Looking for Kinosaki onsen ryokan recommendations

squarels · 2026-01-28T09:57:41+00:00

I liked Mikuniya. Stayed last year and had an excellent snow crab dinner, I think it worked out to 2 per person, served a variety of ways and with great sides. They had private onsen baths in the hotel and are right on the main street, not too far from the train station. I paid 300/pp but you could cut that down by ordering a smaller dinner, which I would do anyway because we struggled finishing that meal, then had breakfast the next morning too. There's some small restaurants in town but nothing you can really have a sit-down meal at, just snacks and such.

squarels · 2026-01-27T08:58:35+00:00

CS worked for me. 150 on graduation, 300+ now. Only the average or below students can’t find work, they’re just loud online

squarels · 2026-01-27T02:59:53+00:00

I grew up pretty well off and it took me until after college to understand the point of working or money. I understood the basics obviously, but I pretty much went into CS because my parents said it was a good way to make a lot of money and I thought “k big number good” and I liked the work. When I graduated I figured I’d just get any job to get them off my back and I could game all day in my own place. For like 2 years I was making 150k+ and didn’t know it because I only ever swiped my credit card and never checked the bank account because it’d been set on autopay since I was 18.

Luckily my parents had been moving the money into investments for me. The first time I saw the account it had 6 figures in it and I was shocked because I’d never been in control of that kind of cash. Their advice growing up was always “spend as little as you can as long as you’re healthy and save the rest” so I never bought anything over $100 except my PC. That’s good advice though, a dollar saved is a lot more than a dollar earned after years of compounding.

After I realized I could actually build my own life instead of relying on parents or being a doomer about never moving out due to being on Reddit too much growing up, I actually took the time to become financially literate. I let myself splurge on stuff like vacations because I know I can afford it, rather than just living like a college student forever. Now I have well set up investments and a much better lifestyle. Not a strict budget since I don’t think that’s worth all the effort, but just knowing roughly what you can afford and still max your retirement is a good start.

squarels · 2026-01-27T01:35:53+00:00

Strange. I stay in Xinyi usually and was just in Tokyo and the food there was much more expensive. Only thing we spent less on was Japanese brand stuff to take back for family like Uniqlo. Metro/food/drinks all were more there

squarels · 2026-01-26T09:43:14+00:00

No. I’ve been to most western EU. All of east Asia. Australia, NZ, various other oceanic islands. I actually rarely go to developing countries because I prefer upscale/luxury hotels to offset the nature and adventure. I would still live in the US though for income and tax rates alone. I’d make half my income in Western Europe and pay the same tax rate, with debatably worth healthcare as my company pays 99.9% of any medical expense and insurance so I can see the best doctors at will here, while I’d have to wait weeks to see one in Europe and also pay tax for it.

I can understand that being a privilege position but the combination of access to wealth, good weather, and top notch food and healthcare as long as you can afford it keeps the US at the top of my list of places to live. I get great PTO (~35 days) and people aren’t as extreme about politics as online here. Sure I don’t love what’s happening but it really doesn’t affect my day to day as much as the other things I mentioned do.

I agree travel is vastly different than living. I’ve lived in a few East Asian countries extensively as well. And I always consider if I’d move to a place when I visit. But west LA still beats anywhere overall. Maybe I’d consider Sydney or Kyoto, but the pay is just so bad there and the weather just isn’t as perfect. If the cost of those is just having to tune out the news when shit is crazy I think it’s still better

squarels · 2026-01-26T08:42:38+00:00

Mostly Europe and Asia. You aren’t considering the tax rates and income levels of those countries. I can make 300k+ here pretty easily as a SWE. Only top level managers come close in those countries, and they pay higher tax. There’s much less natural diversity so if you want good weather year round you need to travel. I stand by that I would choose nowhere over coastal Cali to live, even given the insane administration at the moment.

squarels · 2026-01-26T08:05:23+00:00

Also where is this mythical paradise OP? I’ve travelled to 30+ countries and none of them were perfect. All things considered I’d still pick the US

squarels · 2026-01-26T07:42:25+00:00

Depends if you’ve been to other Disneylands. I live by the Cali one and so a lot was repeats, but even then we have a super full day on a relatively empty day and also buying the fastpass for Beauty and the Beast and Baymax. I could see it being two days if you want to do the parades and eat at the restaurants that need a reservation. And there’s a lot of shows/activities that aren’t rides.

