🕓 2025/5/30
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Table of Contents
About Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyōgo Prefecture stretches from the heart of Japan’s Kansai region to the Seto Inland Sea, the Sea of Japan, and even across to Awaji Island, encompassing an array of landscapes where history, nature, and an internationally influenced port-town culture intersect. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Himeji Castle, numerous well-preserved castle towns and post stations, and the city of Kōbe, where exotic charm cultivated since the port opened mingles with the latest trends.
Touring opportunities are equally diverse: the “castle in the sky” ruins of Takeda Castle, the retro-modern Western residences of the Kitano Ijinkan district, hot-spring hopping at Kinosaki Onsen, the flower fields of Awaji Island, and the roaring whirlpools of the Naruto Strait—all vivid encounters where history and nature meet.
With so much to explore, the three luxury hotels introduced below provide exceptional bases for an unforgettable stay in Hyōgo.
Three Select Ryokans with Traditional Tatami Rooms in Hyōgo Prefecture
1. Nishimuraya Honkan
■ The Appeal of “Nishimuraya Honkan”
Nishimuraya Honkan stands in the very heart of Kinosaki Onsen, a hot-spring town with a 1,300-year history, and embodies the essence of Japanese omotenashi hospitality. Its own 165-year legacy offers guests a rare chance to touch a strand of Japan’s history and tradition—an experience that feels like stepping into a timeless story.
1. Footprints of Literary Masters: A Hideaway Loved by Writers and Artists
Since long ago, Kinosaki Onsen—and Nishimuraya Honkan itself—has been a favored retreat for literary figures such as Shiga Naoya and Yosano Akiko. Known as an “inn of letters,” it still conveys the quiet atmosphere and creative spark that must have inspired those writers. This heritage lends the ryokan an intellectual and artistic aura, making it ideal for travelers who cherish literature or history and seek a contemplative hideaway beyond mere lodging.
2. Architectural Finesse: The Harmony of Sukiya Design and Japanese Garden
Guest rooms face meticulously tended gardens, exuding the restrained beauty of traditional Japanese aesthetics. Chief among them is the annex “Hirata-kan,” designed in the mid-Shōwa era by master carpenter Hirata Masaya and now a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. In August 2024 a new suite cluster—Botan, Sakura, Yamabuki, and Matsu—debuted, showing how the inn breathes new life into its traditions. Within these sukiya spaces, guests can relax amid the refined simplicity and tea-ceremony sensibility that define Japan’s aesthetic core.
3. Blessings of Tajima: Seasonal Masterpieces on the Table
Under the credo “Passing on the Taste and Spirit of Nishimuraya,” the cuisine celebrates seasonal bounty from Tajima’s rich natural larder. The winter specialty “Matsuba Crab” course epitomizes a devotion to local, seasonal flavors. As befits a luxury ryokan that prizes dining as highly as its baths and rooms, meals here rise to a cultural experience of gastronomy, showcasing ingredients such as Tajima beef and winter crab while honoring the region’s food culture.
4. Spirit of Kinosaki: Healing Moments in an Ancient Hot Spring
Guests can soak in the venerable waters of Kinosaki Onsen, famed for 1,300 years. Three indoor baths, each with a different character, deliver the soft chloride spring that melts travel fatigue. Select rooms—such as “Asuka-no-Ma” and “Sakura-no-Ma”—also feature private open-air tubs for an even more personal onsen experience. By offering both shared baths and private rotenburo, Nishimuraya Honkan satisfies a broad spectrum of guests while preserving traditional communal bathing culture.
5. The Tradition of Sotoyu Meguri: Strolling the Town in Yukata
Kinosaki Onsen is synonymous with sotoyu meguri—touring the public bathhouses—and the ryokan actively supports this custom. Guests don yukata and wooden geta to visit six atmospheric public baths dotted across town. Kinosaki was once ranked “Japan’s most yukata-suitable onsen town,” attesting to its charm. With the entire town as your stage, immersion is total. Note that from 1 April 2024 the inn accepts guests aged ten and above only, a rule aimed at preserving the serene, time-honored ambience of the hot-spring quarter.
■ Access to “Nishimuraya Honkan”
- Official website: https://www.nishimuraya.ne.jp/honkan/
- Access: About a 5-minute walk from JR Kinosaki Onsen Station
- Address: 469 Yushima, Kinosaki-chō, Toyooka-shi, Hyōgo 669-6101, Japan
- Google Maps：https://maps.app.goo.gl/uizqVrGrsvyk3Gky6
2. Arima Onsen Kinzan
出典：有馬温泉 欽山 公式HP
■ The Appeal of “Arima Onsen Kinzan”
Arima Onsen Kinzan is a distinguished ryōtei-style ryokan set in Arima Onsen, one of Japan’s three oldest hot-spring resorts whose legends reach back to mythic times. Renowned for both comfort and cuisine, the inn has earned the Michelin Guide’s highest comfort rating of “5 Pavilions” and one Michelin star for its kaiseki dining.
