Arima Onsen is also called Kansai no okuzashiki - a quiet retreat in the Kansai region. It’s surrounded by nature while being close and easily accessible from major cities.

From Kobe City
・Car: Arima Onsen is around a 20-minute drive from Kobe City. From the Hanshin Expressway Route 32 Shin-Kobe tunnel, it takes five minutes off the Arimaguchi Interchange on the Hanshin Expressway No.7 Kitakobe Route.
・Train: It takes around 30 minutes from JR Sannomiya Station to Arima Onsen Station by transferring onto both the Kobe Municipal Subway and the Kobe Electric Railway. Express buses also take approximately 30 minutes.

From Osaka
・Drive: It’s approximately a 60-minute drive from Osaka. You can take the Kinki Expressway’s Suita Junction to the Chugoku Expressway’s Nishinomiya-Yamaguchi Junction and get off at the Hanshin Expressway No.7 Kitakobe Route on the Nishinomiya-Yamaguchi-minami Interchange. This trip takes eight minutes. If you’re driving from the Chugoku Expressway, be aware that you can’t get off at the Arimaguchi Interchange on the Hanshin Expressway Kita-Kobe Line.
・Train: Take the JR Kobe Line and get off at JR Sannomiya Station. From here, you can take the same route that you would take from Kobe Station. It takes around an hour from JR Osaka Station.
Hankyu Sightseeing Bus Co., Ltd. (the page is only in Japanese)

From Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)
There’s also a way to get to Arima Onsen from Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport) by bus. The bus departs from JR Osaka Station, passes through Shin-Osaka Station, where the Shinkansen stops, and goes to Arima Onsen via Osaka International Airport. It takes approximately 60 minutes from JR Osaka Station and 30 minutes from Osaka International Airport.

All seats must be reserved online beforehand. (As of August 2022, the direct express bus from Osaka International Airport to Arima Onsen is suspended, and only some services from Arima Onsen to Osaka International Airport are in operation.)

From Kansai International Airport
Currently, there are no direct bus services from Kansai International Airport to Arima Onsen (as of August 2022). It’s convenient to take the airport limousine bus to Sannomiya (in front of JR Sannomiya Station) and transfer to a train or bus. This takes about two hours. If you use the train from the airport, you need to take the train from JR Kansai Airport Station to JR Osaka Station.

If you plan to drive, park in the parking lot of the hotel where you’re staying or at the Arima Onsen parking. From here, we recommend walking. The hot spring village retains its traditional Japanese atmosphere and has narrow roads and many tourists-making it impossible to enter by car. If you are traveling by yourself, we recommend using a train or bus.

Arima Onsen has a long history dating back to the ages of Japanese mythology. According to legend, two gods were scouring the country for medicinal herbs when they came upon three injured crows stopping at a red puddle to heal their wounds. This puddle is said to be Arima Onsen.

Arima Onsen has unique hot springs in which spring waters are filled with a mix of rejuvenating properties. It has seven of the nine properties needed to designate Japanese hot springs as a therapeutic spring. Arima Onsen’s popularity is backed by science and has been long-enjoyed as a therapeutic bathing facility.

Arima Onsen is known for its two springs: kinsen (gold spring) and ginsen (silver spring). Kinsen is an iron-rich spring that turns a reddish-brown color upon oxidizing. The spring waters of ginsen are carbonated and transparent. There are two outdoor bathing facilities called Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu where you can enjoy these waters for day use.

A carbonated spring is located atop of Negai-zaka (Hill of Wishes) on the grounds of Gin no Yu. There’s a drinking spot where waters have a distinct bitterness and leave a slight tingle on the tongue.

The main street in the Arima hot spring resort is known as Taikodori. Many of the resort’s shops and hotels are along streets named Taikodori, Yumotozaka, and Negaizaka. Here you can enjoy a traditional Japanese atmosphere.

Head to the Tourist Information Center and pick up a tourist map (available in English, Chinese, and Korean) to take a walking tour of the hot spring village.

