10 Ways Kinosaki Onsen Makes The Best Girl’s Trip
An Otherworldly Spa Getaway
Summertime in Japan leaves just as quickly as it comes. After throngs of summer festivals and one too many shaved ice bowls under a fireworks-dotted sky, fall is around the corner, and winter isn't far behind.
In a sudden whirlwind of fall/winter wardrobe prep, post-summer cleaning and all of life’s other pesky trials that come with the changing leaves, it’s a no-brainer for most urban dwellers to imagine themselves taking a cozy getaway far away from the bustling city. The solution? Two words: Kinosaki Onsen.
Kinosaki Onsen is a stone’s throw away from Kyoto. It’s one of Japan’s most picturesque hot spring resort towns with seven public bathhouses. The walkability of the picturesque willow-lined streets, coupled with wearing a yukata as you hop from one hot spring to the next, all contribute to the curation of an unforgettable girls’ trip to the Japanese countryside.
Here are 10 ways you and your girlfriends can enjoy the area to the fullest, including a fun mix of Kinosaki Onsen’s many reservable activities.
1. Tattoo Friendly Onsens
© Photo by Visit KinosakiThe main draw for foreign visitors is the town’s tattoo-friendly mindset, which dates back hundreds of years. Body inclusivity and hot spring therapy for all have always been two pillars at the forefront of Kinosaki Onsen, and most of the town’s 70-plus inns actively support this millennium-old sentiment by giving overnight guests a hot spring pass for unlimited access to all seven bathhouses until 3:30 p.m. on the day of their check out.
2. Facials at Salon de Apaiser
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiA facial during a hot spring vacation is never a bad idea. Salon de Apaiser is a charming little facial spa in Kinosaki Onsen owned by a mother-and-daughter duo. Choose between two courses with either amber or mud nutrients, and leave the rest to your professional esthetician. The facials include a hot towel treatment, massages and even a hot cup of amber tea after the experience. A complimentary pick-up and drop-off service from your accommodation is also provided!
Price: Facials from ¥8,800 per person.
3. Get Loosey Goosey with Aroma Therapy Massages and Reflexology
© Photo by Visit KinosakiRelaxation Salon Fuka inside the luxurious Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei offers a smorgasbord of spa treatments—head massages, foot rubs and hot stone therapy are just a sampling of the menu. Before or after a soak in the hot springs, your body will thank you for a 25 to 90-minute session of pure pampering.
Price: Reflexology from ¥6,500 per person.
4. Hit the Town in a Colorful Yukata
© Photo by Visit KinosakiThe quintessential pastime in Kinosaki Onsen is to hop from hot spring to hot spring clad in a stylish yukata. In fact, locals have a special phrase for these leisurely strolls, “sozoro aruki (to walk without aim or destination in mind.” You and your friends can join in on the fashionable fun by renting a gorgeous yukata set for the day courtesy of Iroha Yukata Rental, a woman-owned business specializing in yukata dressing and hair styling. All rental plans include authentic yukata, obi, geta and hair styling. Capture the moment for years to come with a photo session around town.
Price: Yukata rental from ¥3,500 per person.
5. Compliment Your Yukata with a Bespoke Fan
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiWhat’s even better than sporting a colorful yukata down Kinosaki Onsen’s streets? Matching it with a traditional uchiwa fan! Masami Uota is a professional washi paper artist, and every month, she brings her design and color-coordinating expertise to Kinosaki Onsen with DIY washi art fan classes. Let your creativity flow as you cut, paste and design from a rainbow of washi paper colors and complete your masterpiece!
Price: Fan-making workshop from ¥3,400 per person.
6. Design Your Own Kintsugi Earrings
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiThe kintsugi technique has been in practice since the 1300s and focuses on finding beauty in imperfections by mending broken objects into something beautiful. A small workshop, a quick 20-minute train ride from Kinosaki Onsen, focusing on kintsugi metalworking, welcomes visitors to experience this traditional Japanese repair method with their own hands. Using sea glass from the nearby Takeno Beach, stones and gems, guests create their own unique pair of kintsugi earrings or clip-ons to commemorate their trip. They make the perfect substitute for friendship bracelets!
Price: Kintsugi workshop is ¥8,000 per person.
7. Be a Woodworker for a Day at a Kumiko Master’s Workshop
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiKumiko is a traditional Japanese woodworking technique in which pieces of wood are assembled together without the use of nails. In Izushi Castle Town, south of Kinosaki Onsen, give yourself some therapeutic R&R as you create your own kumiko design. Using pre-cut pieces of wood gently fitting one after the other, you’ll have a lovely design to bring home. Guests can create either a one, two or four-sided kumiko creation that can be used as the base for a candle lantern, a wonderful lighting piece to illuminate any interior.
Price: Kumiko workshop from ¥1,800 per person.
8. “Weave” Your Troubles Away with Willow Craft
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiIzushi Castle Town is also the proud home of willow craft, one of Japan’s traditional crafts with over 1200 years of history. Ancient residents of the area discovered the versatility and strength of the koriyanagi plant, a species of willow that thrives in the region, and a weaving industry flourished here for centuries. At Takumi Kougei, the workshop of master willow craftsman Takumi Terauchi, become one with the local landscape and experience the finely detailed and relaxing rhythm of weaving the willow strands into a lovely one-of-a-kind handbag to bring home.
Price: Willow crafting workshop is ¥8,000 per person.
9. Create a Keepsake Straw Craft Jewelry Box
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiStraw craft is a unique, traditional handicraft with vibrant colors and intricate patterns that, in all of Japan, is only produced in Kinosaki Onsen. At the workshop of master craftsman Mister Kamiya, create your own keepsake straw craft souvenir as you cut and paste your design onto a small paulownia wood box—a wonderful storage option for jewelry and small knick knacks!
Price: Straw crafting workshop is ¥6,000 per person.
10. Go on a Post-Onsen Pub Crawl
© Photo by Visit Kinosaki
© Photo by Visit KinosakiAfter many a soak in the hot springs, it is a Kinosaki tradition to relax with a cold drink. But why stop at just one? Cool off and go on a hot spring pub crawl, kicking back with the girls and the friendly locals at Kinosaki’s “snack” bars! Not a big alcohol drinker? No problem! Snacks always have soft drinks and other alcohol-free drinks on hand so all can get in on the fun.
Price: Pub crawl from ¥15,000 per person.
Visit Kinosaki
For more information about each of the activities mentioned above, visit the official Visit Kinosaki website or click the activity name link in the headings.
© Photo by Visit KinosakiAddress: Kinosaki Onsen Station, 283 Imazu, Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka, Hyogo
Access
Coming for a visit from Tokyo is a breeze—just a quick shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Kyoto Station, and then 2.5 hours on the Kinosaki special express train for a total of about 4.5 hours of travel time.
Have you ever been to Kinosaki Onsen? If not, gather the girls and book your trip now!
Leave a Reply