5-Star Hotels in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

"The room was quite spacious, and the massage chair was a pleasant surprise – very comfortable to use. The room introduction was quite detailed, and it was my first time experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan. The tatami mats were interesting, and I slept well. The entire hotel felt like a museum; despite its age, it had a lot of character. I felt like I got a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, which I really appreciated. The service, apart from being led to our room with traditional Japanese bows and the room introduction, was mostly self-service. However, this was my first time staying at a 'one night, two meals' ryokan, so I'm not sure if all onsens are like this. We also didn't have large luggage, just our bags, so maybe that's why we didn't notice any issues with luggage service. On a positive note, the front desk immediately knew which pair of shoes were ours when we checked out, which was good service. On the downside, the room's air conditioning unit was so well hidden that it took ages to find, and I was cold for quite a while. The phone either didn't work or I couldn't figure out how to use it. Also, we booked the private onsen from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. After relaxing for a bit, it was already close to 11 or 12. The public onsen closed from 12 AM to 1 AM, so we couldn't use it. We needed about 8 or 9 hours of sleep, and breakfast was scheduled for 9 AM. After breakfast, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM, the public onsen was closed. When we asked, the front desk informed us that check-out was strictly at 11 AM and we couldn't use the public onsen after checking out. So, we missed out on the public onsen, which was a real shame and couldn't be negotiated. In any five-star hotel in any country I've traveled to, it's usually possible to discuss using facilities after check-out. But it seems traditional onsen ryokans are all this rigid. While that might be how Japanese people are, for a hotel of this price, and for clearly inexperienced foreigners (we were even reminded we wore our kimonos the wrong way), when asking about meal times, couldn't they have kindly informed us that we needed to plan our breakfast, dinner, and onsen times accordingly? The food was light and flavorful. I don't eat seafood, and they were able to adjust the meals to my preferences. Communication two months prior was very responsive. However, for us, it was a bit too plain; Japanese people would probably love it. This was my first trip with my husband after giving birth, and I had been looking forward to the onsen part for a long time. I was very happy on the check-in day, but not being able to use the public onsen on the second day was still a big regret."

"The hotel itself isn't up to par. The amenities provided are quite subpar; the toothbrush, for instance, was so rough it made my gums bleed. Right from check-in, they try to upsell you to a more expensive room. If you refuse, they deliberately assign you a low-floor room with a terrible view – I'm convinced it's intentional. So, if you want a decent experience, you're practically forced to upgrade. After upgrading, they cheerfully provide a hotel map and some greenhouse coupons. Otherwise, you just get a key and that's it. While I can't pinpoint any specific service issues, there was an overall 'off' and unsettling vibe. Even the renowned architecture nearby is poorly maintained. You can't truly appreciate the details; it only looks decent from a distance. This is quite rare in Japan, where I've always found people meticulous about maintenance. This place, however, completely overturned my expectations. Overall, it feels like quite a desolate and depressing place."

"First off, let's talk about the transportation. If you're taking the train, get off at JR Maiko Station; the hotel is a convenient 4-5 minute walk away. I initially saw that the hotel was marked as being closer to Kasumigaoka Station. So, I walked from JR Maiko Station to Maiko Park Station, transferred to a private railway for one stop to Kasumigaoka, and then took a small path to the hotel. It took me half a day to figure out the area and realize that JR Maiko Station was actually closer. 2) The large public bath is excellent, and it even has an outdoor section. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge glass walkway nearby is definitely worth a visit. 3) The Mitsui Outlet Park is also great for shopping and very close by."

"Comfortable and soothing ryokan in the heart of Arima Onsen town at the top of a steep hill! Kaiseki was awesome in quality and detailed in appearance! Soothing and relaxing onsen bath with Gold and Silver onsen. Service staff was attentive and helpful, especially the conceige! Free IPA and highball drinks after dinner, too! Nespresso coffee available in the morning. Try it to enjoy the relaxation in Kobe!"