Kinosaki Onsen is a charmingly old-fashioned onsen resort located in northern Hyogo Prefecture by the Sea of Japan coast, around 2.5 hours from Kyoto and Osaka. This onsen resort area was discovered around 1,300 years ago and is one of the top onsen destinations of Kansai region. Kinosaki retains its old charm with traditional buildings lining a beautiful canal that runs through the town and attracts both Japanese and foreign visitors seeking to experience a piece of history and culture.
Kinosaki is known for its seven public bathhouses (Kouno-Yu, Mandara-Yu, Goshono-Yu, Ichino-Yu, Yanagi-Yu, Jizou-Yu and Satono-Yu) within a walking distance of each other. A handy pass called the Yumepa gives its holders unlimited one-day access to all seven springs. Visitors can stroll from hot spring to hot spring while wearing yukata (a light kimono) and geta (wooden clogs) for a traditional onsen-feeling experience. more
Kinosaki is known for its seven public bathhouses (Kouno-Yu, Mandara-Yu, Goshono-Yu, Ichino-Yu, Yanagi-Yu, Jizou-Yu and Satono-Yu) within a walking distance of each other. A handy pass called the Yumepa gives its holders unlimited one-day access to all seven springs. Visitors can stroll from hot spring to hot spring while wearing yukata (a light kimono) and geta (wooden clogs) for a traditional onsen-feeling experience. more
It doesn’t take long to get across town, but if you need a break, you can also enjoy the free footbaths along the way.
Located within the city limits of Kobe and just an hour from Osaka, Arima Onsen is one of the most popular hot spring resorts in Kansai region and one of the oldest in Japan. It was mentioned since the 8th century AD in many documents and was visited several times in the 16th century by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The town lies in a natural mountain setting behind Mount Rokko and attracts many Japanese who look for silence within beautiful natural surroundings.
Although Arima Onsen has a modern look today, you can still find several narrow paths and wooden buildings when strolling around the town. This small town can be explored entirely on foot and offers its guests several hot spring sources, nice temples and shrines and a small hot spring museum to be discovered. It has two types of hot spring waters that spring up from various sources around the town: the Kinsen ("gold water") which is coloured brown, more
Although Arima Onsen has a modern look today, you can still find several narrow paths and wooden buildings when strolling around the town. This small town can be explored entirely on foot and offers its guests several hot spring sources, nice temples and shrines and a small hot spring museum to be discovered. It has two types of hot spring waters that spring up from various sources around the town: the Kinsen ("gold water") which is coloured brown, more
has iron deposits and is said to be good for skin ailments and muscle pain and the Ginsen ("silver water") which is clear, contains radium and carbonate and is said to cure various muscle and joint ailments. There are a number of hot spring ryokan and two public bathhouses where visitors can enjoy hot spring bathing in Arima. The larger of Arima Onsen's two public bathhouses, Kin-no-Yu features two indoor “gold water” baths of varying temperatures for each gender, while the smaller one, Gin-no-Yu has one large indoor bath for each gender with clear “silver water”. Several ryokan open their baths to non-staying visitors as well during the day.
Katsuura Onsen is a hot spring resort located on the southeast coast of the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture. It is a fishing port turned into a hot spring resort and can be the right place for those who would like to enjoy picturesque natural scenery created by the ocean and islands.
There are many hot spring baths, including unique rotenburo (open-air baths), located throughout the village. They are almost entirely located in hotels, ryokan, etc. but most of them are also available for day-trippers. The most dominated landmark in Katsuura is Urashima Hotel located on an island-like peninsula in Katsuura Bay that offers seven baths scattered throughout the facility, one of which is in a cave overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima Ryokan that has a wonderful outdoor rotenburo bath with a bay view is also worth visiting. more
There are many hot spring baths, including unique rotenburo (open-air baths), located throughout the village. They are almost entirely located in hotels, ryokan, etc. but most of them are also available for day-trippers. The most dominated landmark in Katsuura is Urashima Hotel located on an island-like peninsula in Katsuura Bay that offers seven baths scattered throughout the facility, one of which is in a cave overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima Ryokan that has a wonderful outdoor rotenburo bath with a bay view is also worth visiting. more
Katsuura is located not far from Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine designated a World Heritage Site.
Shirahama Onsen is a historical hot spring ranked both as one of the three largest and oldest hot spring resorts of Japan. Some records attest the visit of Shirahama Onsen by the emperor from the sixth to eighth centuries. It is a well-developed popular onsen resort 100 km south of Osaka in Wakayama Prefecture that comes with a white sand beach, coastal rock formations and several amusement parks. The name Shirahama means "white beach" in Japanese and refers to the 800-metre long sand beach, which is the other major attraction of the resort.
Shirahama Onsen has great open-air and footbaths and hot spring hopping is part of the fun. Many large hotels are around the beach and you can enjoy the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean right by the open-air bath. Six bathhouses with hot spring baths are also open to the public, more
Shirahama Onsen has great open-air and footbaths and hot spring hopping is part of the fun. Many large hotels are around the beach and you can enjoy the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean right by the open-air bath. Six bathhouses with hot spring baths are also open to the public, more
but most of them only have indoor facilities. Two of them that have outdoor baths, the coastal Saki-no-Yu and Shirasuna on the sand beach, are of particular interest to visitors. Depending on the hotel or hot spring facility, you will find hot springs with various qualities. The main hot springs are sodium chloride, simple hypertonic springs and alkalescent hypertonic springs. They are thought to relieve muscle pains, joint pains, improve blood flow and help cure chronic skin problems.