Kinosaki Onsen

Known all over Japan for the tranquility of its hot springs, Kinosaki Onsen is the ideal destination for the weary traveler seeking rest and relaxation. Facing the Sea of Japan in the northern most section of Hyogo prefecture, Kinosaki sits at the foot of Mt. Kuruhi and is bordered by the Maruyama river. The town is a mixture of old, wooden, traditional Japanese buildings and modern concrete ones. There are 7 main hot springs, or onsen, and many of the hotels have onsen as well.

Strolling down the street divided by a willow lined creek, you will come across many bridges which connect one side of the creek to the other. This stroll is a great way to unwind and enjoy the small town atmosphere. Along the way, you’ll pass several ice-cream shops with flavors from vanilla to tiramisu to the seasonal favorite: crab. The area is known for its fresh crab and it is highly recommended to try it while you are there, whether in ice-cream form or not. If you are daring enough to try the crab ice-cream, make sure you are there in winter and early spring as it is a seasonal flavor. While walking through town, you will also find a few microbrewery’s making their own beer. Each has a very unique flavor and most shops will offer small samples so you can try them all! Whether it be ice cream, crab, beer, or a very interesting combination of all three, Kinosaki pride itself in making its own unique flavors and food.

In addition to the other food, near the ropeway to the top of Mt. Kuruhi is a shop selling eggs which you can boil in the onsen water for a very unique and delicious flavor. The eggs can be cooked to your liking: 10-minutes for an onsen style egg, 14-minutes for half cooked, and 18- minutes for fully cooked eggs. After you’ve finished your eggs and other food samplings, a hike to the top of the mountain is highly recommended, if you’re up for it. The stairs are not very steep and there are plenty of places to stop for a break. There are several Jizo Bosatsu, small guardian statues, which you can leave money at along the way and pray for good fortune. If you’re not up to hike, there is also a rope way which will take you most of the way up. At the top, there are more Buddhist and Shinto statues, mitarashi dango, and a fantastic view of the valley and ocean below.

The stars of Kinosaki-onsen are obviously the onsen themselves! The 7 main onsen are all a must to experience as they all have slightly different mineral properties. Several locations in town offer pass sets which will allow you to visit every hot spring location. Satono-yu(さとの湯), Ichino-yu(一の湯), Goshiyono- yu(御所の湯), Mandara- yu(まんだら湯), Jizo-yu(地蔵 湯), Kouno-yu(鴻の湯), and Yanagi-yu(柳湯) together form the main onsen of Kinosaki and are known as Soto-yu (外湯). Many of the Ryokan, traditional Japanese inns, offer yukata for their customers to use. A yukata is a style of traditional Japanese clothing which is more casual than the kimono. It is traditional to wear a yukata around a onsen town such as Kinosaki. If you wish to dress up a bit more, a few inns also offer more complex yukata at a small rental fee. These are highly recommended for attending any festivals as they are an integral part of the traditional experience. Walking through town on a busy onsen night, you are likely to hear the clip-clop of wooden geta shoes as visitors make their way to the various bath houses. Whether you intend to enjoy the bath houses themselves or not, the atmosphere around them is sure to relax and intrigue you.