The Gran Resort Kinosaki

The best part of dinner was the delicious appetizers and rice porridge. I did get to try a crab feast with grilled crab, crab sashimi, and crab sukiyaki, but taking the meat out of the shells took so long that I was worn out and couldn’t really enjoy the meal. The staff were thoughtful about changing my wet towel midway through dinner. I came to Kinosaki because I wanted crab. Places to stay were either expensive or didn’t take solo guests, so it took a while to find this one. The building looked old, but it was clean and comfortable. My room felt too big for one person and was a little scary, lol. The large public bath had great water, and I had it to myself both times, perhaps because there weren’t many guests. Breakfast was entirely Japanese. I prefer bread in the morning, so I wish there’d been a choice of Western or Japanese breakfast. I was glad coffee came with the meal. They picked me up at the station, and when I asked about a ride to the aquarium, they said they could take me, which was a big help. Everyone on staff was very pleasant. Thanks for looking after me!

Could you check whether the hotel gives guests complimentary tickets for bathing at Kinosaki Onsen’s seven public baths? If not, can tickets be bought there? Also, is breakfast served buffet-style or as individual set meals?

We came on a spring weekend and chose a Japanese-style room. It was roomy enough for our family of four, and the children could sleep comfortably behind the shoji screens while we sat in the chairs by the window. The front desk has yukata for children, which makes this an affordable family option. The spacious public bath was quiet enough for us to relax without crowds. You do need a rental car to get here, but that also means you can enjoy a peaceful stay. With inbound tourism increasing, inns like this where you can unwind are precious.

The crab meal was reasonably priced, and the staff were all polite and helpful. The dining room has more of a cafeteria feel, and there were a lot of customers even on a weekday. The hotel is in a somewhat inconvenient part of Kinosaki, in a two-story building that feels a little old, though the inside is clean. The large public bath can hold around 10 people, but it has just one tub and no sauna. Beer and other drinks are sold in a vending machine. A large can costs 500 yen.