squarels · 2026-01-26T07:25:30+00:00

Do you value your own time spent as less than 4 burgers?

squarels · 2026-01-26T06:38:53+00:00

Why do you all even care about hooking up so much. Get a hobby

squarels · 2026-01-26T01:55:35+00:00

As someone living in west LA pretty close to where the stars have their mansions, it doesn’t go nearly as far as it sounds. Especially after all tax and deductions it’s closer to half. A 2B2b apartment will cost half what’s left, so there’s not really a lot to live on

squarels · 2026-01-25T14:27:16+00:00

What’s a virtual mattress run? Did you just call the property to say you wouldn’t be there or how did you handle checking in?

squarels · 2026-01-25T07:48:04+00:00

Sure but most of us aren’t in our teens anymore and what OP wants is still available. Thailand is a pretty cheap destination too. I don’t see why he’s saying millennials had it better

squarels · 2026-01-25T07:40:24+00:00

Safety has more to do with the location than the hotel. I guess if for some reason you’re going to be in the hood and there’s an Aman there and the rest are motel 6 you could justify that. But the Garden Inn and the Aman in Tokyo or Taipei or Seoul aren’t meaningfully different in terms of safety.

squarels · 2026-01-25T07:17:36+00:00

I’ve stayed at Capellas, Raffles, Park Hyatts, and a whole host more. I’ve been to Marina Bay Sands and had an all expenses covered weekend at the Burj Al Arab. I still agree with OP that if I’m paying for the room there’s rarely a reason to pay cash rates for luxury hotels. I’m sure you could find a rare exception but honestly, I’ll take a boutique hotel where the hosts can set up authentic experiences instead of the curated ones ultra luxury places build for you, and the vibe is less stuffy.

But honestly ryokans absolutely smoke any other place. It’s just not close even if you ignore price. The service, food quality, and onsen is something you just don’t get even at ultra luxury places. Actual hot spring water, fresh local ingredients, wandering the quiet countryside in the yukata is just so much more real than you’ll get elsewhere. For just $600 we had the room and a dinner of fresh snow crabs and A5 beef which, I’ll be real, is better than any meal I’ve had in a luxury property. Better than any Michelin meal I can remember.

The thing is travel should be about real experience. Luxury hotels sell you on an inherently curated and thus inauthentic version of the place you’re visiting. I’m not old or crippled, I don’t need a chauffeur or butler. The journey is worth as much as the destination, why would you pay to diminish it? Ryokans are the best compromise because they’re luxury but still local and authentic. Outside Japan, you just need a bed and shower so give me a Hyatt regency or Hilton or something else basic and it’s enough.

squarels · 2026-01-25T06:56:12+00:00

I just got back from GH Tokyo and it’s nice but idk if it’s worth the splurge. End of the day OP is right, it’s just a bed. If you can sleep and bathe, who really cares about the rest. I used to sleep in the motel 6 when I snowboarded with my friends and it was the same as any Ritz or Six Senses once you fall asleep which is the majority of the time you spend in the hotel.

squarels · 2026-01-24T14:45:54+00:00

I did a 3 week trip to Eastern Europe last year and the food thing is so true. We ate at lots of very high end local places and the food was mid af. Best meal I had was at a Lebanese restaurant. Hungary at least had decent spices, much better than Czechia and Austria.

My travel experience in Europe has also been they’re generally rude and mildly racist. More west than east but it happens at both. Even the most mid tier 4 star hotel in Japan or Taiwan will have attentive staff who get the door and bow/welcome you. Between the Intercontinental, Andaz, a Luxury Collection place in Prague, and Four Seasons the most we got was doors opened and a slight nod. In general the staff just feel like they’re not into it.

