Kinosaki is a charming hot spring resort town on the Japan Sea coast with a recorded history dating back to 720 A.D. The town is incredibly picturesque, with beautifully preserved traditional architecture and a river lined with willows and cherry trees that runs through its center.
One of the most famous spa resorts in Japan, Kinosaki is within easy reach of Kyoto. If you take the right train, you can get there from Kyoto in around 2.5 hours. In this article we will introduce Kinosaki’s key activities, and tell you the best way to get there from Kyoto Station.
A view of Kinosaki from Mount Daishi
Things to do in Kinosaki
Eat Crab or Tajima Beef
Kinosaki’s famous snow crab
If you travel to Kinosaki between November and March you can enjoy snow crabs fresh from the sea. Snow crab is also known locally as Matsuba Crab. Actually, Kinosaki is so famous for its crab that it is pretty hard to avoid. You’ll see crab décor everywhere, from the moment you step outside Kinosaki Onsen Station.
Some typical Kinosaki crab décor
There are crabs on sale in the streetside fishmongers, crab flavored snacks on sale in the souvenir shops, and if you have dinner at your hotel, crab is probably on the menu. And it is cooked in so many ways too: boiled, grilled, in a hot pot, or as sashimi. You’ll never forget the white fluffy crab meat of Kinosaki!
So many crabs have been eaten in Kinosaki, that they even have their own memorial stone
However, if you don’t visit Kinosaki during the crab season, don’t worry, as there is plenty of fine food to eat. Tajima beef is a local Japanese Black cattle specialty from the Tajima region, which includes Kinosaki Onsen and Toyooka City. It is highly prized for its rich taste and marbled texture. If you like a good steak, this is the place to get it!
Take a Stroll
A Kinosaki winter scene
Many hotels in Kinosaki supply their guests with a light cotton kimono called a yukata. These days people don’t usually wear a yukata outdoors, unless they are attending a festival or some other special occasion. However, at Kinosaki it is common for hotel guests to change into their yukata, pull on some geta style wooden sandals and take a nostalgic stroll through the streets. The old townscape is so well preserved that, together with so many people wearing traditional Japanese clothes, it really does feel like stepping back in time. Around the town you can visit different public bathhouses, sample the many shops, cafes and restaurants, and also try some of the street-side entertainment in the old fashioned game arcades.
Kinosaki is full of quaint old fashioned buildings
Ride the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway to Mount Daishi
Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway cars for Mount Daishi
Take the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway up to the top of Mount Daishi. Halfway up there is a temple called Onsen-ji, which literally means Hot Spring Temple! At the very top there is an observatory with fantastic views over Kinosaki, the surrounding mountains, and the Japan Sea beyond. The ride to the summit takes about 7 minutes. The ropeway normally runs from 9:10 to 17:10 at 20-minute intervals, but weather and maintenance can affect services, and it is closed on the second and fourth Thursday of each month unless that day is a public holiday. An adult round trip to the summit is 1,200 yen, and an adult round trip to Onsen-ji Station is 750 yen.
The view from the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway
Bathe at an Onsen
One of Kinosaki’s many famous bathhouses
After a hard day’s sightseeing, nothing is more relaxing or rejuvenating than soaking your body in a hot spring bath. If you visit Kinosaki, you will be spoilt for choice for bathing locations! The town is famous for its seven public bathhouses and the custom of sotoyu-meguri, or public-bath hopping. All public bathhouses are tattoo-friendly and separated by gender. Of course every hotel in Kinosaki has its own hot spring bath for you to enjoy. However, it would be a shame to miss out on the bath house tour. Accommodation guests are usually given a Yumepa pass for the public bathhouses, though you should check with your accommodation. Day-trippers can buy a public bathhouse day pass for 1,500 yen at the bathhouses.
How to get to Kinosaki
The Kinosaki Limited Express pulling into Kyoto Station
The easiest way to get to Kinosaki from Kyoto is to take the “Kinosaki” Limited Express between Kyoto Station and Kinosaki Onsen Station. Kinosaki Limited Express trains are all reserved-seat services, so reserve your seat before boarding. The timetable below is based on JR West’s timetable for 03-Jul-2026. Train times, fares, and platform assignments can change, so confirm your exact train with JR West before travel.
From Kyoto Station:
| Train | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Kinosaki 1 | 7:32 | 9:52 |
| Kinosaki 5 | 11:25 | 13:49 |
| Kinosaki 7 | 13:25 | 15:49 |
| Kinosaki 9 | 15:25 | 18:00 |
From Kinosaki Onsen Station:
| Train | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Kinosaki 12 | 10:34 | 13:06 |
| Kinosaki 16 | 12:31 | 15:06 |
| Kinosaki 18 | 14:35 | 17:06 |
| Kinosaki 20 | 16:31 | 19:07 |
If these times don’t suit you, then that is not a problem. At other times you can take a Limited Express from Kyoto Station as far as Fukuchiyama Station, and there transfer to a train for Kinosaki Onsen Station. It will take a little bit longer, and the total fare will depend on the route and train type you choose. To find the best train for your schedule, use the JR West Route Maps and Timetables page. Search from Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen, confirm the date, fare, reserved seat, and platform, and check the station departure boards before boarding.
Kinosaki Limited Express trains usually depart from platforms 30 or 31 at Kyoto Station, but always check the departure boards
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 03-Jul-2026.
