Enjoy a winter trip to Kyoto with delicious ocean views and crabs! 5 recommended ryokan in the Tango region

Northern Kyoto faces the Sea of Japan. On the Sea of Japan side of Kyoto, you can enjoy scenic nature and open seascapes, such as Amanohashidate, one of the Three Scenic Views of Japan in Miyazu Bay, and Ine Town, famous for its Ine Funaya. Kyoto on this sea side has an image of being cold in the winter, but winter in the Kyotango region is the perfect time to eat crab. Why not travel to northern Kyoto in search of crab?

One of the pleasures of a winter trip to Kyoto is crab. Crab season is generally from early November to late March, so why not go to Kyoto to eat crab during that time? It would be nice to reward yourself for your hard work by staying at ryokan you can enjoy crab dishes once a year. You can enjoy a crab kaiseki meal, be soothed by the magnificent ocean view, and then soothe your body in onsen... We will introduce you to onsen ryokan where you can do just that.

Taiza Onsen Sumihei is located in the quiet fishing village of Taiza in the northern part of the Tango region. There are rooms decorated with Tango crepe and snow crab, so we recommend choosing a room based on its interior. The fabrics and onsen decorations are lovely and have a Kyoto feel. All rooms have a view of the sea, and there are only a few rooms, so you can spend a quiet time.

Enjoy crab in the winter. Taiza crab, caught at Taiza Fishing Port, is a brand of Kyotango crab tagged as "Taiza crab" and is released every year on November 6th. Here you can also taste the even more luxurious "Hashiudo crab". There are also other rare fish caught in the area and fish that are not available in the market. Immerse yourself in happiness with a dinner filled with crab and seafood.

There are six private open-air baths in the building. Of these, only "Umi no Yu" and "Sakura no Yu" have ocean views. They are spacious and open, like a large public bath. The spring water is made of sodium and calcium sulfate, and the soft water is gentle on the skin. Only Sakura no Yu requires a fee, but the other five baths can be used for free. Why not enjoy bathing in each of them?

"Yusai Resort Hibiki" is located on the beach in Yuhigaura onsen, an area where you can see beautiful sunsets. This is an ocean view inn with seven rooms and an open-air bath. You can see the beautiful sunset over the Sea of Japan from the large windows of the rooms.

Here you can enjoy the Yuhigaura onsen, known as the "Beauty Bath," in the privacy of your own room. The simple onsen is hypotonic, weakly alkaline, and highly humid, so it is said to be effective in improving sensitivity to cold and relieving fatigue. The sunset sinking into the horizon, the sea at night with its solitary fishing lights, and the refreshing blue of the day. Enjoy your bath while watching the ever-changing expressions of the sea.

The cuisine is creative, using ingredients from Kyotango. Enjoy plenty of seasonal seafood and local vegetables landed at the local fishing port. Another great thing about this restaurant is that you can relax in a private room. Depending on the season, you can also enjoy Matsuba crab. The fishing season for Matsuba crab is short, from November to March, so they cook and serve live crab purchased at the morning auction from fishing ports in northern Kinki. You can also try the mythical Taizaka crab and the popular Tsuiyama crab, which is a blue tag brand. Take your time to savor the food that has been painstakingly prepared.

Hekisui Gyoen is located on the shores of Kumihama Bay, which is designated as part of the San'in Kaigan National Park. There are only 14 rooms on a site of about 10,000 tsubo. It is a tranquil area with no large buildings in the surrounding area, an open landscape, and the occasional deer. All rooms have views of Kumihama Bay, and some Japanese-style rooms have an open-air bath with natural hot spring water. There are also a large public bath, a shop, a rest area, and a cafe corner, so the facilities are well-equipped.

You can taste the "Tsuyama Matsuba Crab", which is known as a brand name crab among Matsuba crabs. You can take home the crab you won at the auction alive and enjoy it in a variety of ways, such as sashimi, grilled, or tempura. There is also a "Crab Kaiseki" plan that uses two snow crabs. Start with crab miso tofu, crab sashimi, boiled crab, and charcoal-grilled crab, then move on to crab hotpot. You can finish off with crab porridge to fill you up. It is known for being very filling, so even foodies will be satisfied.

In the large public bath, you can enjoy 100% natural onsen. With an abundant source, you can enjoy natural onsen without adding water. From the open-air bath in the large public bath, you can see Kumihama Bay so close you can reach out and touch it. If you immerse yourself up to your shoulders, you can enjoy it as an infinity bath. After the bath, you can cool down in the rest area. The view from there is also outstanding.

"Ichibokan" is about a 2-minute walk from Yuhigaura Beach. It's located so close that you can reach the sea in no time with a quick jog. If you want to enjoy the sea view, choose a room facing the sea.

You can see the beautiful sunset at Yuhigaura from the bath in the guest room with a panoramic onsen stone bath. Enjoy a relaxing time soaking in the Yuhigaura hot onsen, known as the "beauty bath," while enjoying the ever-changing scenery.

In winter, a plan where you can enjoy plenty of crab is available. Grilled crab, crab sashimi, crab chiri, steamed crab, grilled crab in the shell, etc. Please enjoy crab to your heart's content. Outside of winter, you can enjoy a course meal using seafood freshly caught from the fishing port, such as abalone and seasonal fish sashimi.

Amanohashidate Hotel is located about a one-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station. Most of the rooms have an ocean view, overlooking Amanohashidate, one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Views. There are a variety of room types available, including Japanese-style rooms and Japanese-Western style rooms with beds, so you can stay here for any occasion, whether you're a couple, on a girls' trip, or with your family.

In winter, we have a new "Crab Gozen Plan"! You can enjoy crab sukiyaki, crab tempura, boiled crab, chawanmushi with crab meat, and more. There is even a dessert to finish off the meal, so you will be full and satisfied. For breakfast, try the Japanese and Western buffet. There are about 40 types of egg dishes, Japanese and Western side dishes, bread, desserts, and more! After eating your fill, head out to see Amanohashidate.

You can enjoy Amanohashidate onsen in the large public bath. Men and women take turns, so it's best to time your trip so you can use all the baths. In addition to the indoor bath, there is an open-air bath, a reclining bath, a steam bath, a sauna, and a salt pit (resting area). Enjoy the baths to your heart's content♪

Winter travel can be a little chilly, but if you eat delicious crab, you'll be glad you came. Why not take a crab trip to Kyotango, on the Sea of Japan side of Kyoto, in search of a treat that only lasts a few months of winter? The great thing about staying overnight is that once you're full, you can just rest in the bed or bath at the inn. Enjoy the inn's onsen to relieve your daily fatigue.