Hot Springs & Cherry Blossoms 2.5 Hours from Kyoto

    LOS ANGELES, CA, January 24, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Kinosaki Onsen, which is said to be the birthplace of hot spring hopping, has seven hot springs each with their own charm. Since ancient times, the people of Kinosaki Onsen have thought of the town as one large ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, with the inns as guest rooms and the streets as the hallways, while they welcome guests who come to enter the health-benefitting hot springs.

This mentality still lives on in the town. When you arrive at your ryokan, slip on a yukata (a light cotton kimono) and relieve your daily fatigue by visiting the hot springs.

Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in an Award-Winning Hot Spring Town
From early to mid-April, walk along a cherry blossom-lined canal through a hot spring town steeped in 1,300 years of history and culture. A fundamental part of enjoying Kinosaki Onsen is visiting the public hot springs while wearing a yukata. Change into a yukata at your ryokan before strolling through town past beautiful cherry blossom trees. Take in the wonderful scenery that can only be found in Kinosaki Onsen while listening to the clip-clop sounds of geta, Japanese wooden sandals.

Springtime Sweets
In between hot springs, take some time to savor the flavor of Kinosaki Onsen by trying out the endless variety of sweet shops lining the town streets. Ice-cream, cakes, seasonal Japanese sweets, and more are waiting for you this spring.

Blossoms Near Kinosaki
Kinosaki Onsen is surrounded by lush mountains, crystal clear seas with white sandy beaches, and expansive countryside. Each area offers unique experiences and, of course,
beautiful cherry blossom scenes of their own.

Takeno Seaside Area
Cherry blossoms bloom along the Takeno River and near the mountains. They can be viewed from early to mid-April.

Izushi Castle Town
Many cherry blossoms bloom around the Izushi Castle Ruins and are viewable from early to mid-
April.

Kannabe Highlands
The cherry blossoms in the Kannabe Highlands bloom a little later than those found in
Kinosaki. They can be viewed from mid to late April.

Kinosaki Onsen is a town of time-honored hot springs dating back 1300 years ago. It is home to seven public bathhouses, all located within walking distance of each other and the train station. Guests are encouraged to wear yukata and geta, stroll through the town, and go onsen-hopping.

Toyooka is a downtown area home to the Oriental White Stork, a bird that was revived from extinction in this very town. The city's efforts restored the Oriental White Stork population, and now over 250 fly the skies of Japan. Toyooka is also known for the Genbudo Caves.

Izushi is the resident castle town, popular for its nostalgic atmosphere of Edo-era Japan. It is home to many interesting attractions such as castle ruins, a samurai house, a kabuki theater, and a clock tower. The town's specialty is Izushi Sara Soba, buckwheat noodles served in small portions on small plates.

Kannabe is a mountainous area with fun activities year-round. In the winter, one can go skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding. In the warm months, one can go camping, paragliding, fishing, tree climbing, and more. Kannabe is the perfect destination for adventurers.

Takeno is a quaint fisherman town that is a hidden gem among the northern coast of Hyogo Prefecture. The beach has clear, blue waters while the mountains surrounding it offer great hiking opportunities. It is encouraged to stroll through the peaceful town, where one can find small shops and traditional landscapes.

Tanto is a quiet countryside town with magnificent nature—including a giant field of tulips in the spring and brilliant red-leaved trees in the fall.

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