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Kinosaki Onsen is famous for its “nanayu-meguri,” where guests visit seven open-air baths, and trying different foods is one way to double the enjoyment of touring these hot springs. Here, I’ll introduce some casual gourmet dishes that I personally love.

First, you’ve absolutely got to try the steak skewers from Gyusho Ueda, a shop that sells directly from the Tajima cattle ranch Ueda Chikusan.

Ueda Chikusan has won several awards at the National Competitive Exhibition of Wagyu, also known as the “Wagyu Olympics,” held once every five years, and their original brand Tajimaguro is the real thing: Tajima cattle at the national top level.

Gyusho Ueda sells small cuts of meat, as well as processed products such as mince cutlets.

Their popular menu includes steak skewers, which let you casually savor Tajimaguro beef. They make them fresh to order.

The meat juices overflow as you take a bite, and the umami deliciousness of the meat fills your mouth. The fat is smooth and its flavor lingers, but it's not greasy at all. Tajimaguro contains an abundance of unsaturated fatty acids, similar to the fat of a fish, so the quality of the fat is completely different to regular marbled beef. The meat used on the skewers comes from various parts of the cattle, and enjoying the different textures and flavors is one of the appeals. They also offer steak skewers made with just sirloin or fillets.

My favorite confection is the plain cheese tart from Kinosaki Onsen Yuagari Cheese Tarts.

It has a cute picture of a crab created using cocoa powder. 

There’s plenty of meltingly soft cheese cream inside the flaky pastry.  

True to its “Yuagari” brand name, which means “after bathing,” it has a refreshing finish with perfectly balanced acidity—you’ll end up finishing it in no time.

Its subtle sweetness makes it popular among people of many different ages. It’ll keep in the fridge for around three days, so these are also well-loved as souvenirs.

The yuagari puddings from Maruyamakaryo Kinosaki Onsen store are also so popular that people line up to get them.

The syrupy soft pudding is light and refreshing.

After the “yuagari” confections, I recommend Kinosaki Vinegar's vinegar drinks for after you’ve bathed.

This is a shop that sells directly from Tokiwa, a well-established vinegar company from Kami Town that boasts over a century of history. They do offer hot drinks, but with so many customers coming from the baths, their cold drinks are very popular, even in the autumn and winter. You’ll be surprised at how easy to drink and delicious their vinegar drinks are! You can also freely customize their basic drinks and brand vinegar at the drink counter.

Their bestseller is the fresh lemonade vinegar squash. It contains jelly made with lemons, bursting with freshness, and really hits the spot after a soak. Personally, I like their yuzu & ginger vinegar squash. The yuzu and subtle tang of ginger is really refreshing. The yuzu fruit is also delicious, and I always eat it all.

There’s plenty more delicious gourmet foods to try, but one that’s perfect for the coming season is a skewer of nure-okaki (soft rice crackers) from Terakoya Honpo.

The moist, slightly sticky texture unique to nure-okaki and the fragrance of the soy sauce creates a moreish, mouthwatering flavor. When I first bought one, I ate it in the car straightaway, and wondered whether I should go back for another one (lol).

In addition to the regular and popular amakuchi (sweet) soy sauce flavor, you can also get a seven-spice blend, wasabi soy sauce, and mayonnaise.

The steamed Tajima beef buns from Tajima Delica Chaya are another hot gourmet food that is popular in the upcoming season.

To wrap things up, I’ll mention making onsen eggs (eggs boiled in the hot springs), an unmissable experience when you’re trying the different dishes of the hot spring resort. 

At Kinosaki Gelato Cafe Chaya, located near the hot spring source of Kinosaki Onsen, you can buy raw eggs and make onsen eggs yourself by soaking them in the source. 

Cook the eggs for however long you want to. I like soft-boiled eggs, which take around 11 minutes.

Relax at the footbath opposite until they’re done. It’s a luxurious way to spend the wait.

And here’s the freshly made onsen eggs! These are locally produced, pesticide-free eggs, with a rich flavor and jammy texture. Salt is available, but first try eating them without any condiments.

When we think of a trip to a hot spring, the pervading image is of an overnight stay, but in Kinosaki Onsen you can tour the seven open-air baths even if you’re not a hotel guest, and there are an abundance of eateries. Being able to make the most of the hot springs and gourmet on a day trip is also one of this area’s charms.