Arima Onsen was rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a military commander who unified Japan at the end of the Sengoku period (mid-1580s). Rebuilding started around 1597 after wars, fires, and earthquakes damaged the village. It’s now affectionately nick-named Taiko-san, another name for Hideyoshi. You’ll also find many motifs honoring Hideyoshi’s name and his military flag’s symbolic gourd design.

Introducing the historical sightseeing spots in Arima Onsen!

Tosen Shrine is located at the center of Arima Onsen in Mount Atago. It enshrines the gods in the Arima Onsen legend, Onamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto. The gods are revered as the tutelary deities of Arima and the guardian deities of the hot springs.

Onamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto are also known for being gods of fertility. It’s said that those who are infertile can bathe in Arima’s hot springs and pray at Tosen Shrine to be blessed with children. Visitors travel from afar to receive shrine amulets for pregnancy and safe births.

Arima Onsen’s history centers around the three patrons of Arima, which include the Buddhist priests Gyoki and Ninsai, as well as Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Onsenji Misoshian is located on the grounds of Onsenji Temple. This facility displays picture scrolls that portray the history of Arima Onsen as well as the Buddhist priests, Gyoki and Ninsai. (Temporarily closed due to maintenance work as of August 2022.)

Gyoki was the first Japanese priest to be given the title. daisoji, a Buddhist priest of the highest order. He was also the apprentice of Dojo-the direct apprentice of Genjosanzo. Genjosanzo was said to be the inspiration for the character Sanzohoshi in the classic Chinese work of literature, Saiyuki.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was said to have visited Arima Onsen at least nine times. He built Yuyama Palace and a separate residence for his wife so they could stay comfortably. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s passing, the residences were torn down by the Tokugawa family. However, Toyotomi’s bathhouse was rumored to have remained on the grounds of Gorakuji Temple.

Gorakuji Temple was destroyed due to the Han-Shin Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Upon examining the cultural property for reconstruction, the remains of Toyotomi’s bathhouse were found. Taiko Yudono Kan was built to preserve and display these precious remains. It’s a special museum introducing an important part of Japanese hot spring culture. Displays throughout the facility are only in Japanese, but there are brochures in English, Chinese, and Korean.

Arima geiko, otherwise known as Arima geisha, are an essential part of Arima’s hot spring culture. During the Kamakura period (1185~1333), women who performed various traditional arts were first called yuna (bathhouse women), and later became known as Arima geiko in mid-Meiji (around 1883).

As a way to preserve the Arima geiko culture, traditional training in classical Japanese dancing, nagauta (a chant-like singing accompanied by shamisen), kouta (Japanese ballads accompanied by shamisen), shamisen (three-stringed Japanese lute) and Japanese orchestral instruments (drum, hand drum, and large hand drum) are practiced to this day.

Geiko Cafe Ito is a cafe and bar with a stage. This facility is popular with foreign guests as you can enjoy geiko dances and other traditional forms of entertainment. We recommend reserving the private Arima dancing show package.

Admission is 50,000 yen for a group of one to five (10,000 yen each for a group of five, prices change depending on the number of guests). Geikos can speak very basic English and will take pictures while answering your questions to the best of their ability.

This toy museum centers around the theme, “watch, listen, play, and build.” Mr. Hironobu Kanai, the 15th proprietor of the long-established inn Goshoboh, opened the Arima Toys and Automata Museum in 2003 after consulting with Mr. Yuzo Kato, a toy designer for Glico, and Mr. Akio Nishida, an automata designer.

Their dream was to collect and display toys that all ages and generations could enjoy! Brochures are available in English and Chinese, but there’s no need for lengthy explanations when enjoying this toy world!

Although there’s much to see, you can’t miss the display on mechanical puppets, otherwise called “automata.” These elaborately-made, humorous toys are made by combining simple devices such as springs, cams, pulleys, and strings! Discover clever works that transcend countries and generations.

What’s more, there are Japanese tin toy exhibits that were made post-war by Japanese companies catering to an international market.

