Arima Onsen: One of Japan’s Oldest Hot Spring Towns

Step away from your everyday life and enter an enchanting world where billowing hot spring steam meets narrow alleyways lined with traditional buildings.

Located in Kobe, Arima Onsen is an esteemed hot spring resort in Japan. In fact, it is the only hot spring listed as one of Japan’s three famous springs and three ancient springs. Although the onsen town has a more modern appearance today, you can still feel its over 1,000 years of history in the hidden streets, age-old businesses and crafts, and public bathhouses and ryokan (traditional Japanese inns). At the forefront of Arima Onsen’s offerings are its two hot spring varieties: Kinsen (gold water) and Ginsen (silver water), both of which are rich in minerals and provide numerous health benefits. It is no surprise that prominent samurai and feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi used to frequent this onsen town.

In addition to its relaxing hot spring facilities, Arima Onsen is also home to tasty Japanese eats, traditional crafts, quaint souvenir shops, hiking trails, and beautiful historical and cultural sites. The town’s close proximity to Kobe and Osaka makes it an excellent overnight trip for rejuvenation and exploration. Nestled in this picturesque town, Kamenoi Hotel Arima, a luxurious Arima Onsen ryokan, serves as a cozy base where you can further immerse yourself in the area’s aesthetics, hospitality, and cuisine. Discover the unique charms of this prestigious hot spring resort below and be sure to include your favorite spots on your “Things to do in Kobe” list.

What can I do in Arima Onsen?

Sightseeing and activities

Of course, the most popular activity in Arima Onsen is bathing in hot springs, and the town has no shortage of opportunities, featuring two public bathhouses—Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu—and several ryokan that allow non-staying guests to use their hot spring facilities during the day.

As the names suggest, Kin no Yu uses Kinsen hot spring water, known for its reddish-brown color and large amounts of iron ions, and Gin no Yu uses Ginsen water, characterized by its clear appearance and traces of radium and carbonate. Both hot springs are said to help with muscle and joint pain, making them ideal wellness spots to pair with your sightseeing. Outside Kin no Yu, you can enjoy a free foot bath (Taiko no Ashiyu) and hot spring drinking fountain (Taiko no Insenba). The bathhouses are within walking distance from each other, so you can easily experience both sides of Arima Onsen’s famed hot springs.

In between soaks, Arima Onsen acts as an insightful gateway into Japanese history and culture. Just a few minutes walk from both bathhouses, Taiko no Yudonokan is a historical site accidentally uncovered after an earthquake in 1995. It is believed to have been a bathhouse and garden built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Today, the restored building showcases excavated artifacts and an exhibition that recreates the bathhouse Hideyoshi would use when he visited Arima Onsen.

Nearby, Onsen-ji Temple offers a tranquil Buddhist haven where you can participate in zazen, a form of seated meditation, and try fucha ryori, a vegetarian style of cooking enjoyed by Buddhist monks. The temple grounds feature a pleasant combination of traditional architecture, stone lanterns, and torii (gates) intertwined with trees, creating a calm respite from the bustling hot spring town.

If you are interested in an outdoor adventure before hitting the baths, Arima Onsen has plenty of places where you can enjoy a leisurely walk or a more advanced hike. For casual nature goers, Arima Onsen Iyashinomori offers a relaxed two-hour nature stroll that begins at Rokko Arima Ropeway (Arima Onsen Station) and ends at Zuihoji Park. The course has observation decks, rest areas, historical ruins, and seasonal flowers. Mt. Rokko is home to more challenging hikes, as well as the Rokko-Arima Ropeway, which connects the mountain’s summit to Arima Onsen. From the gondola’s large windows, you can enjoy elevated views of Mt. Rokko’s breathtaking nature. During winter, Mt. Rokko Snow Park opens, offering accessible snow sports opportunities for the whole family, while the mountaintop Rokko Garden Terrace grants visitors year-round fun with eateries, souvenir shops, a garden, and an observation deck!

As you heal your body in hot springs, why not nourish your inner child as well at Arima Toys and Automata Museum? This playful museum displays rare toys from Japan and abroad, including traditional German toys, tin toys, model trains and railways, and mechanical toys. The well-preserved playthings will fill you with a warm sense of nostalgia.

Delicious eats

Arima Onsen is home to a variety of on-the-go snacks that effortlessly blend into your travel plans. If you are a foodie, you will not want to miss these popular shops and treats.

