WOW Kathryn!!!! I wish i had read your review before visiting kinosakionsen. This past winter, my Plutonic friend and I spent two nights in kinosaki; like you, we dreamt of walking carefree down the canal, dressed only in traditional yukata and wooden shoe!!! We were shocked, surprised and dismayed to see CARS driving down OUR idealic path. Matters took a turn for the worst when my plutonic friend was HIT by one of these four-wheeled death traps!! He now walks with a wooden-leg, riddled with ptsd from our hot-spring nightmare.

I agree! My plutonic partner-friend and I visited the kinosaki onsen for 2 days, hoping to spend them relaxing in yukata and wooden sandals. Little did we know, this picturesque hot spring town was a car-filled death-trap!!!! I'm sad to say that my plutonic-friend was actually hit by one of these four-wheeled-monsters. the ptsd has changed his life and now he has a wooden leg!!!!!

Does anyone know the approximate time of cherry blossoms blooming in Kinosaki area? I will be visiting around the 25th-27th of April. Is that too late already? Thank you!