Visit Japan Web Arima Onsen
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Arima Onsen, a serene hideaway and a favorite among local hot springs. Many inns offer overnight and longer stays, and due to the area’s compactness, visitors can enjoy bathing and other delights within a day.
This onsen is one of the oldest in Japan, along with Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture and Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture. Numerous documents dating back to the 8th century AD mention this onsen. Ninsai was known to greatly admire Arima Onsen and contributed to its development. Hideyoshi Toyotomi visited this onsen several times in the 16th century.
Arima Onsen is located within the city of Kobe, but on the opposite side of Mt. Rokko. Arima Onsen is easily accessible from Osaka, making it a popular weekend getaway for city dwellers seeking peace and serenity. Alongside Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture and Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture, Arima is one of Japan’s top three ancient hot spring resorts, with documented mentions dating all the way back to the 8th century.
The city has a slightly more modern feel due to its popularity as a tourist destination. But the city center still retains its small, winding roads and traditional wooden buildings. It creates a quintessentially Japanese atmosphere.
Thanks to its compact layout, the entire area can be easily explored on foot. Arima boasts two public bath houses and a number of ryokan inns. Many of them offer bathing facilities to non-staying visitors during the day.
While it serves as a great overnight or weekend destination, the area can be fully explored in just a day. For those seeking more adventure, neighboring Mt. Rokko has plenty to offer. Embark on a walk along the narrow paths and behold the mountain’s beauty from the ropeway.