Another must-see is a 15-minute show in which a model train runs through a railroad diorama! Though explanations and introductions are only in Japanese, watching the dimly-lit nightscape scenes is exciting.

As you walk through Arima Onsen village, you’ll find a lively mix of shops that preserve traditions as well as newly opened dessert spots that retain an old-fashioned atmosphere! It’s easy to understand why this area is so popular among many generations.

Here we will introduce four of Arima’s delicious foods.

Takenaka Meat Shop has been serving Japanese Black beef and Kobe beef in Arima Onsen for over 80 years. This shop has an indoor dining area where tourists can enjoy the deliciousness of Kobe beef at an affordable price.

The most popular item on the menu is a freshly fried croquette (160 yen). A favorite among foreign visitors is the Kobe beef skewer (1,600 yen per skewer). The delicate aroma and juicy texture of Kobe beef has many customers coming back for more!

Menu items are numbered, so those who can’t speak Japanese can order by just giving shop staff the menu number and amount they want.

Arimaan is a pork bun shop that opened across from Kin no Yu in April 2021. Its signature product, ariman (400 yen per bun), is known for being easy to eat while walking-making it the perfect portable food to explore the village with! The inside filling is made of wild boar meat and sansho, Japanese pepper with a strong citrus flavor.

Moreover, the shop has draft beer, coffee, shaved ice, various frozen food items from around the world, and edible insects. Payments made by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) are accepted.

Even though there are many dessert spots throughout Arima Onsen, you must stop by the immensely popular Arima Gelateria Stagione! Placing first in the “Gelato World Tour Japan 2019” competition, this is a gelato shop where you can try Japan’s most authentic and delicious gelato.

All of the gelato is made in the kitchen at the back of the store. The shop uses a creamy milk from dairy farms located at the foothills of the Rokko Mountains while incorporating seasonal flavors and fruits.

A popular choice and the flavor that placed first in the gelato competition is the savory mascarpone with sweet sake and cumquat (double-scoop 540 yen; *the photo above is for illustrative purposes). The smooth texture compliments the sweetness of the sake and melds beautifully with the cheese and refreshing aroma of the cumquat. It’s a Japanese-style gelato that can only be enjoyed at this shop!
The shop has an English menu and only accepts cash.

There’s always a crowd around this hand-baked, carbonated rice cracker shop! An interesting fact about these rice crackers is that they’re said to expire in five seconds! At Yunohana Honpo Taikodori, the rice crackers are grilled in an old-fashioned manner, one at a time.

The crackers are said to expire in five seconds because this is the amount of time you can enjoy the change in textures! When they’re hot off the pan, the rice crackers are soft. The carbonated rice crackers transform into their original, hard and snappy texture as time passes.

The rice crackers are a hit among foreign visitors, and they’ve also been introduced on TV! Two crackers cost 100 yen, and it’s recommended to have the money ready beforehand so you can take a bite immediately! (Rice cracker baking demonstrations are held Tuesdays and aren’t available on Wednesdays.)

Of course, carbonated rice crackers also make for a fantastic souvenir!

Arima Onsen has many souvenirs that are loved by all ages! Carbonated rice crackers, one of the region’s specialties, are sold at shops throughout the hot spring village. Even if the main ingredients are the same, the combination and baking techniques of rice crackers vary depending on where you buy them! We recommend purchasing a couple of different kinds to tout the difference in unique flavors!

Below we will introduce the top five representative souvenir shops in Arima.

The founder of Mitsumori Honten started selling carbonated rice crackers at the end of the Meiji period (around 1907). Currently, the store has expanded throughout the hot spring village, totaling seven shops, including sweet rice dumpling shops, Japanese confectionaries, and cafes.

At the main store on Taikodori, you can purchase a popular Arima souvenir choice of carbonated rice crackers (in the middle of the photo, 30 crackers for 775 yen). There’s also freshly-steamed manju, soft rounded dough filled with red bean paste, called youiyu manji (80 yen per piece).

