Kobayashiya -Kinosaki Onsen-

Our stay at Kobayashiya in Kinosaki Onsen was absolutely top notch. From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable, and the entire stay felt like an experience in the art of Japanese hospitality. The owner, whose background in design is evident throughout the beautifully considered ryokan, takes enormous pride in this property that has been in his family for more than 300 years. Each evening, as we sat enjoying the delicious kaiseki experience, graciously adapted to be entirely vegan for us, he made a point of stopping by every table for a chat. It was such a warm and personal touch and made us feel genuinely welcomed. One of the most delightful parts of the experience was choosing our yukata and obi on arrival. We were escorted to our room, where our lovely guide showed us how everything worked, including how to wear and tie our yukata, which we were encouraged to wear to meals and while wandering around Kinosaki. It was a lovely way to feel part of the onsen-town experience rather than simply a visitor to it. Our room was beautiful and the beds wonderfully comfortable, but the little sitting area overlooking the river was particularly special. We loved sitting there watching life in Kinosaki unfold below us, with people wandering along the river in their yukata on their way to and from the onsens. It was such a lovely way to experience the atmosphere of the town, even while relaxing in our room. The ryokan also has three wonderful private onsens to choose from, each spotlessly clean and aesthetically beautiful. What stands out most, though, is the gentle, gracious hospitality. We had such lovely conversations with the staff throughout our stay, particularly the two young men who spoke fluent English and went out of their way to make us feel at home. There was a warmth to the service that never felt formal or forced, just genuinely thoughtful. I highly recommend Kobayashiya.

We loved everything. It was fabulous!

The private onsens are absolutely incredible, I would argue that they were even better than the public onsens. It made possible for me and my girlfriend to enjoy an onsen together! Also the staff was absolutely amazing, very helpful and kind. The traditional Japanese breakfasts were some of the best food we had in our 2 weeks trip, and we slept so well on the futon. This was the highlight of our stop at Kinosaki.

Nothing! Everything was perfect.

Location right in the middle of things, easy to find and architecturally stunning. Make sure you go through the books to read!

The atmosphere, the design and architecture.