First, let’s start with tansan senbei, which translates to carbonated rice crackers. This beloved local treat is made with flour, sugar, and natural carbonated spring water from Arima Onsen—lending it a light, crispy texture. It is an iconic souvenir from the town and a must-try regional delicacy. Two renowned tansan senbei shops are Mitsumori Honpo, the birthplace of tansan senbei in Arima Onsen, and Yunohanado Honpo, where you can try freshly-cooked tansan senbei straight off the iron plate mold.

If you are looking for a warm, deep-fried snack, be sure to stop by Hokyuan (汸臼庵), a shop that specializes in handheld, skewered tempura. All of the tempura products start with a base of whitebait, which is ground using a traditional stone mill. Then, additional ingredients are added before the product is fried and steamed to remove excess oil. The resulting snack has a moist and chewy texture like a fishcake. Some of the shop’s tasty flavors include shrimp and onion, cheese, potato and butter, and red ginger.

For a hearty, meat-based snack, visit Takenaka Nikuten, a butcher shop that sells savory beef croquettes. Made with creamy potatoes and high-quality beef, these deep-fried treats have addictingly crisp exteriors and soft interiors. You can choose the butcher’s croquette (お肉屋さんコロッケ), which uses minced Kuroge wagyu, or the gorokke (ゴロッケ), which is filled with Kobe beef.

Aside from these handheld snacks, Arima Onsen is also home to numerous restaurants and cafes that are sure to satisfy your cravings. You can find traditional Japanese sweets, Western food, sushi, katsudon (fried Japanese pork cutlet over rice), soba (buckwheat noodles), yakiniku (Japanese barbeque), and more!

Shopping and souvenirs

Arima Onsen has a wide array of souvenir shops that you can easily explore on foot. Its main street, Arima Onsen Yumoto-zaka, is especially quaint, transporting you to the enchanting atmosphere of old Japan.

Two of the town’s most prized traditional crafts are Arimakago (bamboo crafts) and Arima doll brushes. Arimakago has a long history that dates back to the 16th century and is solely produced by the company Kutsuwa. Initially, Arimakago was primarily used as vases for tea ceremonies. Later, the company also produced daily goods, but the demand for these products declined around the mid-1900s. Today, artisans still uphold the craft’s legacy, handmaking stunning bamboo pieces, such as flower baskets, spoons, and chopsticks, with bamboo sourced from Mt. Rokko. Pick up an elegant bamboo craft from the company’s store and observe artisans at work at the nearby workshop.

If you enjoy calligraphy, painting, or unique Japanese crafts, you will definitely want to visit Haibukiya Nishida Hudeten for its Arima doll brushes, which are equal parts elaborate and adorable. This type of brush dates back to the Muromachi period (1392–1573) and features a bean-sized doll that pops out of the top of the brush when you point the tip down to write. The brushes are intricately decorated with silk threads, giving them a prestigious appearance, and are considered good luck charms for fertility and safe childbirth.

Cooking enthusiasts, this next one is for you. Sansho Saika is a specialty store that focuses on sansho, or Japanese pepper. These small green seeds are known for their citrusy flavor and subtle numbing effect, making them perfect souvenirs for adventurous eaters. The shop sells an array of interesting products, including sansho ramen, whole sansho seeds, sansho mayonnaise, and sansho dressing.

Where can I stay in Arima Onsen?

Resting just outside the buzz of central Arima Onsen, while still being conveniently within walking distance, Kamenoi Hotel Arima is a stylish accommodation that proudly embodies the hot spring town’s legacy. Recently renewed in August 2025, this hotel offers a truly rejuvenating stay, featuring newly built guest rooms, a private hot spring source, and mouthwatering cuisine that highlights local flavors. Its modern Japanese aesthetic, bathed in gold and rust-colored tones, welcomes you into a luxurious world where comfort and refinement are interwoven into every moment.

Cozy guest rooms

Thanks to its variety of guest rooms, Kamenoi Hotel Arima has something for everyone—from compact rooms for solo travelers to traditional tatami spaces. The rooms’ natural-toned, minimalistic designs have a calming effect that declutters your mind, guiding you into a relaxed state of contentment from the moment you wake up to the moment you rest your head at the end of the day.

