Recently converted from an old fire station, the Utsuroi Tsuchiya Annex was the most beautiful and comfortable room we stayed in on our entire trip. The style is modern Japanese with all the comforts of a ryokan but with hi-tech lighting, blinds, windows, and toilet. Loved the balcony with egg chair for sitting after a hot onsen bath. Nice comfortable seating place outside the rooms, too. For those too shy for public bathing, there is a private first-come, first-served bath on the first floor. Owned and run by the Yamadas (whose uncle painted the murals in the room and has a small gallery in the cafe below), the service was so friendly and helpful that it felt like we were staying with family rather than at a hotel. I loved every moment and look forward to returning some day. Breakfast in the cafe was excellent. A convenient stroll to the all the onsen of Kinosaki. A Ryokan Association bus will pick you up from the train station and Mr. Yamada will take you back again

This is not a criticism of the hotel but a warning to other travelers: if you have mobility issues, be aware (it's in the description) that the rooms can be accessed only by stairs. There is no elevator. This was not a problem for me but if you are in a wheelchair it would be.

The room was so clean and the whole property is very clean and smells so good. The bed and linen towels amenities was so clean. There's a connecting restaurant downstairs Annex I saw a beautiful Arts and the owner took a picture of me. I met the whole family. The owner mother is so sweet. She FaceTime me on the day before I leave. I cried for happiness, I felt that I never leave my home. It was the best memories for a lifetime on receiving a beautiful picture of me on the frame as a present. Thanks you to all of you. This is the best vacation. I definitely will come back soon!

The owner hospitality and care. Very inconvenient location to access to all of the store and Onsen. Excellent service. Food is good.

The ryokan was a fantastic experience. Not only has the hospitality been off the hook at the inn, but the entire town was very welcoming. Did I mention that wearing yukata in the small town is encouraged? If you can get here (2 hrs north of Kyoto), I humbly suggest staying at Tsuchiya Ryokan or the annex. Kazuki Yamada and family bring a new definition to hospitality. I was even given a framed photo as a keepsake. Very gracious family and staff

If I had to say, anything, it was a little far from the train station. But, there are shuttles so that's really not an issue. Kinosaki is pretty small, so you can walk end to end in 20 min or sol

The location is wonderful and spacious. They have their own special café and make delicious food. The family is very kind and considerate of all guests and they will help you with anything you need. They are a very special family.

Staying at Tsuchiya Annex, Kinosaki Onsen was definitely a highlight of my partner and I's honeymoon in Japan. The owners, Kazuki and his family, were very lovely and presented us with a cute hand-drawn personalised thankyou/welcome card on arrival. They explained how to access the onsens in town, carried out oversized luggage to our room on the 2nd floor, served us tea, instructed us on correctly putting on the yakuta and even some local recommendations for good ramen in town. The room was a very clean, modern Japanese-style room with a cute ceiling-mounted egg-chair on the balcony to relax in. The hotel had its own private onsen, perfect for couples, people with tattoos or those uncomfortable bathing in a public space. The food options at the café downstairs were delicious and the artwork at the location was very beautiful. On top of how happy we were with the accommodation, what made our stay more memorable was the genuine kindness of the owners, the Yamada family. Having picked up in conversation that we were on our honeymoon, they presented us with a set of matching chopsticks as a gift upon check-out and graciously offered to drive us and our 4 suitcases to the station. Thank you Kazuki and family for making our honeymoon so special, we will definitely be back in the future!

Staying at TSUCHIYA Kinosaki onsen was an overall AMAZING experience! My fiancé and I stayed in a traditional room in the new building, above the Annex. It was cute and cozy. The owner, Kazuki Yamada, was so kind and helpful! Her son and daughter both worked the desk and she was so excited to introduce us to her family. All 3 of them were so nice. The daughter told us the best public onsens to visit out of the 7 Mystic Onsen! We took her recommendations and had an amazing time. They gave us welcome tea and wafers when we were shown to our room. The room was clean and comfy and in a great location. The private bath is also AMAZING!

The only think I did not like was that I got charged for extra towels! We stayed 1 night and they provided only one towel per person, which we took to the public onsens. That being said, at the end of the day, they were sopping wet. I asked for 2 more towels at the front desk to shower with the next day and then noticed I had a charge $1.19 from the ryokan! Other than that the stay was amazing!

