In-depth information on Arima Onsen! Introducing everything from how to make the most of these hot springs and their highlights to gourmet, souvenirs, day visits, and accommodation. Plus, find out how to access this destination and about recommended sightseeing spots in the area
Arima Onsen is one of Kobe’s popular sightseeing destinations. It’s one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs—more than 1,400 years old!—and has been loved by emperors, nobles, and warlords. It offers plenty of highlights, including historic buildings, to accompany its wonderfully effective “golden” and “silver” waters. Of course, you can also savor some of the high-quality gourmet unique to Kobe in this easily accessible area located just under an hour from the center of the city. This feature introduces some of the many charms of Arima Onsen, which has attracted the attention of large numbers of tourists of all ages over the years!
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- The history and highlights of Arima Onsen, one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs
- How to make the most of Arima Onsen
- Hot springs for day visits in Arima Onsen
- Recommended gourmet in Arima Onsen
- Recommended sightseeing destinations in the Arima Onsen area
- Popular souvenirs from Arima Onsen
- The best accommodations, where you can make the most of Arima Onsen
- Access
- Summary
The history and highlights of Arima Onsen, one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs
Arima Onsen has been a highly valued hot spring destination for a long time—it’s mentioned in the Nihon Shoki (the “Chronicles of Japan,” one of the oldest official histories of Japan from the 8th century) and the Makura no Soshi (“The Pillow Book,” a book of impressions by a court lady living in the late 10th to early 11th century). Famous 16th-century samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife Nene (titled "Kita no Mandokoro") visited these springs numerous times, and are known to have focused their efforts on their development. Arima Onsen’s highlights include spots connected to Hideyoshi, such as the Taiko-hashi Bridge and Nene-bashi Bridge, as well as the Taiko-no-yu Museum, where the remains of his extravagant Yunoyama Goten (palace) are displayed. Enjoy a stroll through history when you visit Arima Onsen.
How to make the most of Arima Onsen
- ▲ Tansansengen park ＠一般財団法人神戸観光局
Arima Onsen is famous for its two hot springs, and it’s said that soaking in both of these will help revitalize your physical condition. First, warm your body to the core in the red-brown “golden waters” (Kinsen) containing iron and salt, and then revitalize your skin and boost your metabolism in the colorless carbonated “silver waters” (Ginsen). Tansansengen park, where you can drink natural carbonated water, is located near the Gin no Yu baths. There are also rows of Japanese confectioners and souvenir stores along the hot spring resort’s main streets, Yumotozaka and Taiko-dori Street.
Hot springs for day visits in Arima Onsen
Arima Onsen boasts the Kinsen, “golden waters” with a high salt concentration that offer excellent moisturizing and warming properties, and the Ginsen “silver waters” from which you can expect detoxing effects thanks to their carbonization. You can visit for a day trip to bathe in either of these springs in various traditional ryokan inns and public baths. Experience the power of Arima’s hot springs by visiting different baths!
■ Arima Onsen Taiko no Yu
You can visit these huge hot spring baths on a day trip. Taiko no Yu offers an abundant variety of options in addition to the Kinsen and Ginsen waters, with 26 types of bath, a ganban yoku “stone bath,” and a sauna. It even has a restaurant, enabling you to enjoy a whole day here. Make sure to check for coupons that let you pay for the train fare and entry as a set and for discount tickets available only when you book online.
Recommended gourmet in Arima Onsen
Make these your first stop after arriving at Arima Onsen! Here we introduce our recommended drop-in spots, from eateries selling gourmet treats to dining establishments where you can enjoy lunch.
- (1) Takenaka Nikuten
- This specialized meat eatery serves domestic Japanese Black wagyu and Kobe beef. Their hand-made croquettes, containing luxurious beef mince, are perfect as quick bites to try.
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- (2) Soba Dosanjin Arima Store: Hanare
- The soba noodles sold here, made from carefully chosen buckwheat grains stone-ground by the eatery itself, are wonderfully fragrant and smooth. In this store, you can savor its specialty dish “sudachi soba,” as well as tempura, rolled sushi, and more.
