At the western end of town along a mountain slope stands Onsenji Temple (, lit. "hot spring temple"). This temple is dedicated to a Buddhist saint who, according to legend, prayed for 1000 days to bring forth spring water to Kinosaki.

In the old days, visitors had to first pay a visit to the temple before being admitted to any of the baths in town. While most people no longer make the journey to Onsenji before bathing, the temple remains a nice place to visit.

Onsenji's main treasure is a two-meter-tall, eleven-headed Kannon Buddha which is displayed to the public in its entirety only once every 33 years for a period of three years (the next time will be from the year 2054). A partial glimpse at the statue can be taken every year on April 23rd and 24th during the Onsen Matsuri.

Near the temple's main hall stands the Kinosaki Art Museum, a small, interesting museum of historic artifacts and temple treasures.

While most of the temple's buildings are located halfway up the forested mountain, a few structures, including a hall dedicated to Yakushi Buddha and the Sanmon temple gate, stand at the foot of the mountain, across the road from Kono-yu public bath house.

The Kinosaki Ropeway departs from near the temple gate to an observation deck at the mountain summit, making an intermediate stop next to Onsenji's main hall. The ropeway and observation deck offer great views of Kinosaki and surroundings.

Getting there and around

Onsenji's temple gate and the ropeway's lower station are located at the western end of the town, near the Kono-yu public bath house, about a 20 minute walk or a short bus or taxi ride from Kinosaki Station. From there, the temple's main hall can be reached by a short ropeway ride (get off at the intermediate "Onsenji" station) or by walking up a steep, forested path for about 15-20 minutes.

