This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for details. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Arima Onsen (有馬温泉) is one of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan. It’s known for the unique golden hot spring and beautiful mountain scenery.
During our visit to the Kansai area, we took a day to relax in the golden hot springs of Arima Onsen (有馬温泉). I’ve been to Arima Onsen with my family several times growing up, and Mr. JOC and I visited many years ago during cherry blossom season and we had many wonderful memories. We were excited to bring our children back to the area and enjoy the unique golden hot springs in the area.
Compared to Hakone in the Kanto area, the hot springs of Arima in Kansai is not as well known to foreigners. However, this small hot springs town located near the Rokko Mountain is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, discovered nearly 1300 years ago. Another unique trait about the Arima hot spring is that it’s not volcanic.
There are 2 types of hot springs (Kinsen & Ginsen) that rises from active Earth’s mantle here. As the spring rises of bedrock carrying salt and iron, it oxidizes and results in a golden color – Kinsen (金泉). There is also clear type of hot spring Ginsen (銀泉), that contains carbonate and radon elements. Both types of hot springs are good for skin and health.
How To Get To Arima Onsen
It’s a quick 1 hour car ride from Osaka or just 30 minutes from Kobe. If you are going to Arima Onsen from Kobe, do not follow Google Map’s instruction for public transportation. Go the Sannomiya Bus Terminal and you can purchase the JR Kousoku bus (高速バス) ticket that goes directly to Arima. You can also take the express bus from Shin Osaka (新大阪) and Shin Kobe (新神戸) bus terminals.
The bus terminal and ticket counter is located inside the Mint Kobe building.
The bus to Arima boards at M4 (Click the map to enlarge).
You will need to purchase a ticket prior to boarding the bus.
At the bus terminal, you can check the departure times or visit this link (in Japanese).
The JR Kousoku bus stop at Arima city center.
The hotel we stayed at (Arima Grand Hotel) has a shuttle that pick up passengers at the JR Kousoku bus stop. Call the hotel to make pickup arrangement prior to arrival or at the bus stop. They will come to pick you up in less than 10 minutes.
What to do in Arima Onsen
Arima City Center
We hopped on the hotel shuttle bus right away after we arrived in Arima and checked into our room. After we enjoyed the light afternoon snack, we then explored the downtown Arima and other areas. However for this post I’ll talk about the excursions first, then the hotel experience after.
The hotel shuttle goes to the city center and picks you up at specified time.
Downtown Arima has a beautiful Arima River that flows right through it.
Nene Bridge (ねね橋)
There are walkways in the middle of the river that allows you to stroll around.
Taikoubashi (太閤橋)
Yukemuri Hiroba (湯けむり広場) near Taikoubashi (太閤橋).
Statue of Taikou Hideyoshi (太閤秀吉)
The small city center has a sake store, gift shops, oden shop , and local soda cracker tansan senbei shop.
Arima’s famous Tansan Senbei (炭酸せんべい) being made. The batter drips down into a press.
The batter is heated and turns into crackers.
The workers remove the extra flakes before packaging the crackers.
Assortment of Tansan Senbei for visitors to take home and enjoy!
Mt. Rokko (六甲山)
Besides the city center area, another quick excursion around the area is Mt. Rokko (六甲山). The hotel also offered a shuttle bus that dropped us off at the Arima Onsen Ropeway station. The view from top of Mt. Rokko along with Hakodate and Nagasaki is considered the three great night views in Japan (日本三大夜景).
Can you guess why the trees do not have tree limbs? The answer at the end of the post.
You walk up a little hill and there is a restaurant and gift shop at the top of the mountain along with a balcony where you can see amazing harbor and city views.
Unfortunately, it was cloudy and overcast on the day we visited so it was difficult to see Kobe and Osaka.
More clouds were coming in, so we decided to go down.
Different ropes used for the ropeway.
Arima Grand Hotel 有馬グランドホテル
There are many choices to stay in Arima, based on the reviews of the hotels and more importantly the food, we decided on Arima Grand Hotel. It is located on a hilltop so not easy to get in and out of without a car. Luckily the hotel had shuttles that will pick you up from the bus station, take you to city center (5 min away), and ropeway.
The hotel lobby
The hotel had a lush beautiful garden in the back.
Arima Grand Hotel – Room
The standard room was typical of most Japanese hotel and ryokan setup with Japanese style tatami room. With a sitting/sleeping area near the entry and sitting area by the windows.
