Japan
Kansai
Beyond Kyoto and Nara, Kansai runs from the cities of Osaka and Kobe north through the Tamba hills to the Sea of Japan, where Kinosaki is the classic hot-spring town, its guests walking between the public baths in yukata.
Our places are in the country rather than the cities: Nishimuraya Honkan in the middle of Kinosaki, and Mameya, a black-soybean merchant's houses in the castle town of Sasayama, let to one party a night. We know 2 places to stay here, 1 of them a ryokan.
How to choose
For a classic hot-spring town
Nishimuraya Honkan: kaiseki in your room and a free pass to Kinosaki's public baths
For a house of your own
Mameya: the whole villa, for up to six, in Sasayama's castle town
When to go
Kinosaki is at its best from November to March, the season for Matsuba crab, when snow sometimes falls; Sasayama is best in autumn, when the black soybeans are harvested in October.
How long
One night in Kinosaki, and one in Sasayama on the way, from Kyoto or Osaka.
Getting there
Limited expresses reach Kinosaki Onsen in about 2 hours 30 minutes from Kyoto and 2 hours 40 minutes from Osaka, and the Konotori from Osaka stops at Sasayamaguchi in about an hour; from Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka first. Osaka Itami airport is about an hour by car from Sasayama, with flights on to Tajima airport, about 30 minutes from Kinosaki.
Ready to stay here?
Tell us where and when. Our team in Japan books the room we would choose, at the inn’s own rate, settles your requests with the inn, and stays in touch before and during your stay. Price and cancellation terms are confirmed with you first.
Already have an itinerary in mind?
Have it reviewed for USD 85Ryokans and hotels
Also in Kansai, from our guide
Hotels we have stayed in that are not on our own Japan list, most of them international brands. Each opens its page in the guide.
On our wishlist
Hotels we have yet to stay in but want to, and book for clients. Ask us about any of them.
Sample trips through Kansai
Routes we have drawn up that stay in Kansai: starting points for a trip we build around your dates and pace.
Collections for Kansai
Elsewhere in Japan
Q&A
By Kinosaki's own rule, rooms there have no hot-spring water: you bathe in the inn's baths and the town's public ones. Nishimuraya Honkan has three shared hot-spring baths and gives a free pass to Kinosaki's public baths, and some of its rooms have an open-air bath of ordinary water.
By limited express, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Kyoto or 2 hours 40 minutes from Osaka. From the station, Nishimuraya Honkan is 15 to 20 minutes' walk, or the ryokan association's free shuttle meets certain trains.
Nishimuraya Honkan takes guests 10 and over only. Mameya welcomes children with an adult, though some plans set an age limit.