FAQ

People with decorative body tattoos are allowed into the seven public onsen in Kinosaki.
However, some accommodations have different rules regarding their own in-house onsen. Whether or not you can use the onsen at your ryokan or hotel is at their discretion, so please check with them beforehand.

You can take a shuttle bus from the train station to your hotel. The bus is free for people staying at a hotel or ryokan in Kinosaki.
When you arrive at the train station, walk out to the front of the station (there is only one entrance) and you will see staff directing people to the buses. Please tell them what hotel or ryokan you are staying at, they will direct you to your shuttle. If you do not see a staff member you can go over to the information counter for help with the shuttle. The information counter is in front of the station, just across the street to your left.

The shuttle bus does not have an official time schedule, instead it runs in accordance with the arrivals and departures of limited express trains. Generally the bus is available between 12:30pm and 6pm. If you are planning on arriving in Kinosaki later than 5pm, we suggest letting your ryokan/hotel know so that they can arrange to pick you up from the station if needed. There will be staff from the information counter standing in front of the station’s main entrance, they will guide guests to the shuttle bus. Please let them know what ryokan/hotel you will be staying at. If you can not find staff or the shuttle bus after you arrive, walk out of the station and across the street. You will see the “Information Counter” will be to your left.

Staff

Kinosaki Information Counter staff will be waiting outside the station to greet you and help you to your ryokan.

Hotel Information Counter

If you cannot find staff outside the station cross the street and go to your left. Here you will find the Hotel Information Counter. There will be staff inside with information on the shuttle.

All tourists in Kinosaki Onsen may use the free Wi-Fi service that is available in Kinosaki Onsen and surrounding areas.

Network name (SSID): TOYOOKA CITY Free Wi-Fi
*Use of the wifi requires some basic authentication. Please click this link for more details.

There are very few businesses that accept credit cards. Japan is still mainly a cash only society.
We suggest bringing enough Japanese yen in cash with you to get you through your travels.

Yes. There is a currency exchange service at Kinosaki Onsen Tourist Information Center “SOZORO”. You can find SOZORO on the right as you leave JR Kinosaki Onsen Station, just across from the bathhouse and foot bath of Satono-yu.

Business hours: 9:00am – 6:00pm (Open year round)
Foreign currency accepted: USD, EUR, TWD, CNY, HKD, THB
IMPORTANT: You can only exchange foreign currency into Japanese YEN.
Rates are updated at 12:00pm every day.
Coin transactions are not available.

SOZORO website: http://global.kinosaki-info.com/

You can also exchange money at IROHA Yukata Shop & Rental.

Address: 449 Yushima, Kinosaki Onsen, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo 668-6101
Business hours: 10:30am – 6pm, 8pm – 10pm (closed from 6pm – 8pm)
Closed on Thursdays
Foreign currency accepted: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CNY, HKD, KRW, TWD, SGD, THB, IDR, MYR

Yes, you can withdraw Japanese yen from the ATMs located at the post office, and from the 7/11 ATM located at JR Kinosaki Onsen Station.

Some larger hotels offer dry cleaning services to their guests for an additional charge.
There are also dry cleaners located throughout the town, but they take time.
There are some coin laundromats in Toyooka near the station.

If your hotel or ryokan is unable to hold onto your luggage for you, you can leave your luggage at the hotel information counter. The counter is located in front of JR Kinosaki Onsen on the other side of the taxi/bus pool. There might be a small fee for this service.

There are also coin lockers located around the train station.

You can rent a bicycle for the day or by the hour from the Kinosaki Information Counter. There are three kinds of bicycles available. To rent a normal bicycle is 400 yen for 2 hours, then 100 yen per hour after that. Or 800 yen for the day. There are also electric bicycles or green Michelin bicycles. These are 500 yen for 2 hours and then 200 yen per hour after that. Or they are 1000 yen for the day. There is no deposit but you do need to show a form of ID (Passport) and contact information for where you are staying in Japan. Bicycle rental is available 9am-5pm.

