5-Star Hotels in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

The hotel is situated within the Awaji Island Park theme park. Guests need to first park their car at Parking Lot F, then call the hotel to arrange a shuttle pick-up. If your mobile phone only has data and no local calling minutes in Japan, you can use the hotel's direct phone located at the park entrance to contact them. A dedicated vehicle quickly arrived at the park entrance to pick us up, and it was less than a 5-minute drive to reach the hotel premises. Upon arrival, we checked in at a charming little cabin and were offered a dessert and a welcome drink. Even though I wasn't staying in a themed room, the cabin was incredibly spacious and comfortable, featuring a large balcony. The room was stocked with fresh fruit and snacks, and the minibar drinks were complimentary. Even though it was late May, the evening temperatures were quite low. The hotel thoughtfully provided coats and blankets. Unfortunately, it's a shame it was too cloudy to see the stars. What truly stood out was the exceptional attentiveness and friendliness of all the staff members – they were impeccable. No wonder their Google ratings are so high! For dinner, we enjoyed a Western-Japanese fusion Sabusabu meal. Each pair of diners received a platter of purple sea urchin, which was hands down the most delicious sea urchin I've ever tasted. If I ever have the chance to visit Awaji Island again, I would definitely choose to stay here.

The hotel pool isn't free; it costs 5500 JPY to swim. The hotel's location is super close to Daimaru department store—just take the elevator down on the right. A short walk further brings you to Hankyu, and then Sannomiya. Kobe really is small, but it has everything you'd want to buy. It's a small but refined city, making it hard to get lost. To get to Arima Onsen, the shuttle bus stop is in the same place as the Sannomiya bus terminal, which is also where you catch the bus back to the airport. The transportation here is incredibly convenient; you don't need a taxi at all. The hotel's free shuttle takes a long time, so walking is often faster. You can even reach Sannomiya directly from the Daimaru underground passage in about 10 minutes.

I'm fairly certain this hotel used to be the Daiwa Royal Hotel. I've stayed here many times before, even under its previous name, but this was my first visit since the rebranding. Considering the high price, the amenities provided were quite basic. On a positive note, the complimentary drinks and snacks were a nice touch. The most significant disappointment was the 50-minute wait for breakfast. Had this not been an issue, my stay would have been far more satisfactory. During peak times, such as the busy summer holiday season, I strongly suggest they consider expanding the breakfast area or increasing its capacity. Despite the wait, the breakfast itself was absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, this lengthy delay significantly impacted our sightseeing plans for the day.

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.

I had low expectations for this trip and was pleasantly surprised! Firstly, the town itself is so beautiful and cozy, you can take your time and just enjoy it! Secondly, the hotel is top-notch! The service and politeness of the staff are amazing, and the hotel's interior and courtyard are beautiful! The onsen at the hotel is stunningly beautiful, with everything thought out to the smallest detail! The rooms are very authentic, as is everything else, and the breakfast buffet is amazing! The transfer service was also well thought out, and of course, the yukata is simply wonderful and fits every size! I can go on and on about how much I enjoyed it! Thank you!

Even though the hotel is a bit older, the rooms are very well-maintained and the service is incredibly warm and welcoming. The breakfast offers a wide variety of choices, and the hotel's location is excellent. You can easily walk to the Nunobiki Herb Garden and Kitano-cho, plus Shin-Kobe Station is right nearby.

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.

We had a wonderful stay at Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. The highlight was definitely the breathtaking view from our private balcony. Overlooking Kobe Port, it was the perfect place to relax, especially during sunset and at night when the city lights reflected beautifully on the water. The room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable, with everything we needed for a pleasant stay. Waking up to the sea view each morning made the experience even more memorable. The buffet breakfast were another standout. There was an impressive variety of Japanese and international dishes, all fresh and delicious. The generous buffet spread catered to different tastes, making every meal enjoyable. Getting around was also very convenient. The hotel provides a frequent complimentary shuttle bus to downtown Sannomiya, making it easy to explore Kobe without any hassle. Overall, this hotel offers beautiful waterfront views, comfortable accommodations, excellent dining, and convenient transportation. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Kobe and would happily stay here again.

★★★★★ Amazing Ryokan Experience in Arima Onsen We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Arima Onsen Taketoritei Maruyama. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality and service were exceptional. The staff were warm, attentive and made us feel very welcomed throughout the stay. The private onsen experience was fantastic — peaceful, relaxing and beautifully maintained. The atmosphere of the ryokan was calm and luxurious, especially with the mountain surroundings and fresh air after the rain. It was the perfect escape from the city. Our room was spacious, clean and very comfortable for the family. The meals were also delicious and beautifully presented, with great quality ingredients and authentic Japanese cuisine. The shuttle service, attention to detail and overall guest experience were all top-notch. We truly enjoyed every part of our stay and wished we could stay longer. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Arima Onsen looking for a relaxing and memorable ryokan experience. We would definitely love to return again in the future.