Arima Onsen

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About Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen sits in the valley on the far side of Mount Rokko, in Kita Ward, about 30 minutes from the city center. It is one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts: the waters are mentioned in old chronicles, and in the 16th century the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi visited the village frequently and ordered improvements to the baths. The village is small, with narrow, steep streets, wooden houses, ryokan and shops.

Arima has two types of water. Kinsen, the “golden spring,” is reddish and cloudy, rich in iron and salt, and can leave rust-colored stains on towels. Ginsen, the “silver spring,” is clear, containing carbon dioxide and radon. The village’s two public bathhouses, Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu, one for each water type, welcome non-resident visitors, and there is a free kinsen foot bath next to Kin no Yu.

Around the village streets there are steam vents, small temples and shrines such as Onsen-ji, connected to the founding of the baths, and shops selling tansan senbei, thin crackers made with the spring’s carbonated water. There are also statues of Hideyoshi and his wife Nene by the river.

Many Arima ryokan have bathtubs supplied with both waters and serve meals featuring Kobe beef and regional dishes. In autumn, Zuihoji Park, above the village where Hideyoshi held tea ceremonies, is covered in red maples.