Kinosaki Onsen Station

Published on : 12/07/2024
by : Joshua

Make your way out to Kinosaki Onsen to relax amongst one of the most stunning hot spring towns in Japan! Kinosaki Onsen Station will be the primary gateway!

The modest Kinosaki Onsen Station in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, is the gateway to the luxurious and picturesque region of Kinosaki. Kinosaki is famous as an onsen town, a community built around natural hot springs that are warmed via volcanic activity.

These onsen towns are amazing spots to relax and are popular destinations for the residents of Japan as well as visitors from abroad. Kinosaki Onsen is one of the most famous of these getaways, appearing like the Japan seen in art, film, and animation. Traditional style buildings line up alongside a central river. There are also a medley of traditional-style ryokan (Japanese-style inns) to stay at for the complete onsen-town experience.

Kinosaki Onsen Station is largely operated by Japan Railways (JR) and is easily accessible from major cities in the Kansai Region, like Osaka and Kyoto. From Osaka specifically, the Kounotori and Hamakaze Limited Express Trains will make the journey in a bit under three hours. From Kyoto, the Kinosaki Limited Express Train goes out to Kinosaki Onsen. Originally from its conception in 1909, the station was dubbed “Kinosaki Station.” The name was later changed to “Kinosaki Onsen Station” in 2005.

Station Overview

There are four platforms within Kinosaki Onsen Station, each part of the San`in Main Line. Trains departing from platform 1 go to Toyooka, Wadayama, and Fukuchiyama. From platform 2, trains will go out to Tottori and Hamasaka, as well as towards Toyooka and Kasumi. Platform 3 also go out to Toyooka and Wadayama, as well as towards Kyoto and Osaka in more urban Kansai. Then, platform 4 services the Hamakaze Limited Express Trains.

For any questions or requests for assistance, there is a JR service window (known as Midori no Madoguchi) within the station. The National Japan Rail Pass as well as regional passes, such as the Kansai Wide Area Pass, allow for inclusive access to this station due to it being operated by JR. Buses, both local and highway, line up in front of the station.

Kinosaki Onsen Station exterior
@Wikimedia

Train at Kinosaki Onsen Station
@Wikimedia

What to do in Kinosaki Onsen

The best part about onsen towns is that enjoying them means not doing too much. There are many bath houses throughout the town, seven of which are fully tattoo friendly, which is a standout characteristic compared to onsen and sento in different parts of the country. Additionally, these seven different bath houses are in close proximity and have strong associations with each other. These include, by proximity to Kinosaki Onsen Station, Satono-yu, Jizo-yu, Yanagi-yu, Ichino-yu, Goshono-yu, Mandara-yu, and then Kono-yu. Past these sets of bath houses, there are a few temples and shrines surrounded by the gorgeous nature of the area.

Going around the town, visitors can don a yukata, a traditional form of Japanese clothing that can be thought of as a more casual version of a kimono, typically made of kimono. Taking in the sights and atmosphere of Kinosaki Onsen wearing a yukata is a truly Japanese experience that is sure to be memorable.

For more nature-centric activities, the famous ropeway at Kinosaki goes up Mount Daishi, which overlooks the onsen town. On the way up, dense forest flows below, filled with deep greens during the summer and a gorgeous ocean of burgundy and gold during the fall. Onsenji Temple awaits on the mountain, a place of pilgrimage in the past for those visiting the onsen hot springs.

Much of Kinosaki Onsen is walkable from the station, and it makes for a great way to spend the day to enjoy the town’s layout as intended. From Kinosaki Onsen Station, however, the local Zentan buses are ideal for getting around, and other towns within the Toyooka area are also accessible.