The most popular souvenir is the standard, thinly-baked, and snappy carbonated rice cake. There are many flavors, and the carbonated rice cakes with matcha cream (12 crackers in a paper case, 970 yen) are especially popular among foreign visitors. Many people even buy multiple rice cracker packs at a time! It’s easy to buy in bulk as this shop accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).

Arima Tansanriki is located right in front of the Kin no Yu footbath, next to a blue signboard and a vending machine. There is a unique selection of Japanese cider in the vending machines, and even more, surprises await inside the shop!

At first glance, it seems like an Arima cider specialty store. But actually, it's a carbonated goods shop where rare ciders, carbonated bath salts, and carbonated cosmetics from all over the country are sold! Japan has many local products, enabling you to enjoy a range of ciders from various regions! Foreign visitors who stop by are surprised by all the choices.

The photo above only shows a small selection of what’s available at the store. There are many popular products where food has been transformed into fizzy drinks! Even if you don’t like the taste, you’ll be able to appreciate how some drinks genuinely taste, like the food they’re flavored after. The curry bread cider faithfully recreates not only the distinct curry taste but also the taste of the bread! A sip of this cider makes for an unusual experience!

Arima Tansanriki also has a range of cold ciders, such as Arima cider. We recommend buying and trying a couple before choosing which to take home as a souvenir.

In the back of the store, there’s a secret hideout known as the Arima Ninja Dojo. Here you can experience trying out authentic ninja weapons such as throwing stars and blowguns! Although there isn’t any rentable ninja gear, visitors are welcome to dress up for the occasion!

There are translation devices for smooth conversation, and credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) are accepted.

You’ll find many tourists drinking an ice-cold beer in front of Sake Ichiba (Arima Taikodori Shop)! It’s a half-liquor store, half-standing bar where Arima beer comes highly recommended!

The photo above shows a glass of Arima draft beer (720 yen). It has a refreshing taste that will quench your thirst after a soak in one of the hot springs. The bottles (670 yen) are also great for a souvenir!

The most popular souvenir is Japanese sake! The local sake brand, Arima Yama (1,500 yen, 720ml), is an exclusive item only available in Arima. You can sample Japanese sake at the standing bar before choosing which brand to take home!

Arima Manekiya has a large maneki neko (a lucky, beckoning cat) in front of the store. Maneki neko are lucky charms said to bring good luck when placed inside a family home or bring new customers to businesses. This cat is well-known across the world for its good fortune!

Inside the shop is a range of Japanese trinkets! Before the spread of Covid-19, this was a popular souvenir shop among many foreign visitors. Although there isn’t any English support, the staff are friendly and will help you find an item that you love!

(Renovation is scheduled for December 2022. After renovation, items sold may change.)

Arima doll brushes have a history of 450 years. According to a story in Japan’s oldest book, the Kojiki, an emperor who was unable to have children was blessed with one while staying at Arima Onsen. This miracle resulted in the creation of the Arima doll brush-a fertility good luck charm. Currently, Nishida Hudeten is the only company that makes these brushes.

The Arima doll brush is a cute “puppet brush” that’s made, so a doll about the size of a bean appears when the tip of the brush is turned downward. All processes are done by hand, and each brush is made very carefully, so only 12 to 13 can be made daily.

The elaborate detailing on the brushes amazes many! At 3,300 yen per brush, it’s an article of rare beauty that can only be bought at this shop.

Haibukiya Nishida Hudeten accepts credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, etc.) and electronic payment systems.

Arima Onsen is a naturally abundant area that offers beautiful scenery throughout the seasons.

In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing at the Arima Cherry Blossom Festival.
・When to go: early April to mid-April
・Arima Cherry Blossom Festival: late March (Arima River Shinsui Park)

Summer is the season for beer gardens! A stage is built where the Arima River and Taki River meet in Arima River Shinsui Park. There are various performances throughout the event, such as Arima geiko performances. Here you can enjoy beer, food trucks, and Japanese festival games such as prize shooting and bouncy ball scooping.

