Five Highly Rated Kansai Hotels with Open-Air Baths

1. Biwako Ryokusuitei (Shiga)

This inn faces Japan\'s largest lake, Lake Biwa, with the majestic Mt. Hiei in the backdrop. There is a wide selection of guest rooms available, ranging from traditional Japanese-style rooms to Western-style rooms. The recommended rooms are those with private open-air baths with natural hot spring water. Soak at your leisure and enjoy the view of the beautiful lake! This inn is also renowned for its food made with fresh, high-quality, local ingredients like Omi beef, which is one of Japan\'s three top wagyu brands. They have staff who speak English.

2. Yuzanso (Shiga)

This inn stands on an elevated part of Lake Biwa’s shore. You can view the beautiful lake from their guest rooms, of which there are a total of 51 that can be separated into five different types (some of these rooms have a view of the mountains). Each room has a different private open-air bathtub, ranging from ones made with ceramic to wooden ones. Some of them even have jacuzzis! You’ll have all the hot spring water - said to have effects like improving beauty and helping with nerve pain - to yourself. The creative cuisine - made with fresh ingredients, including vegetables grown on-site - is a wonderful treat to enjoy after bathing.

3. Hyoe Koyokaku (Hyogo)

This established inn has a history going back 700 years. It is in the Arima Onsen area, which is one of Japan\'s most famous hot spring areas, and has three large shared baths (open-air bath + indoor bath) and private baths for thoroughly enjoying the hot spring water. There is also a guest room with a private open-air bath on the top floor of the West Building. You can enjoy the hot spring water at any time of the day, all while gazing at the beautiful scenery of the mountains and hot spring village during the day and the starry night view. The fantastic food, made with the famous Kobe beef and fresh seafood like octopus and sea bream caught in Hyogo Prefecture, is another thing to look forward to. They have staff who can speak English.

4. Hotel Kawakyu (Wakayama)

This is a hotel in Nanki Shirahama, which is a top resort area in Western Japan. The building, which was constructed by drawing on the skills of top craftsmen from around the world, looks like a palace. All the guest rooms are suites with ocean views, so you can definitely bask in luxury here. There is a variety of large shared baths, including open-air baths, in which to enjoy the hot spring water of the famous and historic Shirahama Onsen. In addition, the Presidential Spa Suite Rooms - the hotel\'s most luxurious rooms that range from 180 to 247 sq.m. in size - all have private open-air baths with natural hot spring water. The Presidential Spa Suite Room is fantastic for relaxing in a bath while enjoying the view of the white beach, sky, and ocean together.

5. Awaji Hamarikyu (Hyogo)

You can find this resort hotel at Keino Matsubara, which is on the west coast of Awaji Island in the Seto Inland Sea. This classic hotel mixes Japanese and Western styles, but offers modern functionality. There are wide selection of room types, ranging from standard rooms to high-end ones. The recommended type is the rooms with private open-air baths. These baths are filled with hot spring water from Shiozaki Onsen, known for its beauty benefits. Enjoy having that water and the fantastic scenery of the majestic mountains and beautiful ocean all to yourself. They have staff who can speak English.

All of these accommodations offer opportunities to enjoy hot spring water in the comfort of your room. Be sure to include them in your selection of potential hotels to stay at when visiting the Kansai region.