Kinoaski is one of the most popular onsen or hot springs towns in Japan. Situated very close to the west coast of the Sea of Japan, its off the beaten path, yet well worth the small effort to get there. The signature feature of the town is that there are seven public hot spring bathing houses, or onsens which you can enjoy. If you are a guest at one of the several ryokan in town, you are provided a pass which allows access to all the bath houses. But even if you’re not a guest, you can purchase an all day pass.
It’s a unique sight to see locals and visitors walking up and down the main street dressed in their yukata or casual robes, often wearing wooden shoes called getta. The clip and clop of the wood on the pavement creates the sound of hoofbeats of horses. During the evening, the town takes on a totally different atmosphere. Its almost magical as the shadows hide anything unsightly, while the many lamps along the streets and river running through the town create one of the more picturesque scenes in Japan. It’s a delight.
If you’re not staying in Kinoaski, we recommend considering the nearby Hotel Kinparo approximately five minutes away situated directly on the Sea of Japan. When we walked into the lobby, our jaws dropped at the view. Just beyond the reception area is a two story atrium lined with floor to ceiling windows taking in the breathtaking view. You feel as if you’re a seagull perched on one of the nearby rocky cliffs looking down at the crystal clear turquoise water crashing on the rocks below.
The hotel offers its own onsen with both indoor and outdoor bathing areas looking out directly over the Sea of Japan. There are high tech massage chairs in each guest room, but the waiting area for the onsen has extra high tech massage chairs that will turn your worn out muscles to soft playdough. This is one of the most relaxing experiences you’ll enjoy in Japan.
The hotel offers an all you can eat full breakfast of both Western and Japanese dishes, again with views looking out over the water. Dinner is provided with your room in a lovely dining room with a full Kaiseki meal. A kaiseki meal is the ultimate in Japanese cuisine as every region and hotel creates its on spin on it using local and seasonal ingredients. The chef prepares up to 12 courses or more on small plates and bowls which result in a feast for the eyes. Food items will include vegetables along with meat or chicken and always several seafood dishes. Be prepared however that many of the dishes are raw, sometimes even the meat may be raw versus others that are cooked at the table for you. Regardless, a Kaiseki meal is something that should be experienced at least once while in Japan.
Included in our stay were tickets to the Kinosaki Marine World. This is a nice quality, although small marine aquarium right on the shoreline. It has penguins, sea lions, otters, and hands on pools of water where you can touch the sea creatures in shallow waters. There is a large porpoise show as well along with a café. It is certainly an enjoyable activity for families and you can easily walk to it from the hotel.
A visit to Kinosaki is highly recommended. You can get there by JR train and the hotel offers shuttle service so that you need not rent a car. However, if you do rent a vehicle like us, you’ll be able to enjoy the stunning coastline scenery along the winding coast road as well as explore another of our favorite discoveries, the nearby town of Izushi. That will be the subject of another upcoming blog post.
