Shinkameya (Shin-Kameya) is a Japanese-style inn in the center of Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo, standing on the willow-lined river. It describes itself as keeping the mood of the good old days of Kinosaki. Before you book, three things matter: the official site and booking form are Japanese only; a booking is confirmed only when the inn contacts you; and plan prices and cancellation terms are not published as text, so ask the inn directly.
Why is Shinkameya known in Kinosaki?
The inn traces its founding to 1865 (the first year of the Keio era). After several moves and rebuilds, it now stands in the town center by the river. Its wooden building is the work of Masaya Hirata, a master of sukiya-style architecture, and the inn says it was the first Hirata building in Kinosaki. Hirata’s autobiography became the 1965 film Daiku Taiheiki, starring Hisaya Morishige.
The history page points out the details: a roof of reeds from Toyooka, cedar boards under the entrance eaves, guest rooms named Suzaku, Hagoromo and Matsukaze, and a large hall called Taikan.
Shinkameya at a glance
| Question | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Address | 279 Yushima, Kinosaki Onsen (Toyooka, Hyogo) |
| Size | 12 rooms, up to 60 guests |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Baths | Two family baths (large and small) for private use |
| Meals | Can be eaten in your room |
| Elevator | None |
| Parking | Yes (number of spaces and fee not stated) |
| Plan prices | Shown as images only; we could not read them |
| Cancellation terms | Not published (page in preparation) |
| English page | None |
From the official site, read October 21, 2026.
Rooms at Shinkameya
What sizes are the rooms?
The facilities page lists 12 rooms, including 20-mat rooms for 5 to 8 guests, 12-mat rooms for 2 to 5 and 8-mat rooms for 2 to 4. Rooms have a TV, fridge, heating and cooling, phone, towels, toothbrush, yukata and hair dryer. Whether a room has its own toilet or bath is not stated, so ask when you book.
Can I stay in a room designed by Masaya Hirata?
Yes, in limited numbers. The booking form offers a Hirata room on a first-come basis, limited to three rooms; you tick a box to request one. Room 205, Matsukaze, is pictured as one of them.
Are there stairs?
The inn has no elevator. You can note a floor preference in the remarks field of the booking form.
The baths at Shinkameya
Is there a private bath?
The inn has two family baths, one large and one small, and the site says guests can use them freely as private baths. An indoor hot-spring bath is also pictured. The facilities page does not list a large shared bath or an outdoor bath, and bath hours are not given.
Can I use the public bathhouses?
Yes. The site says guests can use a bath ticket for Kinosaki’s public bathhouses during their stay, from check-in to checkout. From April to October the inn also rents original yukata for 525 yen each, a price listed on the official site.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. The family baths are used privately, but ask the inn before you book; the public bathhouses have their own rules. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals at Shinkameya
What is served at dinner?
The inn says it cooks with morning-caught local fish, vegetables grown by local farm women and Tajima beef, serves warm dishes while they are warm, and that meals can be eaten in your room. Plans on the booking form include full crab courses, a crab sukiyaki course, a plan with Tajima beef, abalone and local fish, a shabu-shabu set, a chef’s choice kaiseki and a weekday daily kaiseki. Dessert is Kinosaki gelato.
Can I add dishes or drinks?
The plan page lists extras such as Tajima beef steak and live abalone steak from 3,150 yen per person, and a sashimi boat (four or more guests) from 2,100 yen. These are the figures listed on the official site; confirm current prices with the inn. Local sake tasting sets and an anniversary cake are also offered. Outside food and drink and pets are not allowed.
Meal times and allergy or vegetarian options are not given on the official pages, so write any needs in the remarks when you book.
Prices and rules at Shinkameya
How much does a stay cost?
The plan prices on the official site are shown as images, which we did not read, so we do not quote them. The text says rates are per adult for one night with two meals on a weekday, with tax and service included; without breakfast, the listed discount is 1,050 yen. Golden Week, Obon and the New Year have separate rates, so ask the inn. Kinosaki is in Toyooka City, which charges a bathing tax of 150 yen per person per day; see our onsen bathing tax guide.
What do children cost?
The adult rate also applies to junior high school students. The booking form asks for the number of elementary school children and infants, but child rates are not published. Over the New Year period, the booking pages accept only groups of three or more adults; confirm the dates with the inn.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official pages do not publish cancellation terms; the terms-of-stay page says it is in preparation. Ask the inn for the terms before your booking is confirmed. Our hotel cancellation guide explains how fees work in Japan.
How do I pay?
Payment methods, including whether cards are accepted, are not stated on the official pages. Ask the inn.
How do I book Shinkameya?
Use the Japanese online booking form, phone 0796-32-2421 (+81-796-32-2421 from abroad) or email kameya@mxa.nkansai.ne.jp. The form says a booking is official only after the inn contacts you; if you hear nothing in 2 to 3 days, book again or contact the inn by email or phone. For stays from 2 days before arrival, the inn asks you to book by phone.
Getting to Shinkameya
The access page gives travel times to Kinosaki: about 2 hours 30 minutes by JR limited express from Osaka, 2 hours 10 minutes from Kyoto and 2 hours 40 minutes from Kobe. Express buses take about 3 hours 45 minutes from Osaka, and flights from Osaka Itami to Tajima Airport about 1 hour 20 minutes. By car it is about 3 hours from Osaka. The walking time from Kinosaki Onsen Station and any pickup service are not stated.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Shinkameya
- There is no English page, and the booking form is in Japanese. Email may be the easiest way to ask questions.
- Wait for the inn’s reply: your booking is not final until it contacts you.
- The official site’s latest notice is from 2021, so confirm current plans and prices directly.
- There is no elevator; pack for the stairs.
- Keep 150 yen per person per day for the bathing tax.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shinkameya have an English website?
What time is check-in at Shinkameya?
What is the cancellation policy at Shinkameya?
Does Shinkameya have a private bath?
Are meals served in the room at Shinkameya?
Bottom line (2026): Shinkameya is a 12-room inn on the river in central Kinosaki Onsen, founded in 1865, with rooms by sukiya master Masaya Hirata, two private family baths and meals in your room. The site is Japanese only and prices and cancellation terms are not published as text, so confirm them with the inn by email or phone.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Shinkameya’s official pages: home (Japanese), history, facilities, plans, booking form, access, yukata rental and terms of stay, and Toyooka City (bathing tax). All were read on October 21, 2026. Prices and rules change; check with the inn before you book.
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