Just a short train trip away from Kyoto or Osaka, one can find Kinosaki Onsen. It's a peaceful, serene town surrounded by mountains and the sea.
Kinosaki Onsen is famous for amazing seafood, natural hot springs, and classic Japanese architecture. The town was founded over 1,300 years ago and still has a small village vibe where strangers greet each other on the streets.
Every ryokan in this town provides their guests with a yukata (a cotton kimono), geta (wooden sandals), and a pass that provides access to all seven of the hot spring bath houses.
The popular guidebook, Lonely Planet, named Kinosaki Onsen the best onsen town in Japan and I agree with this completely.
Getting there
Kinosaki Onsen Station is a 2.5-hour shinkansen ride from Kyoto Station or a 3-hour ride from Osaka Station.
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