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- (3) Kutsurogi-ya
- This eatery is housed in an old renovated folk house lying at the edge of the hot spring resort. Their freshly cooked kamameshi one-pot dishes, made with seafood and mountain produce, offer a gentle flavor with plenty of dashi stock.
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- (4) Mitsumori Honpo
- This store, founded in the Meiji period (1868–1912), was the inventor of Arima’s specialty tansan senbei crackers. These are made without additives, offering the same gentle flavor they have always had. Inside, you can watch the experts making each hand-baked cracker.
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- (5) Arima gelateria Stagione
- This eatery sells exquisite gelato made using only carefully selected ingredients such as seasonal fruits and vegetables and local raw milk from Mount Rokko. Make sure you try a treat made with the skills of a winner of the Japanese Championship of the Gelato World Tour.
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Recommended sightseeing destinations in the Arima Onsen area
- Arima Toys & Automata Museum
- This museum has collected approximately 4,000 high-quality toys from around the world, including toys that modern children haven't seen and even some that their parents have never played with. It also includes a space where you can touch and play with the toys yourself.
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- Zuihoji Park
- This is a famous location for colorful fall leaves, known as “Higurashi no Niwa.” It was established in the grounds of the forme…
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- Geiko Cafe Ito
- Arima Onsen is the only place in Hyogo Prefecture that retains its unique geiko (geisha) culture. Here, you can watch the geiko’s beautiful dancing and listen to songs accompanied by the shamisen (three-stringled instrument). As a facility where you can easily experience traditional culture, this cafe is popular among both visitors from Japan and tourists from overseas.
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- Rokko-Arima Ropeway
- The Rokko-Arima Ropeway connects the peak of Mount Rokko with Arima Onsen in around 12 minutes, enabling you to get a close-up view of the mountain’s dynamic natural world, ever-changing in the four seasons. The mountaintop is also home to an abundance of highlights, including Rokko Garden Terrace and Rokko-Shidare Observatory.
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- Kikusei Dai (Observation Deck), Mt. Maya
- Kikusei Dai (Observation Deck) on Mt. Maya is well-known as Kobe’s representative destination for night scenery. Continue on the…
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- Kobe City Rokkosan Pasture
- Kobe City Rokkosan Pasture lies on the mountainside of Mt. Rokko. Its high elevation means it is cool even in the summer, and of…
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Popular souvenirs from Arima Onsen
Tansan senbei, onsen manju (steamed buns), kombu simmered in soy sauce and mirin... a variety of souvenir stores line the streets of this hot spring resort, selling everything from rare articles loved by all ages to cosmetics and other goods in stylishly retro packaging. Give the gift of a traditional handicraft unique to Arima to your loved ones.
- (1) Tansan senbei crackers
- With a subtle sweetness, light texture, and absolutely no additives, tansan senbei are confections that have remained unchanged for many years. Their traditional flavor, made using the carbonated waters of Arima’s hot springs, has been passed down until today.
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- (2) Arima Kago
- These are traditional baskets made by weaving strong and smooth madake bamboo with a lovely luster. It’s said that famous tea master Sen no Rikyu favored these for tea utensils.
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- (3) Arima ningyo-fude (doll brush)
- When you lower one of these mechanical brushes to write, a sweet little doll suddenly peers out. Arima ningyo-fude are a traditional handicraft that have been made here since the Muromachi period (1336-1573).
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The best accommodations, where you can make the most of Arima Onsen
The real thrills of a visit here are the magic of the hot spring resort at night and early morning walks when the streets are shrouded in mist. Arima Onsen holds plenty of charming accommodation options, including places that take pride in their meals with Kobe and Sanda beef and others with private open-air hot spring baths. We’ve picked out some of the best accommodations—just staying in these could be one of the goals of your visit.
