Kobe Hotels with Breakfast

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.

When I booked, I requested a high floor, and the hotel seemed to have noted it because they assigned me a room on the 9th floor, which was great. As soon as I opened the curtains, there was plenty of sunshine. We arrived at 2 PM, but check-in wasn't until 3 PM. The room isn't huge, but the bathroom has a separate wet and dry area, which is a big plus. There's also a small sofa and table. You can ask for skincare products and face masks at the front desk daily, and there's free ice cream and coffee from 8-10 PM. Don Quijote is right across from the hotel, making it super convenient for shopping and stocking up. There are also plenty of restaurants around the hotel, and the airport shuttle stop is very close, about a 10-minute walk. Overall, this hotel is quite good.

The hotel boasts an excellent location, often near Kobe Sannomiya Station, just a few minutes' walk away, making travel convenient. It's easy to transfer to places like Osaka and Kyoto, and close to transportation hubs such as the airport bus stop. There are various public transport options nearby to reach different attractions. The rooms are generally clean and tidy, with some rooms well-equipped with amenities like air purifiers. Downstairs, there are convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, and the surrounding area offers numerous restaurants and supermarkets, making daily life very convenient. The hotel also provides self check-in/check-out services, and toiletries can be picked up from the lobby.

This is an older, classic hotel with an old-money vibe. Compared to other Japanese hotels, the room is quite spacious. When you open the curtains, you can see Meriken Park and the Ferris wheel. There's also a FamilyMart convenience store inside the hotel.

The double room was quite a bit more expensive than the king room, but it was very spacious and clean inside, truly comfortable 👍 The front desk is on the second floor, and there's a lounge next to it. It seems like they offer free snacks in the afternoon, but we didn't get to try them. The location isn't far from Sannomiya Station, but it felt like a maze around there 😵💫 Plus, with the skybridge under construction, several directions were blocked, so it took us ages to find our way in and out every time 🙃 And we had to go up and down that complicated skybridge—maybe I'm just bad with directions… It's about a 10-minute walk to the airport bus stop, which isn't super convenient if you're hauling luggage.

This is an older Japanese five-star hotel. While the decor and facilities are a bit dated, they're well-maintained and quite clean. Although the hotel is built into the side of a mountain, the underground transportation is excellent; you can reach Sannomiya in just a few minutes, and there's a direct shuttle to Sanda just a five-minute walk away. I booked this hotel specifically for the direct bus to Kansai Airport at 2 PM, which is super convenient and a lifesaver if you have a lot of luggage. I don't recommend visiting the Ijinkan Street, which is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

The hygiene was impeccable, and the front desk staff spoke excellent English. The room size was quite generous for Japan, easily accommodating a 28-inch suitcase fully open. It's about a 5-10 minute walk from JR Sannomiya, a straight shot down one road. Breakfast was at Matsuya downstairs, with two Japanese and two Western set meal options, which was more than enough.

Not sure what has happened to Japan standard in the past couple of years but had called the hotel to confirm that linens are scent free (standard in Japan before) and was told yes. Unfortunately they are not, this new laundry detergent that is slowly spreading throughout Japan is absolutely horrible causing all sorts of allergic reactions (not only to me.) I start having rashes, compromised breathing, and inflammation issues. If it’s the same detergent used back in America, then it might be eco-friendly, but definitely not human friendly. I truly hope that Japan goes back to the way it was before the introduction of some western products filled with harmful chemicals to humans. It is not because you don’t react to it that it is not harming your body, it’s only a question of time and when it does, you won’t know why and there is no turning back. Take it from an Asian American born who was the biggest fan of American marketed products. We do have good products like ECOLAB, which is both, sustainable for the environment without compromising human health. Maybe laundry company should look into that company or simply return to Japanese products before. Good thing thing their pyjama are still scent free so I had to wrap the bed and cover with their pyjama to get through the night.

Extremely disappointed. The onsen (hot spring) was tiny, and the steps inside were uncomfortably high. They also offered very few amenities. For dinner, as a small woman, I only felt about 80% full, and there were very few extra items available to order. Apart from the front desk staff, most employees only spoke Japanese, which made communication a bit difficult, but everyone was very friendly. The pillows and blankets were incredibly uncomfortable. I tried all three in the closet, and they were still bad; I even woke up with a stiff neck. The blanket was incredibly thick, and I woke up in a sweat in the middle of the night. The most ridiculous thing was that construction started outside at 8:30 AM... I can't believe a resort onsen hotel can't escape the noise. The hotel seems to be the furthest one in the area. I walked there, and thankfully the weather was good and the scenery along the way was nice. The shuttle bus is too small; after checking out at 10 AM, I had to wait until the 10:40 AM service. But it's too far to walk, so I had to take it anyway...

The hotel is located right next to the newly opened shopping street, very close to Hankyu Hanshin train station. I saw some reviews mentioning it's a bit far from the subway station. The room, although small, was well-equipped and very good.