ACCOMMODATIONS Sennen no Yu Koman

Staying at this ryokan was my very first experience in a traditional Japanese ryokan. I loved it! My stay was room only, so I won't be able to comment on the food. But if the food is anything like the rest of my experience here, I'm certain it would have been very nice.

The ryokan is just so lovely. The staff are very friendly and so professional. We were made to feel very looked after and cared for. They helped us with any enquiries we had (for example, I wanted to know which temples I could obtain goshuin from locally). Service was always with a smile. Their Japanese hospitality was very apparent. On arrival, a nice young man took us to the room and explained when the beds would made for us (shikifuton mattress) and when the room would be cleaned. We explained that we had been given a number of towels for our stay (we ended up needing more due to frequent onsen visits) and a number of tradional yukata to wear for walking around town and visitng the onsens. The staff take a lot of pride in their work, and it shows.

The room came with a matcha tea set, a kettle-like machine for hot water, a tv, aircon unit, tradional low seating and table. There were also some small complimentary snacks provided. Wifi was also available in the room (and worked well). On the table were guides on how to properly wear the yukata, and a map/guide to the main attractions in the town. As well as the main room, there was a toilet room, and a separate shower/bathroom. Toiletries and disposable toothbrushes are provided. There is a small fridge stocked with mini bar drinks whch are charged for. The main room had a sliding door which led to another small seating area, with views of small private outdoor area (I'm not sure what the correct term in for the outdoor space. Possibly a moss garden or zen garden). Compared to some of the hotels we stayed in during our trip to Japan, this ryokan was very spacious!

The ryoken has it's own shop with souvenirs which were all reasonably priced. I bought myself a Kinosakin Onsen fridge magnet.

I loved the onsite onsen. The male and female onsen switch around (possibly every other day, I'm not sure) so that you can experience both. If I'm completely honest, I enjoyed the ryokan's onsen more than I did some of the main onsens in town!

It took some getting used to having to take our shoes off at reception each time, but it wasn't an inconvenience at all. It is just a custom to get used to. The key has to be handed in at reception when leaving the room. I thought this was a bit odd at first, but I think it is something that ryokans do. I suppose it makes it easier for them to know when the room is available for cleaning and making your bed.

The ryokan's atmosphere is very relaxed and chilled. A very cute feature is the bedtime versions of Disney tunes they play (at a low volume) in the corridor as you walk to your room. It creates a very wholesome and relaxed atmosphere.

Finally, the location is ideal. It is very close to the ropeway, temples, shrines, and some of the main onsens. Kinosaki Onsen is a fairly small town, so it doesn't really take long to walk anywhere. But regardless, the location of this ryokan is great.

Thank you again to all the wonderful staff at Sennen No Yu Koman 千年の湯古まん. You were a delight, and made our short stay in Kinosaki Onsen very memorable. I would definitely stay here again if I ever returned. I would definitely recommend this ryokan to travellers coming to Kinosaki Onsen.

Edit: Just a small note, please be patient if you are an English speaker and expect the staff to be proficient in English. Remember to attempt to speak some Japanese as a courtesy, but you may have to resort to Google Translate for more complex requests or conversations. This wasn't a problem at all, for myself or the staff. I just thought it might be worth mentioning for visitors from overseas.

1st time in this onsen. It has an atmosphere of tradition that aged well. People are truly helpful and friendly. And tips are shared that helped us to enjoy onsen in the inn, as well as 'roaming' onsen nearby. Food served is considered as a BIG feast. We had the biggest room during our stay. Super spacious.

Our stay at Koman was amazing! Great hospitality! We were welcomed from the train station onto a free bus, Koman was alerted that we'd be arriving and they were waiting outside the bus to welcome us when we arrived. Check in was easy and smooth and they explained all the amenities to us including how the included meals would work. They confirmed what time we wanted breakfast as well as if we needed a free shuttle arranged to take us back to the train station in the morning. We decided we wanted to walk which was a nice break before the train ride as we found a quite back road to walk to the station on. Everyone working there was so nice and helpful and our room was spacious with an little outside tub of our own which was nice. We wouldn't have changed a thing!

Do not stay here unless u are prepared to drag your luggage across town to the station as this is near the far end of the 7 onsens. Thats how we ended the trip with a workout.

We had a wonderful stay. Room was perfect. The location is awesome. So close to the public onsens and the rest of town. Everything within 5-10 min walk. Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Food and service was top notch, Tai has fantastic english and was great W the kids. Wish I could give the place 5 starts, but the whole place had a bit of a smell, and needed a solid clean. There was obvious mold in the bar fridge + else where and you can smell it.

