Onishiya Suishoen
9,3/10 Exceptional - Based on 922 reviews
Onishiya Suishoen sits in Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo, offering a modern take on a traditional ryokan. The property has 34 guest rooms—28 Japanese-style with tatami and futons and 6 Western-style—arranged around a courtyard where a murmuring stream and staged bonfires create a Noh-like atmosphere. Public spaces include lounges, a small shop and a dining room named Hiyori; patterned yukata are available for guests to wear while exploring the hot-spring town. A complimentary shuttle links the ryokan with Kinosaki town and the station, and guests receive passes to the seven public baths.
Bathing is a focus: the men’s and women’s grand spas, Byakko and Suzaku, provide indoor and open-air baths, a Jacuzzi and a sauna with scheduled morning and evening hours. The springs are a sodium–calcium chloride type; the property notes traditional local benefits for neuralgia, muscle pain and fatigue recovery. Spa hours allow early morning soaks and long evening sessions, and a small post-bath lounge offers tea and refreshments. As a ryokan with onsen in Hyogo, the inn combines substantial on-site facilities with easy access to Kinosaki’s seven external hot springs.
Dining highlights seasonal Tajima ingredients: rotating kaiseki courses, winter crab menus and Tajima beef specialties are offered, with provisions for allergy requests submitted in advance. Amenities include free Wi‑Fi, on-site parking, bicycle rental and a banquet tatami hall for events; staff assist with luggage transfers and local recommendations. The atmosphere balances formal dinner presentation and relaxed riverside evenings in yukata, making the ryokan a practical base for onsen-hopping and for experiencing Kinosaki’s traditional streets.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Onishiya Suishoen
Positive Reviews
Attentive, helpful staff
Multiple reviews highlight very friendly, attentive and professional staff who help with restaurant reservations, explain onsen use, assist with shuttle arrangements and provide thoughtful service throughout the stay.
Excellent onsen facilities
Guests repeatedly praise the hotel’s baths — multiple indoor/outdoor pools, a relaxing onsen experience, and included passes for other local onsens that enhance the stay.
Convenient shuttle service
Many reviewers value the free shuttle connecting the ryokan to the station and to the town/onsens, which makes arriving, departing and exploring the area easy when the service is available.
High-quality meals and ryokan experience
The traditional ryokan meals receive strong praise for quality, seasonal and local ingredients; several guests describe the dinner (and breakfast options) as a memorable highlight of their stay.
Calm, attractive setting and spacious rooms
Visitors appreciate the hotel’s decor, Japanese garden/patio, quiet atmosphere and large, well-equipped Japanese-style rooms (including yukata provided), which contribute to a relaxing stay.
Negative Reviews
Firm futons and pillows affecting sleep
A recurring complaint is the firmness/thinness of futons and some pillows; several guests found them very hard or less comfortable for sleeping, especially if not used to traditional bedding.
Shuttle limitations and scheduling issues
Although the shuttle is appreciated, multiple reviews mention inconvenient shuttle hours or the shuttle not being available for certain check‑in times, causing difficulty with luggage transfer or arrival.
Location concerns (some found it isolated or too urban)
Some guests noted the hotel’s location is a bit off-center or in an urban/excentré area and would have preferred more greenery; others simply feel it sits away from the town center.
Limited English and communication hurdles
A few reviewers mention that staff English is limited, requiring phone translation services at times; while service remains polite and helpful, language can be a barrier for some guests.
Missing or inconvenient amenities for some guests
Occasional negatives include absence of on-site laundry, no coffee in specific areas, certain onsen toiletries (razors/shaving foam) not provided, suggested massage arrangements off-site, and complaints about single-use plastic — seen as minor but notable by some visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Japanese-style rooms typically accommodate up to 4–5 guests depending on the room, and western-style rooms suit one or two people; the ryokan has mainly Japanese rooms and a small number of western rooms.
Yes — indoor and outdoor hot-spring baths, a sauna and a Jacuzzi are available; public onsen hours are generally early morning (around 5:30–9:30) and afternoon/evening (around 14:30–24:00), with sauna hours in the evening.
Guests receive admission to Kinosaki’s seven public hot-spring bathhouses, valid from the afternoon of arrival until the following day, so you can enjoy the town’s onsen-hopping tradition.
Yes — the ryokan offers a free pick-up/drop-off shuttle from Kinosaki Onsen Station (afternoon hours) and a shuttle service into the main onsen area in the evenings; schedules are limited, so confirm arrival times with the hotel.
The nearest local airport is Kounotori (Tajima) with a short bus link to Kinosaki; major access is via JR limited-express trains or highway buses from Osaka, Kyoto or Kobe, typically requiring 2.5–3 hours from Kyoto/Osaka by train.
The ryokan provides some English support and several staff members assist international guests; English signage and basic English service are available, but complex requests may require advance notice.
Standard check-in begins at 14:00 (with a latest check-in hour commonly in the early evening) and check-out is by 10:00; if you expect to arrive late, notify the ryokan in advance.
Dinner and breakfast are offered with many plans, featuring local seasonal cuisine (kaiseki) and are usually served in the dining room or in-room depending on the plan and room type; inform the ryokan of dietary needs ahead of time.
Some room types include a private bath, and the property has communal indoor and outdoor onsen; if you need an exclusively reserved family bath or specific private-bath arrangements, request this when booking as availability is limited.
Pets are not accepted at the ryokan; the main Kinosaki Onsen shopping street and small shops for basic supplies are a short walk or shuttle ride away, offering restaurants, convenience stores and local souvenir shops.