We had a fantastic stay at this accommodation, located conveniently close to many onsen, which made our experience even more enjoyable. The staff, including the owner, were incredibly friendly and accommodating, going out of their way to fulfill all our requests. They also provided Yukatas as well explaining exactly how the onsen culture works. A very helpful touch, as we were unexperienced on that matter. A nice place to sit down and have a drink was the charming café downstairs, which also featured a lovely art gallery—definitely a great addition to the overall experience. The private onsen areas were a wonderful bonus, allowing us to relax in a peaceful setting. One thing that pleasantly surprised us was that, although the listing mentioned there was no private bathroom, each room actually has its own private toilet. Whilst you still need to shower and wash in the private onsen area downstairs, having a private bathroom was great. The design of the accommodation was a perfect blend of modern and traditional styles, giving it a unique and welcoming atmosphere. The rooms were tastefully decorated, and we had no issues with comfort—everything was designed to help you rest and recharge. All in all, we had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy the onsen experience in a warm, family-run establishment that feels much more personal and inviting compared to typical hotels.

By far the best staff in Japan, at least from my experience. Their English is excellent, and they’re incredibly attentive to every detail. You’re welcomed with tea and cookies, and they explain everything very clearly. They even surprise you with a thoughtful gift. The fact that the hotel has a private onsen is a huge bonus, especially if you’re not entirely comfortable with public ones. Also, the location is very well located.

I understand that the idea is to fully immerse yourself in an authentic experience, but the mattress on the floor was quite uncomfortable. After two days, I started having back pain. The toilet only has a heating function and lacks a washing feature, which is something commonly expected in Japan. The accommodation is fairly noisy. The walls are thin, so you can hear other guests and the cleaning staff. There's also street noise starting around 6:30 a.m., with people talking nearby. The curtain in my room barely blocked out the sunlight, which made it hard to rest in the morning. Also, when opening the window, a strong smell of food would sometimes come in from outside. Like in most Japanese accommodations, there’s no space to store clothes, which can be inconvenient for longer stays.

From the moment I arrived, my experience here was exceptional! The staff made sure I understood everything about staying in an onsen town, and the lovely hand drawn postcard I received from the owner was so thoughtful! I really felt like a special guest. The atmosphere is really calming, everywhere is cleaner than clean, and the smell of the incense is just a lovely extra touch. I really felt the love the owner had for the establishment, and for Kinosaki as a whole. The room was really beautiful, and the private bath was exceptional too. I really can’t recommend this place enough!! In addition, after I had booked out, I lost a bag of mine. I was strolling in the streets before having to catch my train, and when I sat down to rest somewhere, I left behind a shopping bag with a yukata I bought. I realised as the train was due to depart in minutes, I was devastated. I messaged Kazuki, the owner, just to let him know in case anyone found my bag. I left Kinosaki without my bag. I didn’t expect him to go out and look for it personally, check in with the shop I bought my yukata from, and also make a report at the police station! I was truly touched by his kindness and his efforts to help me when he truly didn’t have to. Because of him, my bag was found! And then, on top of everything else, he then posted it to my next location and shouldered the cost himself. Because of Kazuki-san’s kindness and hospitality, and all of his efforts, I will never forget Kinosaki Onsen. I long to come back soon 🩷

Everything was exceptional there was nothing to dislike

Kinosaki Onsen was our highlight during our two-week trip to Japan, and Mr. Yamada and his family made our stay even more remarkable by warmly welcoming us into their home and town. After check-in at 15:00, we were given a free pass for the bathhouses, a map of the city and its onsens, and Mr. Yamada explained some of the particularities of each to us. Then we were led to our cosy room by his mother, who served us tea and provided us with the beautiful yukatas. Once we got downstairs and were ready to start our visit to the baths, Mr. Yamada kindly offered to take photos of us in front of their bakery, dressed in our yukatas. The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast at the same bakery, and while savoring the best coffee we had on our entire trip in Japan, he surprised us with a framed photo of us as a gift. Needless to say, I loved everything about this stay. Although a bit short, it was still sufficient to visit 5 out of 7 onsens on the afternoon we arrived, then take the cable car to the top the next day, visit the temple, and do some shopping as well. After check-out, our luggage was conveniently sent to the Tourist Information center, located directly across from the train station, where we picked it up in the afternoon before departing from this wonderful little town, which we will always fondly remember. Thank you very much for this unforgettable experience!