The hotel provides Free shuttle bus in front of kinosaki train station which you can find the mini bus with colorful prints on it. The hotel located just right in between 2 onsens and walkable distance to the rest. We are aware the hotel is quite a dated one with original wooden flooring and Tatami rooms hence the facility might not be the very newest and best however we were impressed by the service from the staffs, there were always someone by the door step to put our slippers on and see us out. The staff who hosted our 2 days dine -in dinner /Breakfast , he was so detailed and tentative. The meal was generous with all the ingredients right in the season and the staff will serve it dishes by dishes then made our bed afterwards. We were explained and given the Yukatan (Bath robes ) sadly they did not provide the basket which would have come in handy when you walk in between the bath house with wet tower. I was asking if we can rent the basket yet theres none in the place, I guess it’s due to the hotel having its own onsen in-house as well. The Dinner started at 6pm in our room and breakfast always comes at 7:30 or 8am , we were catching the earliest JR back to Osaka which we had to leave the breakfast , the staff who hosted us he checked the train schedule for us and booked a shuffle for us. On our leaving day he also woke us up to ensure we did not miss our train then see us out while we were leaving. The service is definitely long remembered than anything , it was our highlight during the trip , Thank you for your hospitality !

While some of the equipment got a bit old and worn down, for some People this will be a advatage. We had a big room (11 tatami) + entrance hall and a place to chill, sitting by the windows, sipping tea, listening the the passerby's getta clacking on the sidewalk. It would be awesome if we'd stay an extra day to check out other onsens with the onsen pass. There are 2 hot baths within the ryokan - each for men and ladies, and they seem to switch each day, so the guests staying even 1 night can experience both. The food was at the very least good, but it was mainly fish and seafood and I'm not a lover of either, but still I got some fishes which were amazingly good even for me. We came here mainly for the crabs.
However the biggest advantages are the service and the spirits of the place. Never ever I felt so welcome at any hotel, ryokan or onsen. I wish English was more common among the staff, but the person who attended us was capable of conversation. As for the "spirits" - if we understood correctly, this onsen dates back to VIII century A.D. and the current family runs the business for over 500 years (current owner is the 27th generation). While the building was rebuilt many times, if You'll watch closely, You'll notice that it must've been a luxurious place with all of the expensive wood used for the building. Also, walking through the corridors You can enjoy many piece of art like in a small museum. I hope to come here again in another 10 years with my kids, so they can experience this hotel and the onsen culture. Wish You all the best.

This 1300yr old hotel is like stepping back in time. The room was a traditional tatami matt room with paper sliding doors. The hotel does have WiFi and a tv in the room. The hotel's onsen was wonderful. The staff was polite and helpful (they tried their best with the language barrier) the kaiseki ryori (traditional japanese meal) was amazing. My husband and I were stuffed after the meal. The breakfast was equally as good. This hotel also picks you up from the train station and drops you off.

You get a pass for all the onsen in town. You get to wear a yukata around. Full ryokan meal and service.
Our host Ukagin-san, despite not knowing much english, helped us as best as she could. Thank you very much.
来てくれてありがとう

The location is great, the staff fantastic and the room and meal just the Ryoukan experience we were looking for. Be aware futons are really for sleeping on the back. If you are a side sleeper you might not want to try that experience. We had two in are group that slept great and two that did not. Both of the two were a large man and a smaller woman. The only difference was who was a side sleep and who slept on their back.

Absolutely loved staying here!! Old Ryokan, with pictures of it over the years decorating the halls of the second floor. The rooms were very clean and spacious, we got one with a bath which included a shower room + soaking tub that is NOT a private onsen! This ryokan does not offer those afaik!! That was definitely not a problem to us, since we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the local bath houses, three of which are just a couple minutes away from this ryokan by foot. Our favorite was goshono-yu, just down the street!
The food served was very very good, and the whole staff was extremely friendly & patient with us, even as we got confused by the yukata and meal proceedings. We rented colorful yukata through the ryokan, and they had a selection of over 50 to look through. We were taught how to put them on and everything. We enjoyed wearing them so much we went out and got our own to keep!
Lovely experience in this historical ryokan, highly recommend to anyone who wants a traditional ryokan experience!
They were kind enough to drive us back to kinosaki station as well.

First night here and we were greeted by warm and friendly hospitality. The servicing crew were attentive and helpful to settle us down for a late dinner due to travel plan. I liked the layout and setting here. Finally, we end a day with a carefully prepared warm meal filled with delicious delicacy. Highly recommended to venture this place for a unique onsen town experience.