20 Lodgings in Kansai

Great seafood, great hot springs, and invigorating views

A well-established ryokan where people of culture would gather for traditional performance art during the Taisho period

Exuding an Edo-period ambiance, this traditional inn offers the best of the Ryujin 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.

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.

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.

Hotel Sanrakuso features Japanese-style rooms with beautiful ocean views. Guests can soak in the hot-spring baths or request for relaxing massages during their stay. A free shuttle runs between the hotel and JR Shirahama Train Station, which is a 30-minute drive. The air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV, a fridge, and an electric kettle with green tea. Each has tatami (woven-straw) flooring and Japanese futon bedding. The en suite bathroom comes with a hairdryer. Guests can enjoy singing at the hotel’s karaoke room or purchase local products at the gift shop. The lobby features beautiful views of Shirahama Beach and provides free WiFi access. A vending machine is available for drinks and ice cream. The on-site restaurant, Wakuwaku offers a breakfast buffet of Japanese dishes. Sanrakuso Hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Nanki Shirahama Airport. Senjojiki Plateau and Sandanbeki Cliff are both a 10-minute drive away.

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.

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 sea views, Plaza Awajishima in Minamiawaji features accommodation, a spa and wellness centre, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, massage services and a bar. This ryokan provides free private parking and a 24-hour front desk. The accommodation offers a sauna, hot spring bath, family-friendly restaurant and free WiFi. The units in the ryokan are equipped with a kettle. Complete with a private bathroom fitted with a bath and slippers, all units at the ryokan have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning, and selected rooms also feature a terrace. The units are equipped with heating facilities. The ryokan offers a buffet or à la carte breakfast. Tokushima Awaodori Airport is 37 km from the property.

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. Featuring 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. The wellness area at Shimahana is comprised of a sauna, a hot tub 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.

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.

1.2 km from Ura Shrine in Toba, Ryouri no yado Ginrin features accommodation with access to a public bath and open-air bath. Featuring free private parking, the 3-star ryokan is 24 km from Ise Grand Shrine. The property is non-smoking and is situated 23 km from Oharai-machi. The ryokan features a flat-screen TV. Towels and bed linen are available in the ryokan. The accommodation offers an air conditioning, a heating and a private bathroom. Toba Sea-Folk Museum is 3.6 km from the ryokan, while Ijika Lighthouse is 5 km from the property. Nagoya Airport is 165 km away.

From its hilltop location, Ijika Daiichi Hotel Kagura features beautiful sunrise and ocean views, hot spring baths and karaoke. It serves Japanese cuisine, and offers a free shuttle to/from Kintetsu Toba Station upon advance reservation. Massage treatments can be arranged. Guests at Kagura Ijika Daiichi Hotel can unwind in public indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, which are separate for men and women. They can play table tennis or experience feeding wild hawks. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk, free parking and vending machines for drinks and snacks. The property offers rooms with a Japanese-style area, some boasting a private open-air hot spring bath. They are fitted with beds or traditional futon bedding, and include an LCD TV, a fridge and yukata robes. An air humidifier and toiletries are provided. A breakfast buffet with Japanese and Western food is catered daily at the dining room. A kaiseki traditional multi-course dinner is served at the dining room, while some rooms include private dining in the guest room. Ijika Daiichi Hotel Kagura is a 25-minute drive from Mikimoto Pearl Island or Kintetsu Toba Train Station. The Ise Jingu Shrine or historical theme park Azuchi Momoyama Era Village (Ise Azuchi Momoyama Bunka Mura) can be visited a 1-hour drive away.

Only a 15-minute ride on the free shuttle from JR Osaka Train Station, RIHGA Royal Hotel offers modern accommodations with free WiFi. It boasts a dazzling 20 dining options, ranging from French courses to traditional Japanese cuisine. Simply furnished rooms with a contemporary decor await guests at Hotel RIHGA Royal. All are air conditioned and include a fridge and an electric kettle with green tea bags. A power adapter and a flat-screen satellite TV are on offer in each room. The hotel features direct access to Osaka International Convention Centre and Keihan Nakanoshima Train Station, which offers direct train access to Kyoto in 1-hour. Universal Studios Japan is a 25-minute train ride away, while Namba and Shinsaibashi areas are within a 10-minute taxi ride away. Kansai International Airport is a 90-minute limousine bus ride from Herbis Osaka Bus Stop. The Herbis Bus Stop is a 5-minute walk away from the hotel's free shuttle bus stop. Access to a complimentary fitness center is provided free of charge, while the indoor pool with a whirlpool can be used for an additional fee. You can also relax with a massage, enjoy karaoke or shop at the adjacent mall. Royal Ryuho serves Chinese dishes, and Naniwa has Teppanyaki grills. A breakfast buffet is served at Remone restaurant and Japanese dishes are an offer at Nakanoshima. Several bars and cafes are also on site.

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.

Boasting sea views, Kurhouse Shirahama provides accommodation with a spa and wellness centre, a fitness centre and an open-air bath, around 1.7 km from Saki-no-Yu Onsen Spa. 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. There is a private bathroom with hot tub in some units, along with slippers, a hair dryer and free toiletries. Guests at the ryokan can enjoy an Asian breakfast. 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. Kishu Museum of Art is 1.9 km from Kurhouse Shirahama, while Heisogen Park is 2.4 km from the property. Nanki–Shirahama Airport is 2 km away.

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.

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.