki’s townscape and the Sea of Japan.
At the cafe terrace, sip delicious coffee and take in the area’s lush natural scenery—quite a different charm from the hot spring town.
You can also try “kawara nage,” a ritual where you toss and break unglazed pottery plates to ward off bad luck.

At the Straw Craft Museum, more than 200 works are on display, including pieces by modern artisans and works from the Edo period through the Showa era.
Straw craft is a traditional art made using barley straw to create intricate designs on paulownia boxes and shikishi boards, and it has been designated an Intangible Cultural Property—making it a rare and valuable art form.
The beautiful building itself—featuring a white-walled earthen storehouse preserved as-is—is also one of the highlights.

The Kinosaki Literary Museum features exhibits on writers connected to Kinosaki Onsen.
It includes permanent exhibitions introducing the relationship between Kinosaki Onsen and the writers who shaped modern literature alongside novelist Naoya Shiga, as well as exhibit corners that explain the history of Kinosaki Onsen.
There’s also a footbath beside the entrance, making it a very Kinosaki-style spot where you can enjoy literature while having fun.
Because so many writers have visited, Kinosaki Onsen is also known as a “town of literature.”

A riverside hotel nestled along the Otani River that runs through Kinosaki Onsen.
Fill up on seasonal Tajima specialties, then unwind in the scenic open-air bath with a view.
Another nice perk: the yukata rental corner lets you choose your favorite yukata and accessories from a wide range of designs.
Head out in your chosen look to enjoy sotoyu hopping and a stroll through the hot spring town.

A ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen, one of Japan’s leading hot spring destinations, said to have Approx. 1,400 years of history and tradition.
Its Japanese-style, three-story wooden design matches the charming townscape, and it consists of two buildings: the main building and an annex.
The star of its cuisine is, of course, crab. From spring to fall it serves Kasumi crab, and in winter it serves Matsuba crab, so you can enjoy exquisite locally landed flavors throughout the year.

Kinosaki Onsen is a charming hot spring town with over 1,300 years of history.
Kinosaki Onsen Tokiwa Bekkan sits quietly a short distance from the bustle of the onsen town. A ryokan that originally stood in the town was moved to its current location and renewed into a relaxing space surrounded by gardens.
With only 23 rooms on a 1,200-tsubo property, you can enjoy Kinosaki’s waters at an unhurried pace in a spacious setting.

Matsuba crab is the brand name for snow crab (male) caught in the San’in region, and it’s considered the gold standard of premium snow crab.
Among them, Tsuiyama crab is an even rarer, more luxurious brand, landed at Kinosaki Tsuiyama Fishing Port.
Crab season runs from early November through the end of March each year, and you should try it in different preparations—sashimi, boiled, grilled, and more.
Enjoy Tsuiyama crab—packed with sweet, rich meat—to your heart’s content in Kinosaki Onsen.

Tajima beef is often considered the original brand wagyu.
This Hyogo Prefecture Japanese Black beef is known for its vivid pinkish-red color and fine, white marbling.
Its natural umami, distinctive aroma, and smooth texture make it an ultimate indulgence.
If you visit Kinosaki, it’s one gourmet experience you’ll want to try—even if it means splurging a bit.

Izushi sara soba is a traditional soba style that focuses on freshly milled, freshly made, and freshly boiled noodles, served as five small plates per person.
Its signature is soba served on small white plates.
It’s also a nice touch that a variety of toppings are served, such as egg, grated yam, green onion, grated daikon, and wasabi.
It’s also recommended to dissolve egg into the rich bonito-and-kelp broth and dip your soba into it.
Each restaurant decorates the small plates with its own original designs, and seeing what picture appears after you finish eating is part of the fun.
It’s a local specialty of Izushi, located near Kinosaki Onsen—so try it while exploring the area and enjoy its fragrant soba.

A spacious-feeling aquarium facing the Sea of Japan, offering a variety of sea-themed experiences.
With daily performance shows and an area where you can catch horse mackerel and eat it on the spot, it’s packed with unique attractions you won’t find elsewhere.

Genbudo Park is a sightseeing spot known for its impressive caves with “columnar joints.”
“Columnar joints” are hexagonal pillars formed when magma that flowed down from the mountaintop during volcanic activity 1.6 million years ago cooled and solidified.
The five caves and sheer cliffs—Genbudo, Seiryudo, Byakkodo, Minami-Suzakudo, and Kita-Suzakudo—are designated as a National Natural Monument.
The museum at Genbudo Park displays over Approx. 2,500 minerals, fossils, and unusual stones, making it a fun way to learn about rocks. Enjoy powerful nature and art.

Established in 1999, the Hyogo Prefectural Homeland for the Oriental White Stork is a comprehensive facility dedicated to protecting, breeding, and rewilding the Oriental stork, designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan.
Visitors can observe the captive storks in the public area, and you can see them up close while walking along the paths.