🗺️ Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen is a natural hot spring that springs forth from the northern foothills of Mount Rokko. It is a famous hot spring representing the Kansai region and has a long history, having appeared in historical texts such as the "Nihon Shoki" and "Fudoki." It is listed as one of Japan's "Three Great Ancient Hot Springs." It is beloved by many notable figures, including emperors, feudal lords, writers, and artists, with Toyotomi Hideyoshi being particularly well-known for frequently visiting to relax in its waters. The spring water is generally divided into two types: the "Kinsen" (gold spring), which is a chloride spring that turns reddish-brown upon contact with air, and the "Ginsen" (silver spring), which is a colorless and transparent hot spring (including carbonated springs and radon springs). The public bath "Kinsen-yu" features the gold spring, while "Ginsen-yu" features the silver spring. When talking about Arima, the most famous is the reddish-brown Kinsen, but the Ginsen's carbonated spring is also known as a famous domestic source of soda. The carbonated pancakes made from this spring's water are quite popular as well. The rich natural resources of the Arima Onsen area allow visitors to forget they are in Kobe city, and the charming atmosphere created by numerous renowned inns and the unique hot spring town attracts many tourists. With convenient transportation, it is easy to make a round trip in one day. You can also take a cable car directly from Mount Rokko to reach it.

It takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to travel from Kobe or Osaka. One of the oldest hot springs in Japan, mentioned in the "Nihon Shoki" (Chronicles of Japan). There are two types of spring water: "Kin-sen" (gold spring) and "Gin-sen" (silver spring). Kin-sen is a reddish-brown chloride spring, while Gin-sen is a colorless and transparent carbonated spring. Numerous famous ryokans (traditional inns) are lined up, and the facilities for day trips are quite well-equipped.