Kinosaki Onsen Town in Hyogo
Hi there. It’s Mr. Wada back on duty. I would like to show you around Kinosaki Onsen (hot springs) this time.
Contents
About Kinosaki Onsen Town
Kinosaki town is one of the most popular hot spring resorts in Toyooka city, a Northern part of Hyogo prefecture (including Arima onsen). Hot springs (onsen) have been running since Heian era (794-1185).
Walking around in Yukata (easy kimono) seems fancy.
Seven Drop-in Hot Springs in Kinosaki Onsen Town
There are 7 major drop-in onsens in town. This day pass (available at every onsen place at 1,200 yen) allows you to enter these 7 places which is reasonable since each place costs from 600 yen. To tell the truth, we couldn’t make it to all the 7 places. 2 or 3 would be good enough for a day unless you push yourself…..very hard. Most of them open at 10-ish but some open in the afternoon. Check the latest information on the official website.
Goshono-yu
The newest. As you see in pictures, it looks like a temple or shrine. It got a very nice views in the rotenburo (outdoor bath). I like staying in warm bath in the cold like that.
Name | Goshono-yu (御所の湯) |
Access | 448 Yushima, Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo |
Business Hours | 7:00 – 23:00 Closed: The first and third Thursdays |
Admission | Adult: 800 yen Child: 400 yen |
Ichino-yu
Ichino-yu stands in the middle of the town, so you won’t miss it. It looks like the most popular place and it was indeed great. The cave onsen is worth a visit. Not as complicated as the cave onsen in Kurokawa though still neat.
Name | Ichino-yu (一の湯) |
Access | 415-1 Kinosakichō Yushima, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo |
Business Hours | 7:00 – 23:00 Closed: Wednesdays |
Admission | Adult: 600 yen Child: 300 yen |
Kono-yu
Probably it was named after Kono-tori (storks). It is believed that soaking in this onsen bring you good luck for relationships, well-being and happiness etc. I found it relaxing since it is a little isolated from other places.
Name | Kono-yu (鴻の湯) |
Access | 610 Kinosakichō Yushima, Toyooka-shi, Hyōgo-ken |
Business Hours | 7:00 – 23:00 Closed: Tuesdays |
Admission | Adult: 600 yen Child: 300 yen |
Mandarayu
Note that this place opens at 15:00. Later than others. So what makes this place special is rotenburo (out door onsen) of two buckets! A grown up is big enough for each . Interesting but I strongly suggest to avoid rush hour.
Name | Mandara-yu (まんだら湯) |
Access | 565 Yushima Shirosakicho, Toyooka-shi, Hyōgo-ken |
Business Hours | 15:00 – 23:00 Closed: Wednesdays |
Admission | Adult: 600 yen Child: 300 yen |
Yanagi-yu
You may or may not notice such a little bath house (cute in other words). It is said that its hot springs blew from under the Willow trees brought from China.
Name | Yanagi-yu (柳湯) |
Access | 647 Kinosakichō Yushima, Toyooka-shi, Hyōgo-ken |
Business Hours | 15:00 – 23:00 Closed: Thursdays |
Admission | Adult: 600 yen Child: 300 yen |
Jizou-yu
Walk down from the JR Kinosaki Onsen staion and you will see it at the intersection. Apparently it is the most popular bath house among the locals.
Name | Jizou-yu (地蔵湯) |
Access | 796 Kinosakichō Yushima, Toyooka-shi, Hyōgo-ken |
Business Hours | 7:00 – 23:00 Closed: Fridays |
Admission | Adult: 600 yen Child: 300 yen |
Satono-yu
It is located just next to JR Kinosaki Onsen station. It offers free foot bath outside. Unlike its classy looking it is more modern than other places with a herb bath etc. It’d be nice for starters.
Name | Satono-yu (さとの湯) |
Access | 290-36 Kinosakichō Imazu, Toyooka-shi, Hyōgo-ken |
Business Hours | 13:00 – 21:00 Closed: Mondays |
Admission | Adult: 800 yen Child: 400 yen |
Again, for the latest information, please check the official website.
Lastly
How do you find it? It was quite fun. Kinosaki Onsen is foreigner-friendly with tattoos (most of places seemed to accept it). This is probably because there are more foreign tourists in the town lately. Though I saw DIFFERENT types of tattoos as well …(=o=)ooOO
Anyway, see you around!
Glad to see they’ve installed torture devices so that any rogue gopher-human hybrids are taken care of onsite.