Kinosaki Onsen: a deep dive into a traditional Hot Spring Village

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 19 July 2026

We continue our journey through Japan with a visit to Kinosaki Onsen, one of Japan’s most iconic hot spring towns. It is renowned for its traditional onsens, ryokans, and peaceful atmosphere. Here, you can stroll around in a yukata (lightweight traditional garment) and geta (wooden sandals). This experience is one of our fondest memories, even though not everything went perfectly.

So, in this article, find out what to do in Kinosaki Onsen and how to make the most of your experience in the heart of Japanese culture. Plus, read Kiki’s review—she visited an onsen for the first time and followed every step to the letter (and she’ll share them with you). 

Where is Kinosaki Onsen located?

Kinosaki Onsen, more commonly known as Kinosaki, is located in Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture, north of Kyoto and Osaka. It is about 130 km from Kyoto, 150 km from Osaka, and 120 km from Kobe.

To be precise, Kinosaki Onsen is actually a hot spring district within the city of Toyooka.

While you’re in Kinosaki, be sure to take a stroll through the streets and pop into the shops. It’s a really pleasant experience, and you’ll find souvenirs as well as many traditional Japanese products.

Why visit Kinosaki Onsen ?

Kinosaki Onsen is known for its seven public baths, called onsen, scattered throughout the neighborhood. The experience is based on a simple concept: strolling from bath to bath in traditional attire. In fact, it is one of the few towns in Japan where wearing a yukata in public is not only accepted but encouraged.

However, visiting Kinosaki isn’t just about relaxing in hot springs. You’ll also come across temples.

Visit Kinosaki’s 7 Iconic Onsen

An onsen is a Japanese bath fed by a natural hot spring, often rich in minerals. But beyond the bath itself, it is above all a relaxing experience deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

An onsen generally consists of several areas:

• The locker rooms, separated by gender
• The washing area, with small stools, showers, and buckets
• The hot spring pool, either indoor or outdoor. The water is often very hot (around 40–42 °C) and slightly cloudy or steaming due to the minerals.

In Kinosaki, you’ll find 7 onsens:

• Goshono-yu
• Ichino-yu 
• Mandara-yu
• Yanagi-yu 
• Jizō-yu
• Satono-yu
• Kōno-yu 

During our visit to Kinosaki, we went to two onsens: Ichino-yu and Jizo-yu. But the experience wasn’t very satisfying. After all, the main goal is to fully enjoy the onsens in peace, without paying attention to the other people there. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case because of the behavior of some tourists, who were staring at the other visitors. In short, it ruined the experience for me.

You should also consider how crowded the onsens in Kinosaki might be. In fact, when you arrive at a public onsen, there’s a screen showing the current number of visitors in real time. You can also check this website for a map of the onsens and the current number of visitors.

Is it possible to visit all seven onsen in one day? Yes. Is that the goal? I don’t know, because personally, after two, that’s definitely enough. And to be honest, I definitely preferred the onsen at our ryokan, which was much less crowded.

Staying at a Ryokan in Kinosaki

If you’re planning a visit to Kinosaki, the best option is definitely to stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. By the way, it’s worth noting that most ryokans include access to the seven onsens as part of your stay. You’ll be given a pass when you check in at your ryokan. 

And so we spent two nights at the Onishiya Suishoen ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen.

When we arrived, we were given a yukata to wear while getting around the hotel (and even in Kinosaki) and during meals. Geta were also available, but let’s be honest—it’s hard to walk in them!

In addition, the room is decorated in a traditional Japanese style with tatami mats and futons. Is it comfortable? No. Do you have a sore back the next morning? Surprisingly, no! In fact, the staff sets up the futon at the end of the day and takes it away the next morning while you’re having breakfast, even if you’re staying for two nights. 

There’s also a private onsen that we really enjoyed for its tranquility, beauty, and amenities.

In addition, for dinner, a kaiseki meal is served in a dedicated dining room. It consists of several (many) small dishes, each carefully presented. 

Similarly, in the morning, breakfast is served in the peaceful atmosphere of the ryokan. Before you lies a selection of small dishes carefully arranged: rice, grilled fish, miso soup, and pickled vegetables.

I guarantee you won’t be hungry afterward! Do you need a strong stomach? Yes! Did I have a strong stomach? No! 

What is the best time of year to visit Kinosaki Onsen ?

You can visit Kinosaki at any time of year and enjoy the charm of each season:

• Winter: a magical atmosphere, snow, and crab season
• Spring: Cherry Blossoms Along the Canal
• Fall: vibrant colors and mild weather
• Summer: Festivals and Fireworks

We went to Kinosaki in early October—in the fall—and the weather was perfect.

How to get to Kinosaki Onsen?

You can travel to Kinosaki by train from Kyoto or Osaka (about 2 hours and 30 minutes). Kinosaki Onsen Station is located right in the heart of the village. You won’t need a car once you’re there, since you can get around on foot.

How long to stay in Kinosaki Onsen?

After visiting Tokyo, taking a trip to Hakone to see Mount Fuji, and spending several action-packed days in Kyoto, we spent a day in Nara with its deer, then stayed two nights at a ryokan in Kinosaki before visiting Osaka. It was the perfect amount of time to immerse ourselves in Japanese culture and take the time to slow down! In short, we recommend staying two days in Kinosaki.

To help you plan your trip to Japan as effectively as possible, you can also read my article on tips for your first trip to Japan.

Visit Kinosaki Onsen: Kiki’s review

Dear readers (both men and women), here is the ultimate guide for all men who, at the mere thought of bathing naked with other men, come up with a thousand excuses not to do it. Kiki found himself in exactly the same situation. So it’s time to give you guys some specific instructions on how to behave in a Japanese public bath, an onsen.

Preparation: take off your clothes!

The good news is that, aside from a bath towel, you don’t need to bring anything else. Usually, you take off your shoes before entering the changing rooms. Of course, there are no changing rooms, just small lockers where you can store your clothes. And no, swimsuits are definitely not allowed (save yourself the trouble of asking that silly question at the front desk). Sometimes, small towels are provided that you can take with you. Kiki isn’t exactly sure what they’re for. But then, you head into the baths completely naked.

Showers: privacy? No.

Shower stalls? No. You sit on small stools, side by side with other men, and scrub yourself thoroughly. Very thoroughly. Everywhere. Japan takes hygiene very seriously—really, very seriously. Soap is provided—use it generously. It’s perfectly normal to take a long shower. No one is watching, no one is judging. Everyone is focused on themselves (or at least trying to be).

Swimming: act as if you don’t care about others

Yes, let’s not beat around the bush: of course, Kiki found himself discreetly checking out what the competition had to offer. But here, the rule is this: stay on your guard—at least in the men-only area, where you can really be at ease. Everyone ignores everyone else. It was very rare for two men who knew each other to chat in hushed tones. But generally speaking, you keep quiet and suffer. Because the water is scalding hot. You probably have no idea what it feels like to plunge your private parts into boiling water. It’s a test of character. A silent inner scream.

After the bath: get dressed as quickly as possible 

After spending some time in the various baths, you’ll head back to the changing room, your face bright red and completely steamed. It’s best to take a quick cold shower before getting dressed, even if it might have a visually unflattering effect on that part of your body—you know what I mean. For us guys, all we have to do then is dry off, get dressed, and we’re done. For women, though, that’s just the start of the epic finale: drying their hair, applying skincare products, putting on makeup—a never-ending ordeal for us guys.

Kiki and Sophie are already planning another trip to Japan. And of course, they’ll choose their hotels based on whether or not they have an onsen. You’ll see—by the second time at the latest, you’ll love this Japanese tradition!