Snacks and green tea were served when we first checked in. The white peach jelly was amazing and we purchased a box of these jelly at the souvenir shop in the hotel.
A little outdated, but it’s clean and functional.
View from our balcony.
The swimming pool (on the right) is open during the summer months (July-August).
The sleeping arrangement set up by the staff after dinner in the room.
Arima Grand Hotel – Dinner
One of highlights when staying in Japanese hotels is the kaiseki meal they serve. If we use JTB to book our hotels, we always pay attention to the food score. If you plan on eating at the hotel, try to book one with at least 85 points.
Depends on hotel/ryokan, dinner can be in your own room, another private room, or big dining area. Here at Arima Grand Hotel, dinner was served in our room.
Plum wine (梅酒炭酸割り), Ayu fish with sansho pepper (鮎山椒オイルサーディン風), simmered Awaji octopus (淡路蛸の柔らか煮), Chinese lantern egg yolk (ほおずき玉子), chilled nagaimo (長芋冷製寄せ), eggplant agebitashi (茄子揚げ浸し), corn soup (玉蜀黍のすり流し), junsai (順菜), winter melon and chicken soboro with ankake sauce (冬瓜の鶏そぼろ餡かけ).
The local craft beer Rokko Beer was quite good. My dear friend Yukako and her husband who live in Kobe sent us a bottle of delicious sake to our room to enjoy with dinner.
5 kinds of sashimi (お造り五種盛り): Awaji pike eel, tai/sea bream, squid, grilled scallop (淡路産活け鱧、鯛、鮪、剣先烏賊、焼き帆立).
Clear soup with pike eel ball (珠玉のお吸い物 鱧真丈 (はもしんじょう))
Japanese sea bass and summer vegetable tomato stew in cocotte (鱸 (スズキ)と夏野菜のトマト蒸し).
Kuroge Wagyu Beef Hari Hari Nabe (黒毛和牛はりはり鍋) and Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し).
We enjoyed the meat with rice, pickles, and miso soup.
For dessert, we had green plum poached in wine and seasonal fruits (青梅のワイン煮と季節のフルーツ).
Kids course meal:
Kids meal – Japanese style with sukiyaki, lobster, and sashimi.
Kids meal – western style with lobster, Chicken Karaage, Ebi Fry, and sushi.
Arima Grand Hotel – Breakfast Buffet
The room package we booked included breakfast buffet. The quality of the buffet was pretty good and had lots of food selections. Usually, Japanese hotel buffet will include both western and Japanese dishes, as well as featuring local specialties.
One side is Japanese, other side is western.
Japanese main dishes with 2 kinds of fish, simmered vegetables, etc.
Japanese side dishes.
Appetizers, housemade regular and black sesame tofu.
Western food choices.
Bread and pastries.
Cold cuts, yogurt, fruits, and salad section.
My first round is Japanese meal and here’s what I got. Have you mastered in making Onsen Tamago (hot spring egg) using my recipe yet?
Hotel Onsen Area
Arima Grand Hotel had hot springs both on the top of the hotel as well as the basement floor, the facilities were really clean and very nice. On the top floor, you get to enjoy the view of Arima without obstruction. At the basement floor, the outdoor bath is set in a forest setting, very relaxing and peaceful while you soak in amazing baths. Both men and women’s bath area had gold hot spring and silver hot spring, so you can relax in either one, or both. As we are not allowed to take photos of the baths, please see the hotel’s website for more info.
Sitting area outside of the baths on the top floor.
View from the window by the bath area.
Entrance to the bath area at the basement floor.
Japanese bath changing room.
Hotel Game Room
Hotel Gift Shop
We really enjoyed our visit to Arima Onsen. Although it’s not touristy as Hakone, the unique golden hot spring and charming elements are more than enough reasons to visit. It’s also just a short car ride away from Osaka and Kobe so I highly recommend stopping by and relaxing if you have time to visit!
Lastly, the answer to my tree question earlier. The tree limbs are pruned so when they are cut into lumbers, the wood is knot-free. This increases the value of the wood as knots are the primary reason for reduction in lumber value.
Other Travel Posts
Don’t want to miss a post? Sign up for the FREE Just One Cookbook newsletter delivered to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.
Another great travel post.. I really look forward to your summer holidays ???? And what about an anniversary dinner post?? ???? Thank you!
