20 Lodgings in Kansai

The popular open-air bath looks out across the beach

Enjoy good food with high-quality, spacious rooms and hot springs

Enjoy the perfect blend of thrill and tranquility at LIBER HOTEL AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN, an official hotel, adored by LIVE JAPAN readers. Located a stone's throw from the celebrated Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, it's an ideal retreat after a day filled with adventure. Indulge in a blissful spa experience, complete with a natural hot spring and sauna, set within the hotel's serene confines.

The Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, a five-star accommodation, is situated in the vicinity of Namba Station, a prime tourist hotspot in Osaka. It is guaranteed to charm our LIVE JAPAN readers! On the top floor, there's a rooftop eatery where you can savor delectable dishes while admiring the impressive panorama. The combination of gourmet food and mesmerizing views is bound to turn your stay into an extraordinary experience. It is an ideal destination for those looking to indulge in a lavish getaway with family or friends. By choosing to stay here, you're on track to creating remarkable memories.

Situated in Sumoto, 2.7 km from Ohama Beach, Shimahana features accommodation with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness centre and a restaurant. With a bar, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation provides free shuttle service, and luggage storage for guests. At the hotel, the rooms have a balcony. All rooms in Shimahana are fitted with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. At Shimahana guests are welcome to take advantage of a sauna and a hot spring bath. Guests at the hotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Sumoto, like cycling. Tokushima Awaodori Airport is 52 km from the property.

Built in the Meiji era and registered as a cultural asset, Toshiharu Ryokan offers traditional accommodation just a 3-minute walk from Gojo Station and 1 subway stop from JR Kyoto Train Station. Massages are available. Guests at Ryokan Toshiharu sleep in Japanese futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor, and have air conditioning. Green tea and a Yukata robe are provided, and some rooms look out on a small garden. The ryokan is 1 km from Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and about a 15-minute walk from Gojo-Ohashi Bridge and the Kamogawa River. Daimaru Department Store is 900 metres away. Although shared, baths are reserved and then used privately in turns. For breakfast, guests can choose to savour a Japanese served at an additional charge.

Located right in front of Shirahama Beach, Shiraraso Grand Hotel offers both Japanese-style accommodations and Western rooms with a tatami area. Rooms come with ocean views and Japanese Yukata robes. Guest can relax in the indoor/outdoor hot-spring baths and request relaxing massages for an extra charge. The hotel is a 10-minute drive or bus ride from JR Shirahama Train Station. Free WiFi is available in all areas. In the room, guests can sit by the seating area with low tables and enjoy watching the TV. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer. An outdoor swimming pool is open during the summer season and guests can purchase local products at the souvenir shop. Private reservable hot-spring baths can be requested and a game room is available as well. Free Wi-Fi is available in the public areas. Guests can enjoy diving in the area throughout the year, and beach illumination lights attract tourists from December to February. A traditional multi-course dinner and a Japanese breakfast set are served at the dining room. Fresh local seafood dishes are offered at Isokaze restaurant. Hotel Grand Shiraraso is a 15-minute drive from Adventure World. The Sandanbeki Caves and Toretore Market are located a 10-minute drive away. Nanki Shirahama Airport is a 15-minute drive away.

Hotel New Awaji offers spacious rooms with beautiful sea views, some with a private outdoor bath. It features public hot spring baths, an outdoor sea-side pool and 5 dining options. Rooms at Hotel New Awaji have tatami-mat flooring and traditional futon bedding. They are fitted with an LCD TV and a fridge. Some rooms have a terrace and a private open-air bath. Guests can relax with various types of massages including Thai, Hawaiian and Thalassotherapy. Hotel New Awaji has a playground and offers bicycle rentals. Guests with a dinner-inclusive rate can enjoy traditional Japanese meals, prepared with fresh seafood and Awaji beef, in the room. Home-made pastry can be enjoyed in tea lounge Seagull, while night lounge Hibiscus offers karaoke and Bar Awaji features jazz music. Hotel New Awaji is a 10-minute ride from the Sumoto Express Bus Centre, with the hotel’s complimentary shuttle. Sumoto-jo Castle is a 10-minute drive away.

