Arima Onsen is a famed tourist attraction and one of Japan’s most famous hot springs located in Kita-ku, Kobe, Japan. The area is listed among the country’s Three Old Hot Springs and is situated just north of Kobe on the other side of Mount Rokko. The waters in Arima Onsen consist of the gold spring and the silver spring, each with a slightly different colour.
Arima Onsen contains many popular baths including Taiko-no-yu which is the biggest and most lavish with multiple indoor and outdoor baths, Kin-no-yu, and Gin-no-yu. The area features a supplementation of souvenir shops boasting woven baskets and writing brushes, skincare goods, and massage treatments. Arima Onsen is a popular place for tourists to relax away from urban life and enjoy the beautiful tranquil surroundings.
Access to Arima Onsen is possible along the Hanshin, Hankyu or Sanyo Lines to Shinkaichi. It is then necessary to transfer to the Kobe Railway Arima Line which continues to Arima Onsen. Another transit option is by cablecar up Mt Rokko and then ropeway down to the springs. There are also buses that route from Sannomiya.
Arima Onsen’s gold springs are referred to as “kinsen” and contain iron and salt which produce as lightly yellow appearance. The silver springs, called “ginsen”, are colourless and slightly radioactive, containing radium and carbonate.