Luxury Hotels in Kobe

"I won't dwell on the ambiance, as my particular room didn't have the issue of a slightly sagging mattress. However, after using the private onsen only twice and a short-haired woman washing her hair once, the bathroom drain clogged, with water pooling about 3 cm high. It almost overflowed into the cold sauna area. When I checked out and reported it, all I got was an apology. Additionally, there's a service point I don't quite understand: check-in was very warm and the refreshments came quickly, but after checking out, not even a glass of water was offered. The initial warmth quickly turned cold. I'm not sure if this is unique to this hotel or if all high-end hotels in Japan operate this way."

"The hotel itself isn't up to par. The amenities provided are quite subpar; the toothbrush, for instance, was so rough it made my gums bleed. Right from check-in, they try to upsell you to a more expensive room. If you refuse, they deliberately assign you a low-floor room with a terrible view – I'm convinced it's intentional. So, if you want a decent experience, you're practically forced to upgrade. After upgrading, they cheerfully provide a hotel map and some greenhouse coupons. Otherwise, you just get a key and that's it. While I can't pinpoint any specific service issues, there was an overall 'off' and unsettling vibe. Even the renowned architecture nearby is poorly maintained. You can't truly appreciate the details; it only looks decent from a distance. This is quite rare in Japan, where I've always found people meticulous about maintenance. This place, however, completely overturned my expectations. Overall, it feels like quite a desolate and depressing place."

"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."

"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."

"Overall, it was quite good. The only downside was that the lighting was really dim. I called the front desk to ask why two lights weren't working and they said they were emergency lights. This isn't very friendly for people who want to study/work a bit or handle some things in the evening. The cleanliness was excellent. Although the hotel is old, the details were handled spotlessly. The environment was also quite good. From our east-facing room, we could see the BE KOBE landmark in Meriken Park ^ ^ The hotel lobby offers self-service welcome drinks, and it was pleasant to grab a drink when leaving or returning to the hotel. The breakfast was also good, with a variety of Western and Japanese options. We had a sea-view table on the first day, but unfortunately, we weren't assigned a window seat on the second day (╥﹏╥) In terms of location, it's natural that beautiful views and shopping can't be had at the same time, but it's only a twenty-minute walk to the shopping district, which is fine. If you want more comfort, you can take a taxi directly; there are plenty of taxis in front of the hotel. It's very friendly and convenient for tourists! One of the days during our stay happened to be my birthday. I emailed to ask about birthday decorations and was told they didn't offer that service, but when I entered the room, I saw a small card and a flower on the table, which made me very happy!"

"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."

"This hotel really had everything. All the amenities, a lot of boutique shops inside and even a 24/7 familymart in the ground floor! An Amazing 360-view bar on the top is definitely worth visiting at just 1000¥ with a small bottle of wine or fizzy drink included. The city view was amazing (see pic). The rooms were very big, fairly priced and generally modern and tasteful."

"The hotel offers private hot springs, and guests can book a time slot after check-in. There are both indoor and outdoor options, with four types each, ensuring excellent privacy. This is a great alternative for those who might feel uncomfortable using public hot spring pools. Some rooms also have their own private hot springs, but these are all ”silver springs”; if you wish to experience a ”golden spring,” you need to make a reservation. The hot spring environment is clean and hygienic, and the facilities are comprehensive. The shower rooms are spotless. The front desk staff are incredibly helpful and friendly. The hotel also provides a dedicated shuttle service; simply inform the front desk where you'd like to go, and you can also call them to pick you up and bring you back to the hotel after you're done exploring. Highly recommended!"

"Second stop of our Japan trip 🚄 The hotel boasts a strong colonial American style, which gives it a unique charm compared to the many minimalist Japanese hotels. It's super convenient for shopping nearby, with plenty of places to indulge within walking distance. The minibar offers a good variety of items; not luxurious, but definitely thoughtful! Plus, most of them are complimentary. Overall, the hotel is really nice and beautiful. The only minor drawback is that the front desk on the first floor is sometimes unstaffed. However, whenever there was staff present, the experience was good. During check-in, the front desk staff's service level felt a bit lacking, and English communication was quite a struggle. But despite that, the overall stay was pleasant, and I would choose this hotel again next time I visit Kobe."

"If shopping convenience isn't a top priority, I highly recommend staying at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel. It's right next to Shin-Kobe Station, just one subway stop from Sannomiya Station. The rooms offer unbeatable panoramic views of Kobe, and the Nunobiki Herb Garden ropeway station is right nearby. Kitano Ijinkan is also a short walk away, and it's downhill so it's not tiring. Arima Onsen is only 30 minutes away too. Plus, there's a large supermarket downstairs that's open until 11 PM, making it easy to stock up on supplies. The value for money is incredibly high. I'll definitely be staying here again."