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.

First off, the rooms were really clean and spacious. I booked a connecting room which was perfect for a big family; one room for the elders and one for the kids. The front desk gave us a room on the 10th floor with an ocean view. Below us were the Ocean Museum and Meriken Park, offering not just a wide-open view but also super convenient access for walking around with the kids. Secondly, there are attractions nearby like the Anpanman Children's Museum and Daimaru department store, both about 900 meters away. If it's under 30 degrees Celsius, you can easily walk there. We often took a taxi to Sannomiya, which only took about 5 minutes. Lastly, I have to praise the pool. The water was crystal clear and clean, with one large pool and a jacuzzi. Floats and armbands were available for free use, and the best part was, there was hardly anyone there! 3300 JPY per person was definitely worth it. The bakery in the lobby (I think it was called Camellia) was excellent. They restocked daily, and their bread was more authentic than most bakeries in Kobe.

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!

The double room I stayed in this time showed its age a bit, which was evident from the facilities. However, the hotel seems to put a lot of effort into maintenance, so it was still acceptable. The night view was excellent, offering a fantastic panoramic view of Kobe city. The breakfast met five-star standards. I would definitely consider staying here again...

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.

I stayed for four consecutive days, and the view outside the window was as beautiful as I expected. However, when I checked in on the first afternoon, a large cruise ship was docked right outside my balcony, completely blocking the view even though my room was on the 11th floor. I contacted the hotel through Trip.com, and they responded that the ship would depart by 5 PM. When I looked at the pictures before, the cruise ships always docked on the south side, so I didn't expect this situation. On the morning of the fourth day, I woke up to find another cruise ship docked outside. Just a heads-up for future guests. The overall room environment was fine, but the cleaning staff seemed a bit lazy. Disposable slippers weren't replenished daily, nor were the disposable toiletries or the coffee and tea bags. Each day, they only replaced the trash bags and refilled three bottles of mineral water. My shower gel ran out, so I deliberately left the empty bottle on the sink to remind them, but it remained untouched for three consecutive days. During check-in, the hotel overlooked one night of my reservation. I was initially supposed to stay in one room for the first night and then move to another room on the second day. This meant I'd have to check out at noon and couldn't check in again until 3 PM, which would have completely disrupted my plans for the second day. In the end, I had to communicate with the hotel through Trip.com to ensure I could stay in the same room for all four days. The hotel breakfast is pretty standard Western fare, nothing special. It's okay for a day or two, but after that, you might want to switch it up and try the Starbucks next to the hotel.

★★★★★ 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.