Hi there. It’s Mr. Wada back on duty. I would like to show you around Kinosaki Onsen (hot springs) this time.
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!