Hi Sally! Thank you for reading my travel post! I started working on the next post too. 🙂 Hope you enjoy upcoming travel posts!
What anniversary dinner post?? Did I forget?
It’s so beautiful there at Arima Onsen! I would love to take my family there some day! What a gorgeous place to relax and enjoy! The food looks super yummy as well! Isn’t it wonderful to take the kids to places that only you and your hubby had been to “before kids”? We did that this summer and it was so much fun. And what an coincident! I made Onsen Tamago with udon after trying them in Hawaii during our vacation! They are so good! Thanks for sharing your post and your tips. We’re thinking of going to Japan next summer, hopefully. Will definitely take notes from your posts! 😉
Hi Amy! I just watched your video! Super cool udon recipe with onsen tamago! Maybe we can meet in Japan next summer! xoxo
Hey Nami!
Woah the hotel looks amazing! And the food as well… Looking at the breakfast buffet made me drool (it’s around 8am here, so just right in time XD). It’s too bad it’s a place I don’t think I could afford to go even in 100years.
About the Arima onsen, I’m pretty sure I saw a program, either French or Japanese on TV, and I was amazed by the place. Looks totally lovely to go and relax your body.
I’ve always wanted to go to onsen, but since I have tattoos, and so many people convinced me it’ll be hard for a gaijin with tattoos to get in, that I gave up… I have the feeling it’ll be really hard for high class or famous onsen so I never tried to go there in case I’d be rejected at the entrance.
Hi Andrea! Family hot spring has been getting popular and a lot of Japanese inns / ryokan tries to have the facility. You have to reserve the time for the use, but if you can find those places, you don’t have to worry about being naked in front of others and tattoos. 😉 I think more ryokan catering for foreigners accommodate those guests. Also some rooms have own hot spring bath tub in the room. Slightly expensive, but if you search, there is always a good deal (on weekdays etc). I recommend going in non-summer months, so ryokan staff won’t see your tattoos (if you wear short leaves or pants etc). 🙂 I’d love for you to experience Japan’s hot springs one day!
I enjoyed your trip to Arima very much. And I am sure I will on other travels that you made. I love travelling to Japan and has been to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Takayama and recent Hokkaido again. I am never tired of it. Oh ys, must not forget I enjoyed your cooking too! Thank you. Pat, Singapore
Hi Patricia! How wonderful that you’ve been to all these cities (my favorite cities!). Arima onsen is really nice quick get away from Kansai area, so do consider visiting next time in that region! 🙂
Used to go there all the time when I lived with my Sanda-Shi family in Hyogo-Ken! Loved tansan senbei, my favorite treat! I learned Kansai-Ben and my relatives in Nagano were not amused! ????
Hi Lily! Hahaha! My mom never spoked to us in Kansai-ben (she’s been in Tokyo since her college days), but she changes to kansai-ben when someone speaks it. 🙂 I’m glad you’ve been to Arima Onsen before. Such a nice get-away place with hot springs!
Beautiful!!!! Your photos are so amazing! The food looked delicious, and the hotel was so pristine and luxurious!!!! GLad you enjoyed!!!
Thank you for reading my post, Carlyn! The hotel hasn’t changed much since I visited over 20 years ago. LOL. I think they kept it well. 🙂
What a lovely place! Thank you for sharing details about the town in addition to the onsen and, of course, the food. The kaiseki set looked so delicious—I’m sure it was. 🙂 I like the buffet plate with the little separations for different foods.
Hi Kimmi! Yeah the plate is very helpful, BUT I wish each space is a bit bigger…. Hahahaha. 😀 Thank you for reading the post! xo
Love this post Nami, yet another to bookmark. Such a pretty city, would love to visit this too someday. But your food photos? I had to scroll down quickly after the 1st few ones, coz they were making me drool, sigh!
Hi Ava! Thank you for your kind words! I’m always surrounded by the food, even editing the pictures and writing the post. >_< I know what you mean... I'm always hungry too! 😀
It looks so pretty there! I bet these pictures don’t even do it half the justice of being there in person. I’d love to go someday.
Thank you Trinity! I wish I could take better pictures to show what we see. The weather wasn’t really good when we traveled this time (always rainy season at this time of the year – mid June to mid July). Cloudy or raining all the time! Thank you for reading the post! 🙂
Oh my gosh, the buffet! The game room! I so enjoyed this post, thank you!
