Kinosaki Onsen 城崎温泉
Delightful hot springs town on northern coast
Kinosaki Onsen is an absolute delight, tucked away in a small valley near the Sea of Japan coast in northern Hyōgo prefecture, about 2.5hrs by train from Osaka.
It’s a compact little town, built along a willow-lined river, that can be fully explored on foot, taking about 20 minutes to walk the length of town.
In the evenings guests of the numerous local ryokan stroll about town in colourful yukata (cotton kimono) and geta (wooden clogs), visiting any number of the seven atmospheric bath houses (soto-yu) that are open to the public.
Adding to the fun, beautiful foot baths (ashi-yu) and spring water drinking fountains are scattered about town.
If you’re staying at a local ryokan - book via search engines - you can use any of the public bath houses for free and one of the great joys is to undertake a soto-yu meguri (bath stroll about town), trying as many as you like.