Kobe Okaba Station accommodation from AU$158

The hotel's hardware is perfect. We loved our room (特別室離れ庭＆露天風呂付「考槃居」), which cost HK$44,400 (US$5,612) for two nights. The room and bedding were incredibly comfortable, and standard yukatas were provided, though we were surprised by the lack of pajamas. We thoroughly enjoyed the separate bathhouse featuring an outdoor onsen and indoor hinoki bath. However, the bedroom suffered from foot traffic noise. The English-speaking staff tried her best, but lacked the genuine sincerity typical of luxury ryokans. Overall, service felt sloppy considering the hotel's caliber and premium price. We truly wished for service that was more considerate, attentive, and delivered from the heart. Upon arrival, we were informed meals would be served in the main restaurant rather than our room. Disappointingly, we ate dinner alongside three other tables. In our experience, high-end ryokans always offer in-room dining or private restaurant rooms. Guests paying this premium expect privacy and exclusivity, which felt overlooked here. Wanting to utilize our room's generous space, we requested in-room breakfast instead. Fortunately, they accommodated this. Our second dinner remained in the restaurant, but thankfully in a private room. The food was mediocre; the Kobe beef tasted like average wagyu. None of the seasonal dishes possessed the refinement expected at this price point. Overall, we simply wanted a much better dining experience to match the stunning property and the premium we paid.

Nice staffs

This hotel was absolutely amazing. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating. The shuttle bus picked us up from the train station within 10 minutes. Our luggage was already at the hotel and placed in our room. Our room was ready early so we were able to go and rest a bit. We chose a room with a private onsen which was amazing after a very long day of walking. We reserved the private onsen with both types of onsen water and used that one the first evening. The area around the hotel is very hilly so the shuttle was great.