More beautiful views and things to do in Hyogo’s best onsen town!
For this trip, we stayed at Mikiya. With over 300 years of history, Mikiya is one of the oldest ryokan in all of Kinosaki.
Mikiya is also famous as the lodging that notable Taisho period novelist Shiga Naoya stayed at for months at a time. He even wrote a novel featuring the town called “Kinosaki ni te”. The room is preserved as it was during his stay.
Longtime readers won’t have to guess what dinner is at a Kinosaki ryokan – of course, a Japanese-style multicourse meal featuring crab and other delicacies from the Sea of Japan.
Many Kinosaki visitors go out for a stroll around town and another dip in the baths after dinner.
It’s fun to see everyone wandering around after dark in their yukata, and there are plenty little places to amuse oneself. Kinosaki is anachronistic in some ways, and one of the most fun things you can do at night is go to an arcade – not a video game arcade, but an old-fashioned arcade with manual (!) pinball, target shooting, and other entertainments from days gone by.
After a final dip in the baths, return to Mikiya to sleep in fluffy futons. In the morning, a hearty Japanese-style breakfast awaits you.
When the weather is nice, wandering around town is the perfect way to learn how to have a non-goal-oriented vacation (for once!).
You might encounter Onsenji, or “hot springs temple”, an entire Buddhist temple dedicated to hot springs.
Behind the temple is a ropeway that takes visitors up the mountains that surround the town.
Some beautiful mountain views await at the top.
There is also a hiking trail, so you could always decide to descend the mountain the old-fashioned way. (Or ascend, if you are particularly energetic.)
Exploring the rest of the town will reveal lots of interesting sights. So take it slow!
Mikiya
Hours: Check-in: 2 PM – 5 PM. Check-out: 10 AM.
Address: 487 Yushima Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo 669-6101
Telephone: 0796-32-2031
E-mail: https://kinosaki-mikiya.sakura.ne.jp/contact/
Website: http://www.kinosaki-mikiya.jp/en/ (English)
How To Get There
Kinosaki Onsen
From Kobe Sannomiya, take the JR special express train “Hamakaze” to Kinosaki Onsen Station (2.5 hours). Three “Hamakaze” trains depart per day, so we recommend buying tickets ahead of time, especially during the busy winter season.
From the station, a free shuttle bus will take you to the ryokan.