How to get to and around Kinosaki Onsen

Hours and Fees

Onsenji Temple and Kinosaki Art Museum

Hours

Closed

Admission

Kinosaki Ropeway

Hours

Closed

Admission

Hotels around Kinosaki

    • Mikiya Ryokan
      A wooden ryokan with over 300 years. Famous novelist for ''At Kinosaki'' Shiga Naoya stayed. Free pick-up and WiFi available.
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    • Nishimuraya Honkan
      Traditional ryokan in heart of Kinosaki with large Japanese garden. Member of Relais & Chateaux, awarded ''best onsen ryokan'' in Japan.
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Budget:
    • Nishimuraya Honkan
      Luxury
      Boasting a 160-year history and a beautiful garden, Nishimuraya Honkan offers hot-spring baths and Japanese rooms just 1 km from Kinosaki-Onsen Train Station. A gallery with traditional artwork is featured. Rooms at Nishimuraya Honkan Ryokan have traditional futon bedding and tatami (woven-straw) floors. Each is air-conditioned and comes with a tea maker, flat-screen TV and private bathroom. Kinosaki Ropeway and Kinosaki Museum are both a 10-minute walk. Sato-no-yu Outdoor Hot Spring is 900 metres away. Guests can tour nearby hot springs wearing Japanese yukata robes and geta sandals. Seigetsuro Lounge pairs European and Chinese furniture with lovely Japanese garden views. Free WiFi and wired internet are provided in the lobby. Bicycles can be borrowed for free. Dinners usually feature wagyu-beef, and fresh crab in the winter. Japanese-style breakfast is served in the historic dining hall Senrei.
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    • Book & Guesthouse Hitotomaru
      Budget-friendly
      Book & Guesthouse Hitotomaru in Toyooka provides adults-only accommodation with a bar and a shared lounge. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Featuring a private entrance, the guest house allows guests to maintain their privacy. All units are fitted with air conditioning, a microwave, a toaster, a kettle, a shower, slippers and a desk. The units have a shared bathroom, a hair dryer and bed linen. If you prefer to cook in the comfort of your own place, you can make use of the kitchenette facilities, which include a fridge and kitchenware. Takenohama Beach is 70 metres from the guest house, while Kirihama Beach is 2.6 km from the property. Tajima Airport is 23 km away.
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    • Kinosaki Onsen Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
      Luxury
      Set in the woods by Mount Kuruhi, Hotel Shogetsutei is 5 minutes from Kinosaki-Onsen Train Station on the free shuttle. It features beautiful outdoor hot-spring baths and a spa. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property. The air-conditioned rooms at Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei feature nature views. Each has a private bathroom, tea maker and flat-screen TV. Some rooms have tatami (woven-straw) floors and shoji paper screens. Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway Station is 650 metres away, and Kono Yu Hot Spring is about a 10-minute walk. Sister hotel Nishimura Honkan, which has additional free-use hot-spring baths, is 700 metres away. Free-use bicycles are provided. Guests can relax at the hot tub or sauna, enjoy a massage or sing at the karaoke bar. In late summer, the outdoor pool is open. Dinners usually feature wagyu-beef, with crab served instead in the winter. A Japanese-style breakfast is also available at the dining room.
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    • Japanese Guesthouse Kinosaki Wakayo (Female Only)
      Budget-friendly
      Well situated in the Kinosaki Onsen district of Toyooka, Japanese Guesthouse Kinosaki Wakayo (Female Only) is set 2.8 km from Kinumaki Shrine, 4.2 km from Seto Shrine and 4.8 km from North Disaster Earthquake Monument. Featuring a garden, the 1-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. The accommodation offers a shared kitchen and a housekeeping service for guests. The guest house is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Kehi Shrine is 5.1 km from the guest house, while Nyoiji Temple is 12 km away. The nearest airport is Tajima Airport, 17 km from Japanese Guesthouse Kinosaki Wakayo (Female Only).
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    • UTSUROI Tsuchiya Annex
      Mid-range
      Offering private natural hot-spring baths, UTSUROI Tsuchiya Annex is 1 km from Kinosaki-Onsen Train Station. The Japanese rooms include futon beds and a flat-screen TV. An onsite cafe is available featuring a gallery for free. Each air-conditioned room at Ryokan Tsuchiya has tatami (woven-straw) flooring. All rooms have a tea maker and an en suite toilet. Bathrooms are shared. Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway Station is just 200 metres away. Kinosaki Museum is a 10-minute walk, and Kinosaki Marine Park is a 15-minute drive. Hot spring baths for private use can be used for free.
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    • Kobayashiya -Kinosaki Onsen-
      Luxury
      2.8 km from Kinumaki Shrine, Kobayashiya -Kinosaki Onsen- is a recently renovated property located in Toyooka and provides air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and private parking. The 4-star ryokan has garden views and is 4.2 km from Seto Shrine. The ryokan features parking on-site, a hot spring bath and a housekeeping service. The units at the ryokan are equipped with a seating area, a TV and a safety deposit box. The ryokan offers certain units with river views, and the units have a kettle. At the ryokan, all units come with bed linen and towels. An Asian breakfast is available daily at the ryokan. At the property, there is an on-site modern restaurant serving dinner and a selection of vegetarian options. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Guests can also relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area. North Disaster Earthquake Monument is 4.8 km from Kobayashiya -Kinosaki Onsen-, while Kehi Shrine is 5.1 km away. Tajima Airport is 17 km from the property.
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    • Onishiya Suishoen
      Mid-range
      Onishiya Suisyouen offers beautiful hot-spring baths, a sauna and Japanese garden beside the Maruyama River. Guests at Onishiya Suisyouen Ryokan can experience a traditional Japanese room with futon beds and tatami (woven-straw) flooring, or enjoy a Western-style room. Japanese-style rooms include a tea maker, private bathroom and a satellite TV. All rooms have air conditioning. Kinosaki Onsen Train Station is 1 km from the ryokan, and a free shuttle bus is available. Kinosaki Ropeway is 1.5 km away. Jizoyu Hot Spring is a 10-minute walk, and Ichinoyu Hot Spring is a 15-minute walk. Entertainment options include for relaxation a hot tub and massage services are offered. Free Wi-Fi is provided in the lobby. For meal-inclusive rates, a Japanese breakfast is served at the dining room.
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    • Kinosaki Yamamotoya
      Mid-range
      Yamamotoya is a 7-minute walk from JR Kinosaki Onsen Station and a free 2-way shuttle is provided. It offers Japanese-style accommodation with a brewery, a hot-spring bath and free Wi-Fi. Guests can experience Japanese tea ceremony (needs a reservation, extra charge) and try on traditional Yukata robes. Guestrooms offer both heating and air-conditioning facilities, and futon bedding is provided on a traditional tatami (woven-straw) floor. Each room comes with green tea leaves, an iPod dock and a flat-screen TV. Rooms share a bathroom with other rooms. Luggage storage can be found at the 24-hour front desk. Breakfast and dinner will be served will be served in the dining room. Guests can enjoy local beer at the brewery. Yamamotoya is an 8-minute walk from Kinosaki-Onsen Ropeway Station and Gokuraku-ji Temple. It is within a 12-minute drive from Genbu-do (Genbu Cave) and a 15-minute walk from Kinosaki Museum. Free parking is provided on site.
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    • Ginka
      Luxury
      Vast area with 6600 square meters in Kinosaki Onsen, ~R쉷 features Japanese style rooms, natural hot springs and Japanese food restaurants. ~R쉷 offers 4 different types of natural hot springs including Japanese cypress bath. From the outdoor bath, guests can relax with views of Maruyama river. All guest room at ~R쉷 come with Tatami flooring rooms and Tatami sleeping mats. Also TV, fridge and electric kettle are featured. Authentic Japanese cuisine with seasonal local ingredients can be tasted at Tosho. Manemon offers stunning views of Maruyama river and a cup of coffee. Kinosaki-Onsen JR Station is a 10-minute drive away. From Kyoto, it takes 170 minutes by Express train.
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    • Sensui
      Mid-range
      Featuring 3-star accommodation, Sensui is located in Toyooka, 2.8 km from Kinumaki Shrine and 4.2 km from Seto Shrine. This ryokan provides free private parking, free shuttle service and free WiFi. Staff on-site can arrange a shuttle service. The ryokan features certain units with quiet street views, and all units are fitted with a shared bathroom. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. North Disaster Earthquake Monument is 4.7 km from the ryokan, while Kehi Shrine is 5 km away. Tajima Airport is 17 km from the property.
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