Hotels near Kobe Oji Zoo, Kobe

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.

Great hotel to stay in and relax. They have everything we need to rest with comforts, onsen, sauna, massage chair, free ramen every night and free ice cream after onsen, just to name a few. Our room (18sqm) is more spacious than the typical business hotel. Hotel location is good, right at the edge of Kobe Chinatown, 3 min walk to the Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street, 7 min walk to the nearest JR Line of Hanshin Line Motomachi Station and 10-15min to Sannomiya Center Gai Shopping Street.

I don't speak Japanese, only a little English, so I was worried I wouldn't understand the check-in explanation. To my surprise, I actually understood it, and the staff member who explained everything was very thoughtful with their language. There's a shuttle service, and if you don't speak Japanese and want the driver to pick you up, you can ask for help at the Arima Town Tourist Information Center.

We stayed at Negiya Ryofukaku in Arima Onsen during the maple leaf season, opting for the West Wing's deluxe Japanese-Western mixed room with a mountain view. The hotel staff were incredibly attentive and thoughtful, making us feel truly comfortable. Looking out the window, the mountain was ablaze with vibrant red maple leaves, like a flowing oil painting—the scenery far exceeded our expectations. Upon check-out, the hotel even thoughtfully arranged a car to take us to Arima Station, which was incredibly convenient.

First off, the rooms were really clean and spacious. I booked a connecting room which was perfect for a big family; one room for the elders and one for the kids. The front desk gave us a room on the 10th floor with an ocean view. Below us were the Ocean Museum and Meriken Park, offering not just a wide-open view but also super convenient access for walking around with the kids. Secondly, there are attractions nearby like the Anpanman Children's Museum and Daimaru department store, both about 900 meters away. If it's under 30 degrees Celsius, you can easily walk there. We often took a taxi to Sannomiya, which only took about 5 minutes. Lastly, I have to praise the pool. The water was crystal clear and clean, with one large pool and a jacuzzi. Floats and armbands were available for free use, and the best part was, there was hardly anyone there! 3300 JPY per person was definitely worth it. The bakery in the lobby (I think it was called Camellia) was excellent. They restocked daily, and their bread was more authentic than most bakeries in Kobe.

Not sure what has happened to Japan standard in the past couple of years but had called the hotel to confirm that linens are scent free (standard in Japan before) and was told yes. Unfortunately they are not, this new laundry detergent that is slowly spreading throughout Japan is absolutely horrible causing all sorts of allergic reactions (not only to me.) I start having rashes, compromised breathing, and inflammation issues. If it’s the same detergent used back in America, then it might be eco-friendly, but definitely not human friendly. I truly hope that Japan goes back to the way it was before the introduction of some western products filled with harmful chemicals to humans. It is not because you don’t react to it that it is not harming your body, it’s only a question of time and when it does, you won’t know why and there is no turning back. Take it from an Asian American born who was the biggest fan of American marketed products. We do have good products like ECOLAB, which is both, sustainable for the environment without compromising human health. Maybe laundry company should look into that company or simply return to Japanese products before. Good thing thing their pyjama are still scent free so I had to wrap the bed and cover with their pyjama to get through the night.

The room facilities were decent, and the front desk service was very warm and welcoming. However, there was a noticeable 'newly renovated' smell in the room. The hotel's location is excellent, very close to the subway station with a shopping street nearby, though I didn't get a chance to explore the area during my stay.

Perfect quiet onsen resort to unwind and relax. The kaiseki dinner was a highlight and buffet breakfast offered a great variety. Onsen is not too big, not crowded during our stay but probably will if it gets busy. The room was a decent size with good air conditioning and being away from the busy streets made for a peaceful stay. The only downside was the bathtub leaked whenever we showered. Free parking is available, though it’s located underneath the property so it’s best to drop off your bags first if you have a lot of luggage.

Great place to stay. Not far from main attractions. Two stops away in a train. Main host is friendly and speaks English. He was very helpful with recommendations as well. The place was super clean.

스마 해변과 가까워서 매우 좋은 호텔입니다. 서비스가 아주 좋았고 시설도 매우 만족스럽습다만 호텔의 특성(?)상 가족보다는 커플이 방문하기에 좋습니다.