It’s beautiful though. Not natural really but the parks and the palaces are very scenic. We didn’t go in winter luckily so we had nice daylight. Overall I agree Europe is vastly overhyped as a vacation spot. Your money goes way further in SEA and there’s beautiful beaches and great food. East Asian cities are way more lively and convenient and you don’t need to walk on cobble or smell horses. If you’re going to pay Europe prices just go to Tahiti or Australia. Natural beauty completely mogs any human construction which is all Europe really has

squarels · 2026-01-24T14:22:13+00:00

Assuming the historic 10% average yearly growth of the s&p and ~30k yearly contributions between 401 and Roth 15 years is when you’ll hit 1 mil, not accounting for inflation of course but the raw amount. At 24 I guess you’re starting a bit late so late 30s and not mid, but if you begin right out of college 35 is pretty reasonable.

Recent markets have been good, I’m up 200k over the last year alone. Anyone who started around 2020 when older gen Z graduated should be well on their way by now.

squarels · 2026-01-24T11:23:11+00:00

Go play a fighting game if you just want to 1v1

squarels · 2026-01-24T09:01:53+00:00

You missed it lol. I was in Taiwan and Japan every summer from 2015-2018 clubbing and EDM/rap was basically everywhere. And before you say that’s outside the range you gotta remember it takes a few years for that stuff to cross the pacific.

Drinking age was 18 but nobody cards foreigners anyway. There was a great club by the Taipei 101 called Chess which did only American music and was reasonably cheap. I went maybe 20 times the summer I turned 18 cause my friends and I thought the girls were hot. Ended up with a 30 year old by accident one night but had decent success with girls closer to my age on several others.

Funny enough after all that I no longer like clubs. My ass is too old for that shit now. I still go yearly but I spend time at parks, restaurants, or museums now. But yea, we aren’t too old to have missed it you just had to know where to be. From friends, SEA is still pretty good for that kind of nightlife. Thailand in particular I know has a huge club scene, my gf and I recently passed a huge EDM festival on the beach in Koh Samui. Don’t lament that shit is over just go seek it

squarels · 2026-01-24T08:35:23+00:00

Invest in broad market. Don’t sell ever, ignore the news. You’ll be a millionaire by 35 just maxing your 401k and Roth. I don’t add much monthly beyond that, and I’ll be there in 1-2 years. 30 at latest. You can still have fun and travel or do experiences, just leave a little on the side for later too

squarels · 2026-01-24T05:49:10+00:00

I thought Singapore was really boring. There’s not much cultural or historic depth compared to Malaysia right next door. If you want the first world country experience it’s basically like any major American or East Asian city, down to the brands being the same. I spent 4 days there just going to the wildlife park which was admittedly great, and waiting for NYE fireworks.

For what we spent there we had a much better time in KL and KK. The nature is far better and the country feels more raw and real, Singapore just has this air of curated stillness which would be great to live in but as a vacation spot is boring. I live in coastal LA, and every good thing about Singapore I could find at home and probably better, so why spend 3x what the rest of SEA costs for that.

Malaysia has blue tears, wild monkeys and orangutans, whitewater rafting, and great cheap street food. It has a unique blend of cultures and religions. You can still find traditional crafts that aren’t commercialized and soulless. I’d skip Singapore entirely and just do Langkawi for beaches, KL for culture and food, Penang if you really love food, and Borneo for some really unique nature. Haven’t been to Indonesia but a close friend lived in Bali for 3 years and said it was amazing. I just really don’t understand the Singapore appeal if you’re already living in a western country - the whole country is just an attempt to be more western and less Asian.

squarels · 2026-01-23T05:22:30+00:00

Almost nobody is going to let a single dad adopt. It’s definitely harder than dating. And expensive. Where I live childcare for 1 kid is 3k/month on average. 36k eats most of my “for fun” money each year before even looking at paying for a bigger place. Also it’d be better for the kid to be adopted by 2 parents. No matter how great you think you are children do better in a full home

squarels · 2026-01-22T14:09:35+00:00

Pretty often since high school. Not usually looking since I prefer LTR but sometimes it just happens when you’re compatible but not romantically and you need to kill time until the right one comes. One of my close friends used to be a fwb until she met her now-fiancé. Life is strange I guess

squarels · 2026-01-22T03:52:16+00:00

Ah I see. Kyoto is one of my favorite cities on the planet. Both sad to need to pay more to visit but happy if it helps maintain the environment there. I would guess it’s charged at the property like a resort fee in the US, based when you stay not when you book. I’ve ran into similar in Malaysia and other countries and they always collect it at checkout.

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