Is This Japan's Most Romantic Getaway? A Guide to Kinosaki Onsen

Move over, Paris and Rome – Kinosaki Onsen is our new favourite romantic destination. If there’s a special someone you want to impress, read on to find out what this picturesque Japanese town offers, and how to get there from Osaka and Kyoto.

They may look like an Instagrammer's dream, but the natural hot springs of Kinosaki Onsen have been wowing locals and travellers for over 1,300 years. Thankfully, transport options have improved significantly since the 8th century, so it’s now super easy to get to this northern Hyogo Prefecture town on the coast of the Sea of Japan.

Kinosaki Onsen has its own train station on the JR San’in Line, so you can use your Japan Rail (JR) Pass to get there. No idea what we’re talking about? Head to Klook’s dedicated JR Pass summary page for a helpful explanation. When you're coming from Osaka, hop on the direct JR limited express train and you'll be in spa heaven in around 2.5 hours. This journey is covered by the Kansai-wide JR Pass, which gives you unlimited travel in the Kansai region, including places like Kobe, Himeji and Nara.

If buses are more your thing, Zentan Buses run between Osaka and Kinosaki Onsen several times a day, taking around three hours each way. Flying is an option, too – you can take a 40-minute flight from Osaka’s Itami Airport to Konotori Tajima Airport, and from there it’s a 45-minute bus ride to Kinosaki Onsen.

Klook tip: the Kansai JR Pass also gets you on the Hello Kitty Shinkansen (bullet train), so you can make all your cat-themed dreams come true.

Good news – it’s also really easy to travel between Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen. The direct JR limited express train will get you there in around 2.5 hours. This journey is also covered by the Kansai-wide JR Pass, so you can easily add Kinosaki Onsen into your itinerary.

There’s no direct bus route between Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen, so you'll have to bus first to Osaka if you prefer this mode of travel. As for flights, you can take a 1-hour airport bus from Kyoto to Itami Airport to catch one of two daily flights to Konotori Tajima Airport. You’ll be in the air for 40 minutes, then will need to jump on a 45-minute bus to Kinosaki Onsen.

While you're in Kyoto, you might as well put your learning cap on. Klook a skip-the-line ticket for the UNESCO World Heritage sites Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace. There’s no Japanese history quiz at the end of the visit, but we’ve got no doubt you’d smash it after absorbing the fascinating info shared by your English-speaking guide.

There sure are a lot of romantic vibes in this town. The whole place is nestled a lush mountain valley, where wooden buildings house natural hot spring bathhouses along a willow-lined river. It sounds like the stuff of fairy tales, but believe us, it’s real!

When you're choosing a place to spend the night, you've got to go to a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn. Originally built in the 17th century as resting places for samurai, the ryokans have now become a symbol of Japanese hospitality – no sword required. Due to their setting overtop natural thermal springs, many of these inns will have steamy mineral water pumped straight into your room's wooden tub. Talk about romantic! Book a stay for your own slice of traditional Japanese hospitality. You'll be greeted by your host with a cup of tea and a light snack. After a soak at in the on-site onsen, you'll be served a delicious homemade dinner in your room.

Try Onishiya Suishoen, a modern ryokan known for its fresh seafood dishes and comfortable rooms, which all come with ensuite facilities. For a more traditional experience, visit Nishimuraya Honkan, which offers stunning gardens and exceptional seasonal winter crab. Book directly or through a trusted site.

Klook tip: Be sure to check ahead to see whether your ryokan can accommodate any dietary requirements as many places have limited menus.

Kinosaki Onsen has seven public bathhouses, each designed for a specific purpose and with its own legendary history. For example, Goshono-yu onsen was inspired by the Kyoto Imperial Palace – you're sure to feel regal as you relax in the vaulted baths and saunas with views of waterfalls. As if that's not enough, this onsen is said to make you lucky in love and to protect you against fires.

On the topic of love, a visit to Kinosaki Onsen’s oldest bathhouse, Kouno-yu, is believed to grant you a long and happy marriage. Quality chill time in the stone-lined outdoor pool surrounded by forested hills certainly sounds like a recipe for relationship bliss to us! And if you’re looking to boost the romance levels even higher, visit in winter. You can pad softly down snow-hushed streets before cosying up in a natural thermal pool. If a winter Japan getaway sounds like heaven, check out Klook’s list of cool activities for the season.

Looking to explore Kinosaki Onsen further? Check out this Kinosaki Must-Visits 3 Day Pass. This discounted pass gets you access to the top sightseeing spots in town! Including a round trip ride on the Kinosaki Ropeway, a Straw work experience at the Kiyamachikoji store, entrance to the Onsen Temple, and the Onsenji Treasure Museum. Plus you get access to exclusive discounts for 10 restaurants and souvenir shops in Kinosaki Onsen.

If you’re staying at a ryokan, you can use any of Kinosaki Onsen’s seven public onsens for free. The town is compact and all the baths are within walking distance from each other, which means it's perfect for a favourite local activity: going on a sotoyu meguri (bath stroll).

Kinosaki Onsen is so dedicated to the full-on spa experience, you can do pretty much everything while wearing a yukata – the traditional kimono-like garment that will serve as your bathing clothes and loungewear. You can keep the brightly printed robe on whether you're strolling between onsens, going for a dinner of snow crab and buckwheat noodles or shopping for souvenirs. The staff at your ryokan will show you how to put the yukata on so you’ll look like a natural.

If you’re not staying overnight, you can still experience spa bliss by buying a Yumepa ticket for around 1,300 Yen. This gives you unlimited access to the public baths for one day. If you’d prefer, you can buy a ticket for a single onsen for around 700 Yen.

From the traditional streets of Kyoto to deer-filled Nara, this region of Japan is bursting with goodies. To build your Kansai itinerary, visit Klook’s dedicated Kansai page.