Arima Onsen
Japan's oldest recorded hot spring resort — mentioned in 8th-century chronicles and praised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as his favourite retreat. The town has two unique spring types: Kinsen (golden-iron water that turns rusty on contact with air) and Ginsen (radium-bearing clear water). Both are found nowhere else in the region.
1 day recommended
Day baths from ¥650
Day bath: typically 8:00–22:00 (varies by facility); Kinsen (Kin-no-Yu): 8:00–22:00, closed 2nd & 4th Tue; Ginsen (Gin-no-Yu): 9:00–21:00, closed 1st & 3rd Tue.
Year-round
Arima Onsen Station on Kobe Electric Railway (40 min from Sannomiya)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
Japan's oldest recorded onsen town — written records from the 8th century
- 2
Two unique spring types: Kinsen (rust-orange iron water) and Ginsen (clear radium water) found nowhere else
- 3
Toyotomi Hideyoshi bathed here 11 documented times — the teahouse he used survives
Local Tips
Arima has two distinct spring types: Kinsen (gold, iron-rich, reddish) and Ginsen (silver, clear). Try both for very different experiences. Extremely crowded on weekends — weekday morning arrivals get much better access to the narrow lanes.
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