Recently, the hotel also unveiled three room types with personal hot spring baths—two with semi-open-air baths and one with an indoor bath. The nourishing baths are filled with the hotel’s privately sourced Kinsen hot spring water, which is reddish-brown in color and gentle on the skin. These private oases are available 24 hours a day and located in the confines of your room, allowing you to relax in tranquil solitude. Play soft music, listen to a podcast or audio book, or allow the gentle sounds of nature to wash over you. Each room also has a post-bath relaxation space where you can lounge lazily after your refreshing soak.

Delectable cuisine

Kamenoi Hotel Arima prioritizes the use of local ingredients, offering traditional multi-course kaiseki meals and a la carte options that beautifully showcase the region’s seasonal flavors. Dine on decadent Kobe beef, expertly prepared seafood, and refreshing vegetables. The handmade dashimaki, rolled omelettes flavored with dashi stock, are especially popular. The recently renovated restaurant’s contemporary design and warm, ambient lighting perfectly complement the high-quality cuisine.

In the morning, the hotel offers an enriching breakfast buffet filled with Japanese and Western dishes. Don’t miss regional delicacies like Awaji onion tempura, Ibonoito noodles, Izushi soba, and irresistible sansho-seasoned sea bream. With advanced reservations, day-trip guests can even book lunch at the hotel!

If soaking in hot springs all day leaves you with a big appetite, Kamenoi Hotel Arima also offers complimentary, late-night Dandan noodles from 9pm–10:30pm. Every month, the hotel serves either spicy sichuan, black sesame, or white sesame noodles.

Revitalizing hot springs

One of Kamenoi Hotel Arima’s greatest points of pride is its private hot spring source, Atago-yama Spring. This hot spring is blessed with Kinsen water, which has a beautifying effect on the skin and is said to relieve muscle and joint pain. The hotel’s large public bath gives you easy access to this cherished hot spring type. As you dip your body into the naturally healing water, your tension will dissipate with the steam.

Example itinerary: How can I spend the day in Arima Onsen?

Now that you are an Arima Onsen expert, it is time to organize all of that information into a viable plan. Listed below is a full one-day itinerary—roughly seven hours, including travel time—to help you get started. Since Arima Onsen is relatively small and largely explorable on foot, you can easily rearrange and replace destinations to suit your preferences.

Relaxation meets cultural exploration

With its Japan-famous hot springs, gourmet delights, unique traditional crafts, and preserved history all within walking distance, Arima Onsen is a convenient and enriching destination. Embrace the wonders of this ancient hot spring resort yourself!

Access to Arima Onsen

You can easily access Arima Onsen from major metropolitan areas like Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. Once you reach Arima Onsen, Kamenoi Hotel Arima is minutes away.

• Kobe: From Sannomiya Bus Terminal or Shin-Kobe Station, take a JR Expressway Bus to Taikobashi bus stop (有馬温泉［太閤橋］（バス）) (30m and 45m, respectively). From there, the hotel is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk away. Alternatively, from Shin-Kobe Station, take the Hokushin Line to Tanigami Station (10m). Next, take the Kobe Dentetsu-Arima Line to Arimaguchi Station (10m). Lastly, take the Kobe Dentetsu-Arima Line to Arimaonsen Station (5m). From there, the hotel is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk away.
• Osaka: From Osaka Umeda Sanban-gai Bus Terminal, take the Hankyu Expressway Bus to Taikobashi bus stop (1h). From there, the hotel is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk away. Alternatively, from Shin-Osaka Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Sannomiya Station (30m). Then, walk to the Sannomiya Bus Terminal (1m). Take a JR Expressway Bus to Taikobashi bus stop (有馬温泉［太閤橋］（バス）) (30m). From there, the hotel is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk away. From Shin-Osaka Station, you can also catch a Hankyu Expressway Bus (reservation is required) to Arima Onsen bus stop (55m). From there, the hotel is about a 15-minute walk away.
• Kyoto: From Kyoto Station, take the JR Shinkansen Nozomi to Shin-Kobe Station (30m). Then, take the Hokushin Line to Tanigami Station (10m). Next, take the Kobe Dentetsu-Arima Line to Arimaguchi Station (10m). Lastly, take the Kobe Dentetsu-Arima Line to Arimaonsen Station (5m). From there, the hotel is a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk away.

Kamenoi Hotel Arima offers a free shuttle service to and from Taikobashi bus stop and Arimaonsen Station. Reservations are required and available every 20 minutes from 9am.