Yes, small children up to the age of 10 years old may enter the onsen of the opposite gender if it is necessary. We ask that all children are accompanied by an adult at all times.

The seven main public bathhouses are natural hot springs. A large majority of the ryokan in Kinosaki also use the natural hot spring waters to fill their onsen or ofuro (communal Japanese baths). However, because of Kinosaki regulations, all hotel and ryokan private onsen baths and rotenburo (outdoor baths) are regular water that is heated.

Visitors to Kinosaki who are staying at a ryokan will be given a free onsen pass at check-in (yumepa). The pass has a barcode and will give you free access to all seven hot springs. Just scan at the entrance and you can use any public hot spring. Note that your pass will only be valid until 10:00 am on the day of your checkout. The public hot springs have regular holidays. Please check this schedule.

For those only visiting Kinosaki for the day, you can purchase a pass to all 7 hot springs in Kinosaki at any of those 7 hot springs (onsen). The price of a one-day onsen pass is 1,300 yen for adults, 650 yen for children middle school age and younger, and free for children under 3 years old.

Summer in Kinosaki can be hot and humid. Summer like weather is usually from July to mid September. With an average high temperature of 33ºC (91ºF) and low of about 22ºC (71ºF)。The beginning of the summer can be rainy, because it is preceded by the monsoon season.

Winter months in Kinosaki are usually from December to mid March. Kinosaki does get snow. The snow can be very wet and heavy. It usually snows the most from mid January to late February.

Any attire is really okay, from jeans and t-shirt to something a little more dressed up. But we suggest wearing comfortable shoes good for walking. Also, if you are staying at a ryokan in town, it is highly recommended that you change into the yukata provided once you have checked in. You will notice that nearly everyone staying in Kinosaki are dressed in their yukata instead of their street clothes.

Prices range from about 7,000 JPY to 30,000 JPY or more per person depending on which ryokan you stay in and if your stay includes dinner and or breakfast. Also, depending on the type of the meal, prices can vary.

Yes, Kinosaki Onsen Station is located on the Japan Rail (JR) Line.

Some ryokan do offer private baths that you can hire for an extra fee. Please check with your ryokan when booking a stay with them for details.
The public bathhouses will not have private baths.

What to wear:
If you are staying at a ryokan, you can wear the yukata and geta provided or your regular clothes if you prefer or if you are not staying at a ryokan.
What to bring:
Bring the onsen pass (you will receive this for free if you are staying at a ryokan) or money for entrance tickets (if you are not staying at a ryokan). Also bring a small towel for washing and pre-drying and a larger towel for completely drying off. You do not need to bring soap, shampoo or conditioner. The onsen will provide you with these.

If this is your first time please see the page on “How to use a Japanese bath>>“

Yes, you can wash your hair in the shower area. If you do not wish to wash your hair please tie your hair up or put it into a shower cap. If you have long hair as to where it will touch the bath water when you are sitting down in the onsen baths, please bring something to tie it up. It is considered rude to let your hair touch the bath waters.

A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn. These styles originated in the Edo period (1693-1868) and were stopping places for travelers along Japan’s highways. Many samurai and feudal lords made use of these inns.
The majority of ryokan are located in scenic rural areas and are more difficult to find in large cities like Tokyo.
Most, but not all, typical ryokan feature wooden infrastructures, tatami floors (woven straw mats), sliding doors and guest rooms with small balconies or verandas. They also have communal baths called ofuro, these are usually segregated by gender.
Some ryokan also offer breakfast and elaborate meals called kaiseki with your stay, this is why a stay at a ryokan might seem a little more expensive than your average hotel.
See here for more information on what it is like staying in a ryokan and ryokan ettiquite.

Kinosaki is located near the Sea of Japan in Hyogo prefecture’s north. Kinosaki can be accessed easily by train from Kyoto in about 2.5 to 3 hours. (Depending on train times and types. Limited express trains are the fastest way to get to Kinosaki.)
See here for access information.