Kinosaki Onsen Hot Spring Town
Kinosaki Seasons

Spring

Spring

Every Year, spring begins in Kinosaki with the flowering of the cherry blossom trees and the budding of the willow trees that line Otani Street. On April 23rd and 24th, there is a festival commemoration Douchi-Shonin.

Douchi-Shounin, as local folklore has it, was a priest responsible for the founding of the Onsen in Kinosaki. Beginning in the year 717 A.D., Douchi-Shonin prayed for 1000 consecutive days. After these 1000 days, the Onsen sprung forth from the grounf in the present location of Mandara-yu. The Onsen Temple (Onsenji), was built in honor of Douchi-Shonin during the years 1394 - 1427 A.D.


Summer

Summer

The summer is a great season to stay in Kinosaki. There are many activities in which one can participate in and around Kinosaki. The nearby Murayama River provides a great location for boating or watching boating regattas. The Sea of Japan is only five minutes from Kinosaki by car or bus. One can relax and swim at any of the nearby beaches, and Kai Beach.


Autumn

Autumn

Kinosaki is an ideal location for the autumn season. Nestled within forested mountains, one can get a beautiful view of the changing colours of the autumn leaves. Kinosaki's autumn is usually quite peaceful with the exception of the Autumn Festival (Aki Matsuti).

Aki Matsuri is held on October 14th and 15th. During this festival, many of the residents wear traditional clothing. Groups of men carry shrines through the main street. In the evening, the festival reaches a climax as the shrine carriers clash withe one another in a type of ritual battle.


Winter

Winter

Winter is a very nice time of the year to enjoy Kinosaki. The Onsen, hot springs, are particulariy relaxing and refreshing during this cooler season. The winter is also the height of the crab season. One can enjoy the delicious taste of crab freshly caught in the nearby Sea of Japan. One can also participate in a number of winter sports in the local area. Just across the Maruyama River is the Culture, Sports and Recreation Center where there is an outdoor ice skating rink.

Also some of the Kansai region's finest downhill ski areas are located near Kinosaki. Mt. Kannabe and Mt. Hachibuse are located only forty minutes and one hour away by car, respectively.

357-1 Yushima Kinosaki-cho,Toyooka,Hyogo,669-6101,Japan

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