5-Star Hotels in Kobe

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 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.

This was the kids' favorite hotel during our 15-day trip to Japan. The mountain scenery is beautiful, it's very quiet, and the air is fresh. We had a lot of fun making a fire, cooking, and having a BBQ together. The house is well-maintained, clean, refreshing, and warm enough. The staff are all very friendly and always provide timely assistance. The hotel's paid shuttle service can take you to some nearby attractions, which is also very convenient.

The front desk service is very good. The room is very good, the floor-to-ceiling corner window has a beautiful view outside the window, the room facilities are very new, the room facilities are very complete, the room coffee and the refrigerator are very rich, the drinks are full, very considerate. The shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are all Bulgari, the experience is very good. They also thoughtfully prepared men's and women's skin care travel packs, which is very attentive. I would like to especially praise the staff of Hiroko-san who has been serving us since we received them during our stay. They are very enthusiastic, very attentive and very nice. The experience brought to us during our stay was very comfortable and very good. I look forward to meeting Hiroko-san again next time I stay.

The hotel does not has shuttle bus. You need to walk from train station to hotel. You need to walk to mid of hill. It is very inconvenient. Not recommend to book this hotel.

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!

A heartwarming and thoughtful mountain hotel experience. This hotel stay completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep sense of genuine hospitality – there was a dedicated shuttle service directly from the station to the hotel, saving me the hassle of dragging my luggage around. The next day, I planned to explore the hot spring town at the foot of the mountain. The hotel proactively offered to store my luggage and deliver it to the station at the bottom of the mountain at the agreed time, completely freeing up my hands. The food was surprisingly delicious, with fresh ingredients and thoughtful pairings. The room was clean and comfortable, meticulously cleaned daily, and the common areas were also spotless. The service throughout was attentive yet unobtrusive. From the shuttle arrangements to the luggage storage, everything was efficient and heartwarming. It's truly perfect for travelers planning a hot spring trip. I'll definitely choose this place again on my next visit.

I highly recommend the Gekkoukan (Moonlight Pavilion) after a two-day stay. It's divided into the main building, Kōmōkan, and an annex. There are three hot springs in total, but the water quality is pretty much the same across all of them. I'd suggest sticking to the main building's baths as they are more spacious and convenient. The only downside was that transfers need to be booked in advance, and there isn't a scheduled shuttle bus. Plus, it's quite a hike uphill to get there, which was a real struggle in the summer heat while lugging suitcases.

This is an older Japanese-style star hotel that exudes the understated luxury of an economic boom period. Although the hotel itself is quite old, the room size, maintenance, and staff quality are still maintained at a high standard. Satisfied!

Once in a lifetime experience for me and my wife to see the spectacular views from our room both at night and in the morning. Also, the glamping facilties are top notch. Yuna and Yuki guided us step by step on how to prepare our dinner and breakfast. They are kind and we fully enjoy the process. We love the place and the people from Nature Live. Strongly recommended indeed!