Kobe Minato Onsen Ren - Adult Only

The onsen was decent, but for the price, the facilities and service didn’t meet expectations. Breakfast was extremely unappetizing. I’ve had many good Japanese breakfasts before, but I couldn’t find a single edible dish here. I also noticed what seemed like preferential treatment for locals over foreigners. Check-in was unwelcoming, and nobody explained where to go. Even though we arrived during off-peak hours, we were told every room with a view of Kobe Tower was booked. At 3 PM one of our rooms still wasn’t ready, although checkout is at 10 AM. It’s hard to understand why cleaning takes so long. This was a very disappointing stay.

The two onsen facilities were a highlight. The ground-floor one is open to all visitors and has different types of indoor and outdoor baths. The top-floor onsen is only for hotel guests, and its baths look out over the sea. The view is clear, though now and then ships pass by, adding a bit of movement to the otherwise peaceful setting. Every room has a bath, and the suites have baths designed to feel like the onsen. There’s complimentary Wi-Fi throughout, and the wristband system makes room access and on-site payments simple. Our west-facing Seaside Deluxe room had a comfortable mix of Japanese and Western styles. It had two beds and enough living area to lay out two futons. Yukatas and pajamas came in S/M/L sizes, and there were plenty of towels for everyone. We were there as a family. The food was excellent. Dinner was a buffet with sushi, sashimi, Kobe beef sukiyaki, and lots of small dishes, plus local and famous varieties of sake and shochu. Breakfast had plenty of choice too, from bread and egg dishes to Japanese options like porridge, miso soup, and assorted small bowls. A complimentary shuttle runs to and from Sannomiya Station twice an hour. The hotel is also near Kobe Port Tower, the Maritime Museum, and the aquarium, making it a handy base for exploring Kobe.

China town is only about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, which is handy since Kobe feels much bigger than I expected. We weren't there for the view, and it was pretty industrial anyway, though the balcony was nice. The room was spacious, and getting up and heading straight to the big onsen bath each morning was a great ritual. We loved staying here.

I went back three times during my four days in Kobe because I enjoyed the hot springs so much. There are several kinds of baths and two types of sauna, which made it easy to unwind. The place also has a hotel, day spa, gym, restaurant, pool, and yoga classes. It's right by Kobe Port, with lovely views over the harbor.