・Arima Ryofu Beer Garden: July 22 - August 21, 2022 (Arima River Shinsui Park)

Zuihoji Park is known for its beautiful fall foliage and tea ceremonies, where you can enjoy the scenery while drinking tea.

・Fall Foliage: early November to late November
・Arima Tea Ceremony: Held annually on November 2nd and 3rd (Venue: Zuihoji Park, Arima Grand Hotel, Nenbutsuji Temple, etc.)
・Momiji-Chakai Tea Ceremony: Fridays and weekends during fall foliage season (Venue: Zuihoji Park, central square)

The Rokko Arima Ropeway’s Ropeway Arima Onsen Station is a 15-minute walk from Arima Onsen. You can enjoy a sweeping view of Kobe and Osaka from the Rokko Garden Terrace.

The ropeway stops operating early, so we recommend carefully looking at the timetable before going up and enjoying the nightscape.

Nearby Arima Onsen Station is a trout fishing pond known as Arima Masuike. On top of enjoying the fishing experience, the facility will fry up to three trout you catch! This is both a fun and delicious experience!

Here we will introduce six hot spring recommendations by a local editor! This includes outdoor baths, traditional inns, and hotels. These recommendations are sure to come in handy for both day use and overnight trips to Arima Onsen.

"Arima Onsen Kin-no-Yu" is a public bath with a long history as Arima's original hot spring bath. The baths use "kin-sen" (iron-containing strong saline spring water). The bath was renovated in 2002 due to the deterioration of its predecessor, the Arima Onsen Kaikan public bath.

Among the baths inside are "Ichi-no-yu," designed using bamboo crafts traditional to Arima Onsen, and "Ni-no-yu," themed on the colorful red leaves of the Zuiho-ji Park, famous as an autumn foliage viewing spot in Arima.

The men's and women's baths are constructed with granite and have a solemn and profound aura. The spaciousness of the 29-square-meter facility is also an attractive feature.

The exterior is a simple Japanese design that blends in with the rest of the onsen town. Located outside the building is a foot bath corner where you can rest your feet and a place for drinkable onsen water, both of which you can enjoy for free.

At Kin-no-Yu's sister facility, public bathhouse Gin-no-Yu, you can enjoy the transparent gin-sen "silver hot spring" bath.

Matching the surrounding town area and its many shrines and temples, with elements like the temple belfry-inspired design of the bathing room, the exterior is a simple and neat example of traditional Japanese style construction.

The bright and airy bath is full of a clean and fresh feeling, with its high ceilings and light streaming from outside. This bath is popular, especially among women, for the slippery-smooth quality the water gives your skin after you bathe. Kin-no-Yu is right nearby Gin-no-Yu, so be sure to visit both and compare the different hot spring water qualities.

"Arima Onsen Taiko no Yu" is a 60-year-old, long-established facility once known as the Arima Health Center. After a large-scale renewal in April 2005, it was reborn as a hot spring theme park.

The large public bath is filled with kinsen and ginsen spring waters and has four different facilities, including a sauna. In addition, there are six open-air hot springs, bedrock baths, and steam baths (some require separate admission). You’ll find a faithful replica of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Yuyama Palace excavated from the grounds of Gorakuji Temple at the steam and bedrock bath.

What’s more, there’s a break room so you can enjoy the baths at a leisurely pace. You’ll also find a restaurant, food court, and souvenir shop throughout the facility. Shopping and dining are charged to your bar-coded wristband, so there’s no need to carry around your wallet. Orders at the food court can be made on a touch screen with guidance in English, Korean, and Chinese.

Guests with tattoos can bathe in the springs if their tattoos are covered.

Payments can be made in one go during checkout. Credit cards (JCB, Visa, UnionPay, etc.) and QR code payments (PayPay, Alipay) are accepted.