1. Arima’s Two Famous Springs: The Blessings of Kinsen and Ginsen
At Kinzan you can enjoy Arima’s signature double springs—rust-red, iron-rich Kinsen (“gold spring”) and crystal-clear Ginsen (“silver spring”), said to enhance natural healing. The grand bath offers the deeply warming Kinsen, while certain new rooms such as the Kicchō and East-wing suites feature private open-air baths fed by Ginsen. A soak in both springs, each with its own mineral makeup and benefits, lets you experience Arima’s centuries-old spa culture all at once.
2. The Ultimate Culinary Experience: Michelin-Starred Kyoto-Style Kaiseki
Kinzan’s pride is its Michelin-starred Kyoto-inspired creative kaiseki. Seasonal ingredients appear in a multi-course feast that dazzles the eye as well as the palate, combining classical technique with artful presentation. Careful selection of serving ware heightens the sensory impact. Each dish—blending Kyoto refinement with imaginative flair—feels like savoring a work of art.
3. Spaces for the Chosen Few: Graceful Facilities throughout the Property
The premises include the fully private dining house “Hanakaidō,” a bar, banqueting rooms, an esthetic salon, a tranquil garden, and the gift shop “Hanakōji.” From intimate meals to restorative treatments and refined leisure, guests enjoy a luxury experience that can be completed without ever leaving the grounds. Kinzan welcomes travelers as a hideaway resort where “simply staying” is the main purpose of the trip.
4. The Essence of Omotenashi: Polished Hospitality in a Haven of Quiet
Guided by the tea-ceremony spirit of wabi, sabi, and wholehearted respect, Kinzan offers meticulous hospitality. Selfless, intuitive service—set against Arima’s serene mountain backdrop—creates deep relaxation. Every guest feels individually valued, ensuring a stay of perfect harmony.
■ Access to “Arima Onsen Kinzan”
- Official website: https://www.kinzan.co.jp/
- Access: About a 3-minute walk from Kobe Electric Railway Arima-Onsen Station
- Address: 1302-4 Arima-chō, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyōgo 651-1401, Japan
- Google Maps : https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ko5dsfvpNt3sS7tk9
3. Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland
■ The Appeal of “Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland”
Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland is an all-suite luxury hotel rising on the Kobe waterfront with sweeping views of the port. Guided by the concept of “a hotel stay that plays a sensuous suite of beauty, fragrance, sound, cuisine, and wellness,” it offers experiences designed to engage all five senses.
1. Unrivaled Vistas: Every Suite with an Ocean-front Terrace
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All guest rooms are spacious suites, each equipped with a private ocean-view terrace. Whether on the Luxurious Floor near the water (4th–6th) or the airy Executive Floor (7th–10th), you enjoy exclusive panoramas of Kobe Port. Named accommodations such as the top-tier La Reine Suite add further distinction, ensuring that every stay is steeped in both the sea’s changing moods and the city’s sparkling lights.
2. Culinary Excellence: “La Suite Quality” and the Bounty of Hyōgo’s Five Regions
In its restaurants the hotel champions “La Suite Quality,” sourcing prime ingredients from Hyōgo’s historic five regions—Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji. Chefs transform local produce into exquisite dishes, perfectly paired with wines selected by the hotel’s sommeliers. From fine-dining venues to casual menus, quality never wavers, letting guests taste the terroir of Hyōgo at every meal.
3. Ultimate Relaxation: Spa & Esthetic Care and a Special Wellness Program
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The in-house spa and esthetic salon La Cher features a women-only direct elevator, allowing guests to move in bathrobes with ease. Signature services such as the “Lumination Treatment” and premium beauty brands like ReFa create a rich menu of therapies. In cooperation with its sister health facility Umekita Onsen Ren, the hotel delivers holistic wellness for body and mind.
4. A Queen’s Hideaway: Royal-Lineage Prestige Suites
At the pinnacle stand suites named for kings and queens. Chief among them, the La Reine Suite—created for the hotel’s 10th anniversary—showcases furnishings by Italian royal purveyor Poltrona Frau. The result is world-class luxury and design that let guests savor the elegance of a private royal residence.
5. A Refined Social Stage: Signature Events and Prime Location
Hosting events such as “Wine & Talk Dinner” with Master Sommelier Shinya Tasaki and collaborations with Kenzo Estate, the hotel doubles as a stage for high-level gatherings. Though set in prime Kobe Harborland, it maintains an air of elegant seclusion. The Ferris wheel, dining, and entertainment at umie Mosaic are just steps away, and banquet halls overlooking the harbor accommodate private parties and meetings. As a hub of culture and society, the hotel continues to attract discerning guests.
■ Access to “Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland”
- Official website: https://www.l-s.jp/
- Access: About a 4-minute walk from Minato-Motomachi Station on the Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line
- Address: 7-2 Hatoba-chō, Chūō-ku, Kobe 650-0042, Japan
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZDgyFDRTA5S9oi7r9