Located in the Nanki Katsuura hot-spring area, guests at Hotel Urashima can enjoy natural Bokido cave hot-spring baths. The hotel offers 4 other public hot-spring baths. The property offers free shuttle service by car or ferry for limited hours per day, both a 10-minute ride from JR Kii Katsuura Station. Free WiFi is available in the public areas. The air-conditioned rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) floors and Japanese futon bedding. A TV, fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags are included in each. Rooms come with a private toilet but bathrooms are shared. An outdoor swimming pool is open during the summer and a coin launderette is provided for guests to use. Local gifts can be purchased at the souvenir shop and a karaoke room is available as well. A breakfast and dinner buffet are served at the hotel’s dining room. Urashima Hotel is a 15-minute walk from Katsuura Fishing Port and a 20-minute drive from Taiji Whale Museum.

Offering public baths, OYO旅館 奈良白鹿荘 Nara is just a 2-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Train Station. The air-conditioned rooms feature free Wi-Fi and a full private bathroom. The Japanese rooms at OYO旅館 奈良白鹿荘 Nara Ryokan have tatami (woven-straw) floors, shoji paper screens and traditional futon beds. Each comes with a fridge and satellite TV. Kofuku-ji Temple and Nara National Museum are both a 10-minute walk. Todaiji Temple is 1.2 km away and OYO旅館 奈良白鹿荘 Nara is a 10-minute walk from Isuien. Bicycle rental is offered, allowing for fun and easy exploration. Kansai Airport is a 100-minute bus ride away. A Japanese breakfast is served in the banquet hall. Dinner is served in guests’ rooms.

Hotel Kirinosato Takahara features outdoor and indoor hot spring baths, only a 2-minute walk from the World Heritage Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes. It offers free Wi-Fi throughout the property, a terrace and rooms with a Japanese interior and Western beds. Guests can go hiking through mountain paths or unwind in one of the hotel’s public hot spring baths. Kirinosato Takahara organizes charged activities such as walking the Kumano Kodo, dressing in Heian-era clothes or experience farming. Facilities include drinks vending machines, a shop and free parking. There are Spanish and Chinese speaking staff. Kirinosato Takahara is a 3-minute walk from both the Takijiri Oji Temple and the Kirinosato Takahara Kumano Jinja Shrine. JR Kii Tanabe Station is a 45-minute bus ride away. Upon reservation, the hotel offers a free shuttle to/from Gyubadoji Michinoeki Station, Takijiri and the Arisugawa bus stop. Air-conditioned rooms have a tatami (woven-straw) floor, an LCD TV and a small fridge. Guests sleep in Western beds. All rooms come with an attached private toilet, while bathrooms are shared. A Japanese breakfast and dinner with local dishes are served at the dining room.

Boasting a spacious garden overlooking the Kumano-Nada Sea and the gentle mountains along the coast, Yado Kayuu features hot-spring baths, a summertime outdoor pool, tennis courts and Japanese rooms with sea views. Traditional Kaiseki Japanese cuisine is available for dinner. Guests at Hana Irodori no Yado Kayuu sleep in futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor. Each air-conditioned room has an en suite bathroom and an electric kettle. Slippers are also provided. The hotel is a 15-minute drive from JR Kii-Katsuura Train Station on the Kisei Line, and a free shuttle is offered. It is a 10-minute walk to the Taijicho Whale Museum and Taiji Kujirahama Park.

Ako Onsen Shokichi has sea views, free WiFi and free private parking, situated in Ako, 2.6 km from Karafuneyama Beach. It is set 37 km from Hachimangu Shrine and features a lift. The wellness area includes a hot spring bath, a hot tub, a public bath and an open-air bath. At the ryokan, the units come with a tatami. At the ryokan, units have air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. A selection of options including local specialities and juice is available for the Asian breakfast. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Guests can enjoy the indoor pool at the ryokan. Bizen Fukuoka Folk Museum is 37 km from Ako Onsen Shokichi, while Nakazaki Residence is 37 km from the property. Okayama Airport is 65 km away.

Kyoto Ryokan SAKANOUE offers Japanese-style accommodation with tatami (woven-straw) flooring with traditional futon bedding and Japanese Modern Room with Twin and Double bed. The Wi-Fi is available in the all areas. The Kyoto Ryokan SAKANOUE is in close proximity of Gion’s historical spots. It is a 5-minute walk to the Yasaka Shrine or Kodaiji Temple, and a 15-minute walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with a TV and electric kettle . They come with a private bathroom including a shower and bathtub. Spacious baths are available on site, upon request. The Kyoto-Style Inn provides luggage storage.