"Taketori-tei Maryama" is a peaceful and quiet ryokan Japanese inn located atop a plateau in Arima Onsen. With its design of modern elements incorporated into traditional Japanese style, the inn provides a space as restful and relaxing for Japanese guests as it is for international guests.

The baths use Arima Onsen's famous kin-sen and gin-sen water. Aside from the spacious large bathing area, there are also four private outdoor baths surrounded by bamboo thickets where you can relax with a sense of privacy.

There are several different types of rooms to choose from, including Japanese-style rooms, suites with an in-room hot spring bath, Japanese/Western-style mixed suites, Western-style rooms, and more.

Recently, to accommodate guests' comfort unaccustomed to sleeping on a futon on the floor, rooms with beds have also been added. The many amenities, such as humidifying air purifiers, LCD televisions, air conditioners, and Wi-Fi, make for attractive features.

Despite being located in the Rokko Mountains, the onsen town still has convenient access to Kobe and Osaka, so mountain-grown ingredients are plentiful. The inn's creative meals use abundant seasonal ingredients and are pleasing to the eye as well, and the food is praised for bringing joy to those who visit.

"Hyoe Koyokaku" is a veteran Arima Onsen ryokan with 700 years of history and tradition. It stands atop a plateau overlooking the Arima Onsen town at the north base of Mr. Rokko. The location is convenient not only for touring Arima hot springs but also for Kobe sightseeing and visiting the outlet malls in Sanda City.

Inside, you will find three different types of large bathing areas - the Japanese style "Ichi-no-yu," with a beautiful gridded ceiling and prominent outside view; the Roman bath styled "Ni-no-yu"; and "San-no-yu," which is a half-open air bath.

Each bathing area has an outdoor and indoor bath to enjoy a great variety of bathing experiences. The unique reddish-brown kin-sen water, which looks like dissolved iron rust, is used in each bath.

The inn's meals consist of dishes incorporating soft and flavorful Kobe beef, an abundance of local Hyogo Prefecture seafood, and other seasonal, luxury ingredients. Inn staff are proficient in English, Chinese, and other foreign languages.

The inn prides itself on its thoughtful customer service, so consider staying here for a blissful experience that will satisfy both your body and soul.

"Tocen Goshoboh" is Arima's oldest hot spring inn, established in the 12th century. At the time, it was known as "Yuguchi-ya." Still, at the end of the 14th century, general Ashikaga Yoshimitsu stayed at the inn, and it, therefore, was given its present-day name with the term "gosho," meaning "imperial palace."

General Toyotomi Hideyoshi of the Sengoku era also was fond of Arima Onsen. When he built the Yuyama-goten there, he donated 13 stones to the inn, and it was moved to its current location beside the Takikawa River.

Since the Meiji era, famous Japanese writer Jun'ichiro Tanizaki featured the ryokan in one of his novels, and Eiji Yoshikawa, the author of several historical novels, also stayed here.

"Tocen Goshoboh" is also mentioned in poet Yosano Akiko's works. With its popularity among those and many other intellectuals, the inn is a dream come true for literature lovers.

Of the baths where you can enjoy the extravagance of ever-flowing Arima hot spring water, the slightly unusual "han-konyoku", or half-mixed gender open air bath is one of the inn's unique features. There is a divider but no wall, so men and women can enjoy sharing the same space.

Goshoboh also provides guests with food that, instead of focusing on a glamorous appearance, is full of simple and rustic charm, using vegetables and rice from private farms. Each and every dish is an exquisite taste of local Hyogo cuisine, like Tajima beef and seafood caught in Akashi Bay.

What did you think of our guide to Arima Onsen? There are so many more sightseeing spots, restaurants, and souvenir shops to introduce! Arima Onsen is a cozy hot spring village bursting with history and delicious eats to enjoy! Soak in the waters of Arima and walk through the hot spring village to rejuvenate both your body and soul!

Text by: Takashi Tsukamoto – copy z
*This article has been re-edited in August 2022 from the original article released in December 2019. For updated information, please refer to the official sites.