- (1) Arima Grand Hotel
- This hotel boasts excellent views thanks to its prime hillside location in the Arima Onsen resort town. Guests can enjoy large communal baths (separate for men and women) on the 2nd basement floor level and also the 9th floor, featuring kinsen (gold spring water) and ginsen (silver spring water). As the seasons turn, the 9th-floor haths can offer breathtaking views of a sea of clouds.
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- (2) Hyoe Koyokaku
- This hotel, with a history and tradition spanning over 700 years, offers seasonal traditional cuisine and three kinds of communal baths featuring kinsen (gold spring water). This long-established inn has been offering guests a memorable experience through the warmth of its hospitality.
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- (3) Tosen Goshoboh
- A historic hot spring inn boasting a history dating back to the Kamakura period. In a space imbued with a unique atmosphere loved by literary giants and celebrities, guests can enjoy the traditional "Kinsen" (Golden Spring) and mountain villa-style cuisine (Yamaga-ryori) made with carefully selected local ingredients. Gosho Bessho, where you can enjoy luxury with a sense of privacy in detached villas all exceeding 100 square meters, is also recommended.
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- (4) Kinzan
- This hotel welcomes guests with a generous and meticulously prepared hospitality, embodying the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony, where the principles of wabi-sabi and respect are deeply ingrained. It offers a memorable experiences for the visitors with its atmospheric traditional-style bath and a creative Kyoto-style kaiseki dinner made with fresh seasonal ingredients.
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- (5) Ginsuiso Choraku
- Surrounded by an oak forest on a hill overlooking the center of the Arima Onsen resort, this retreat offers a peaceful soothing escape. Guests can enjoy the majestic nature of the Rokko Mountains while relaxing in baths fed by the hotel's private kinsen (gold spring water) and radium-infused ginsen (silver spring water). The hotel combines a traditional Japanese-style ambience with carefully crafted seasonal dishes prepared with meticulous attention and care, providing guests with warm and heartfelt hospitality.
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- (6) Taketoritei Maruyama
- A secluded inn nestled on a quiet hill, themed after the classic Japanese folktale "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" (Taketori Monogatari). The inn features multiple private baths where you can enjoy both Kinsen (Golden Spring) and Ginsen (Silver Spring), allowing for a relaxing soak in complete privacy.
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Access
Below are details of how to access Arima Onsen from the major cities. It’s also easy to take a direct bus from the major stations.
(1) From Shin-Kobe Station
[Train] Shin-Kobe Station → (Kobe City subway) → Tanigami Station → (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arimaguchi Station → (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arima Onsen Station (approx. 30 mins)
[Bus] Shin-Kobe Station → (Arima Express) → Sannomiya Bus Terminal → Arima Onsen (approx. 30 mins)
(2) From Sannomiya Station
[Train] Sannomiya Station → (Kobe City subway) → Tanigami Station → (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arimaguchi Station → (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arima Onsen Station (approx. 30 mins)
[Bus] Sannomiya Bus Terminal → (Arima Express) → Arima Onsen (approx. 30 mins)
(3) From Osaka
[Train] Osaka Station → (JR Kobe Line) → Sannomiya Station → (walk) → Sannomiya Station → (Kobe City subway) → Tanigami Station → (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arimaguchi Station→ (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arima Onsen Station (approx. 70 mins)
[Bus] Osaka (Umeda Hankyu Sanbangai) → (Hankyu Bus) → Arima Onsen (approx. 60 mins)
④From Kyoto
[Train] Kyoto Station → (JR Shinkansen) → Shin-Kobe Station → (Kobe City subway) → Tanigami Station → (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arimaguchi Station→ (Kobe Electric Railway) → Arima Onsen Station (approx. 65 mins)
[Bus] Kyoto Station (Hachijo Exit) → (Keihan Bus) → Arima Onsen (approx. 75 mins)
Summary
What do you think? The attractions mentioned here are only some of the charms of Arima Onsen. Why not visit and experience the real nature of a hot spring resort beloved for 1,400 years for yourself? Make sure you check out other attractions in the area too!