Seikoro Ryokan is located in Kyoto, a 7-minute drive from JR Kyoto Station. Featuring traditional Japanese-style accommodation, it offers a public bath and massage services. Free Wi-Fi access is available at the entire property. All guestrooms come with ironing facilities and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. The en suite bathroom comes with toiletries and a bathtub. The public bath area features spa facilities and wooden bathtubs. The hotel also provides luggage storage and has a gift shop. Japanese or Western breakfast is served at Ryokan Seikoro. Authentic local dishes are served for dinner in a traditional Japanese setting. The Ryokan is a 5-minute drive from Sanjusangen-do Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Kyoto National Museum and Shichijo Train Station are about a 10-minute walk away. Free parking is provided.

Offering tranquil outdoor hot-spring baths with nature views, a Nakai-san personal attendant, karaoke, massages and sumptuous Kaiseki dinners, Yunominesou is a 10-minute walk from Tsuboyu hot spring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional rooms at Yunominesou Ryokan have sliding paper screens, floor cushions and Japanese futon bedding on a tatami (woven-straw) floor. Guests can relax in the Yukata robe or watch the LCD TV. All rooms include a toilet, an electric kettle and a fridge. The ryokan is a 10-minute walk from the beautiful Kumano Kodo forest path, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is 37 km from JR Shingu Train Station and 53 km from JR Kiitanabe Train Station. On-site parking is free. Guests can enjoy a game of ping-pong or billiards, or browse the gift shop. Two private hot-spring bathes can be used when it's available. A set-menu Japanese breakfast and dinner are served at the property restaurant. Guests with dinner included in the rate must check in by 18:30 to eat dinner at the property. Guests checking in after this time may not be served dinner, and no refund will be given. There are no restaurants in the area, so dining at the hotel is recommended.

Located in Koyasan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 高野山 宿坊 常喜院 -Koyasan Shukubo Jokiin- offers free private parking. All rooms include a flat-screen TV. Certain rooms have a seating area where you can relax. Rooms have a shared bathroom. 高野山 宿坊 常喜院 -Koyasan Shukubo Jokiin- features free WiFi throughout the property. There is luggage storage space at the property. Guests can participate in the morning prayers upon request. The property is a minute's walk from Kongobu-ji Temple. The temple building is also situated nearby.

Boasting sea views, Kurhouse Shirahama provides accommodation with a spa and wellness centre, a fitness centre and an open-air bath, around 2.1 km from Ezura Beach. Offering free private parking, the 2-star ryokan is 600 metres from Shirarahama Beach. The accommodation offers a sauna, hot spring bath, family-friendly restaurant and free WiFi. The units in the ryokan are fitted with a kettle. There is a private bathroom with hot tub in some units, along with slippers, a hair dryer and free toiletries. All units will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. An Asian breakfast is available every morning at the ryokan. There is a coffee shop, and a minimarket is also available. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Kurhouse Shirahama also features an indoor pool and a hot tub for guests to relax in. A car rental service is available at the accommodation. Rinkaiura Beach is 2.5 km from Kurhouse Shirahama, while Kishu Museum of Art is 1.9 km from the property. Nanki–Shirahama Airport is 2 km away.

Just a 7-minute walk from Higashiyama Subway Station and Heian Shrine, the completely non-smoking Kyoto Travellers Inn offers bicycle rental, a restaurant and rooms with a flat-screen TV and free internet. The cosy rooms at Travellers Inn Kyoto include a refrigerator and private bathroom. Guests can choose a classical Western room with sofa or traditional Japanese room with futon bedding and tatami floor. Kyoto Municipal Zoo is just a 3-minute walk from the hotel, and Nanzen-ji Temple is only a 10-minute walk. Yasaka Shrine and the Gion area are about a 15-minute walk away. Guests can unwind with a massage or soak in the hot public bath. The friendly English-speaking staff offer luggage storage and laundry services. Free WiFi is available in public areas. A designated smoking area is also available for smokers. The hotel’s restaurant is open for all meals and serves Japanese and Western dishes.

Featuring an open-air bath and views of quiet street, Ryokan Asukasou at the entrancne of Nara park is a recently renovated ryokan located in Nara, 1.8 km from Nara Station. It is set 20 km from Iwafune Shrine and provides a lift. There is a terrace and guests can make use of free WiFi, free private parking and an electric vehicle charging station. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. The units are equipped with heating facilities. Guests can also relax in the shared lounge area. Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium is 23 km from the ryokan, while Nippon Christ Kyodan Shijonawate Church is 24 km away. Itami Airport is 54 km from the property.