Tattoo-friendly ONSEN town: Kinosaki

Empty Japan - (Empty.Japan)
Itinerary created by
Empty Japan
What you’ll do

Kinosaki Onsen Town is a charming spot known for its seven public hot springs. What sets it apart is its tattoo-friendly policy, a departure from the norm in Japan. Here, you can enjoy the healing and relaxing waters without being turned away due to tattoos, a welcome change.

The town's ambiance is traditional, with willow-lined canals and picturesque bridges. As you stroll through the streets in a provided yukata, you can easily hop between its public onsens, each offering a unique bathing experience.

The open-minded approach to tattoos enhances the relaxation factor. You can soak in the therapeutic hot springs without any worries. After enjoying the baths, explore the town's historic streets, local shops, and indulge in delicious cuisine, including Kinosaki's famous Tajima beef and fresh seafood.

  • You do NOT have to rent a car to get to Kinosaki onsen

  • Travel time from Kyoto station by train: 2h 30m /// by car: 2h 40m

  • Travel time from from Osaka station by train: 2h 40m /// by car: 2h 20m

1

How to get to Kinosaki onsen
How to get to Kinosaki onsen
Read before your trip
Category
Public Transport
Est. Price
$$
Transport Type
train
2

Read before your trip to Kinosaki
Read before your trip to Kinosaki
Read before your trip
Category
Sightseeing

1.7 km (1.1 mi)

5 min

If you arrive before the check-in time, I recommend leaving your bags at the hotel and starting to explore the town right away.

3

Choose the option that fits you the best

Oedo Onsen Monogatari Kinosaki
Oedo Onsen Monogatari Kinosaki
Hotel with a large onsen
Category
Hotel
Hanakouji Saigetsu
Hanakouji Saigetsu
Hotel with a hot spring
Category
Hotel

966 m (0.6 mi)

4 min

4

Satono Yu Onsen
Satono Yu Onsen
Onsen
Category
Hot Spring
Est. Price
¥900

242 m (0.2 mi)

1 min

All the restaurants in Kinosaki are located really close to each other so feel free to experience them in any order you want, according to your preferences or the restaurants' reservation availability. For example you might want to have some seafood during lunch and some wagyu for dinner or the other way around.

5

Choose the option that fits you the best

Okesho sengyo & Dinning room Kaichuen
Okesho sengyo & Dinning room Kaichuen
Delicious local seafood
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥2,500
Irori Dining Mikuni (Tajima Beef Restaurant)
Irori Dining Mikuni (Tajima Beef Restaurant)
Delicious Tajima beef steak feasts
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥5,000
Sanpou Nishimuraya
Sanpou Nishimuraya
Japanese Cuisine in Kinosaki Onsen
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥10,000
Kinosaki Burger
Kinosaki Burger
Delicious burgers with tajima beef
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥1,800
6

Kōmoto shōten / 河本商店
Kōmoto shōten / 河本商店
Gift shop
Category
Shop

135 m (0.1 mi)

7

Ichi roku hachi iroha yu no machi / 一六八 いろは湯のまち
Ichi roku hachi iroha yu no machi / 一六八 いろは湯のまち
Ghibli store
Category
Shop

16 m (0 mi)

8

Matsugami
Matsugami
Egg snack
Category
Café
Est. Price
¥300

157 m (0.1 mi)

1 min

9

木輪 本店
木輪 本店
Woodcraft store
Category
Shop

18 m (0 mi)

10

城崎茶宴 ちゃの湯
城崎茶宴 ちゃの湯
Tea shop
Category
Shop
Est. Price
¥1,000

19 m (0 mi)

11

Maruyama Karyo Kinosaki Store
Maruyama Karyo Kinosaki Store
Traditional Japanese snack shop
Category
Shop
Est. Price
¥600

182 m (0.1 mi)

1 min

12

Ichinoyu Onsen
Ichinoyu Onsen
Onsen
Category
Hot Spring
Est. Price
¥800

140 m (0.1 mi)

13

Choose the option that fits you the best

Orizuru Sushi Restaurant
Orizuru Sushi Restaurant
Delicious sushi
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥4,500
Fuji Kushiyaki Restaurant
Fuji Kushiyaki Restaurant
Delicious Kushiyaki izakaya
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥1,500

21 m (0 mi)

14

Shisho Shrine / 四所神社
Shisho Shrine / 四所神社
Shrine
Category
Sightseeing

381 m (0.2 mi)

1 min

This marks the end of day 1 in this itinerary.

In the upcoming section, you'll discover three public onsens in Kinosaki that, in my opinion, are not as appealing as the other four mentioned during day 1 and day 2 of this itinerary (the reasons for this will become apparent as you read their descriptions).

I decided to include these three onsens nonetheless because excluding them would have left the itinerary feeling incomplete, and you might want toto explore all seven public onsens in Kinosaki town anyway.

15

This one is optional

Mandarayu Bath
Mandarayu Bath
Onsen
Category
Hot Spring
Est. Price
¥800
Yanagiyu
Yanagiyu
Onsen
Category
Hot Spring
Est. Price
¥800
Jizo-yu Onsen
Jizo-yu Onsen
Onsen
Category
Hot Spring
Est. Price
¥800

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