Thank you Julie! I forgot about the game room until I see all the pictures. We didn’t even step in because the kids were crazy about soaking in hot springs so many times. Funny, they usually bother us to get coins. 🙂
Wow, what great photos! Love your travel posts — so much info. Almost feel as if I’m there. You should adopt me so I can go on your next trip. 😀
I would LOVE to take you to Japan with us, John! 🙂
awesome travel post! thanks for all the tips about the transportation options, sights and of course the food! anywhere, the food is the most important thing to consider. that’s how my husband and i travel or make decisions as well. 🙂
Hehehe, we think alike!!! Thank you for reading the travel post! 🙂
i thoroughly appreciated the well organized photos and explanations. Great explanation of the area.
Thank you for sharing them with us and taking the time
Hi Carol! Thank you so much for your kind feedback. I’m so happy you enjoyed this post. 🙂
Oh Nami – now you have me all ‘mixed up’!! Am thinking of going on an o’seas trip overdue next year . . . was thinking in terms of a Provencal food/wine river cruise in France followed by heaps of theatre in London or visiting a number of friends up the Prairies way in the US, but would SO love to return to Japan!! Have been to Hakone more than once when it was not so touristy but Arima Onsen is new and feels very comfortably attractive! I could ‘settle’ in a Kyoto ryokan for awhile and take in all the other sights with no problems. Love having dinner in my own room . . . yours at your hotel spelled nought but absolute perfection!! What month would you suggest – don’t want to say ‘hello’ to typhoons if I can help it!
Aw Eha! I’d love to visit France! Japan can wait for you… 😀 Your trip sounds AMAZING! Yeah, June is not crowded so it’s great for sightseeing and price-wise, but we get cloudy weather (as you see in the post) in everywhere. I’d say spring was so beautiful with sakura everywhere and I’m sure fall is gorgeous with Japanese maple trees and gingko trees!
The Onsen looks beautiful! When we travel to Japan and stay in the hotels, it is a lot of fun trying out the Japanese breakfast. The western breakfasts & breads and pastries are usually wonderful too for those who are not so adventuresome! When we were near Kobe, my husband and nephew were able to go to a baseball game. If you have a chance to do that also, it is quite an experience and is much different than attending a game in the USA…I would highly recommend it! Thank you for sharing your trip and giving us a “tour” of the onsen! I hope to visit the Arima Onsen someday!
Hi Annie! Yes! I love breakfasts in hotels and ryokans because I get to eat both – starting Japanese and move onto western breakfast with coffee… that’s how I eat (I do eat a big breakfast in general). 😀
Ohhh! You have a great advice! I didn’t think about that. True, I used to watch baseball games with my dad growing up. I remember when I first watched American baseball game here, it was so chilled and I got bored. Japanese baseball game is like going to a concert. You lose your voice by the time the game is over. LOL.
Hope you get to visit Arima one day! xo
One day I will visit Japan and do and eat most of the things you posted. Its so nice in there 🙂
And I hope I can meet you there too! 😉
Hi, I am back home from Japan. Me and my friend got to go to Kyoto and Osaka to do some sightseeing. And of course I went to visit my mother. My home is in Kawanishi and I went to Myokensan which is a mountain in the north part of Hyogo prefecture. I didn’t have much time to wonder around but it is always nice to get back to Japan.
Arima onsen I might try it the next time I get back to Japan.
Waiting for a new recipe!!!
Hi Ranko! Your mom’s place is not too far from Arima Onsen, and it’s such an easy access from major stations like Kobe, Sannomiya, or even Osaka. 🙂
I’ve never been to Myokensan. I just googled and saw interesting architecture too! Thanks for sharing, maybe one day we will have a chance to visit there. 🙂
Hello Nami
I hope that I am able to travel to Japan next year. Your travel blog gives me some great ideas for places to visit, just like this Armia Onsen.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Hi Sonja! Thank you for reading my travel post! I’m happy to hear I could inspire you to visit Japan. 😀 Hope you’ll enjoy upcoming travel posts too!
WOW!! You keep reminding me why I NEED to visit Japan! I might not want to leave! These pictures are SO Beautiful! Thank you for sharing! ありがとうございます!
Hi Jerry! 🙂 Glad to know I could share some pictures from Japan! 🙂 ありがとう、ジェリー!