Arima Onsen 有馬温泉

Explore Arima Onsen, a serene hideaway and local hot springs favorite located within reasonable distance from the heart of Kobe and Osaka . Many inns offer overnight and longer stays, but due to the area's compactness, you can experience bathing and other delights within a day.

Arima Onsen is easily accessed by a network of train and bus services.

If you're traveling from Tokyo, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen for Hakata and get off at Shin-Kobe Station. This train also goes through Shin-Yokohama, Kyoto, Nagoya and Shin-Osaka Stations. From Shin-Kobe you can get directly to Arima Onsen via highway bus.

Arima Onsen is technically located within the city of Kobe but on the opposite side of Mt. Rokko . Thanks to easy access from Kobe and Osaka , it's an incredibly popular weekend getaway for city dwellers looking to soak up some 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. Documents stretching all the way back to the 8th-century mention Arima Onsen.

Even though the area feels a little more modern today—mainly due to its position as a popular tourist destination—the city center is still home to some small, weaving roads and traditional wooden buildings, giving the area a quintessentially Japanese atmosphere.

Because of its compact layout, the entire area is easily explored on foot. Arima is home to two public bath houses and a number of ryokan inns, many of which offer bathing facilities to non-staying visitors during the day.

Though it makes a great overnight or weekend destination, the area can easily be explored in a day. If you're looking for a little more adventure, neighboring Mt. Rokko has plenty to offer. Take a walk along the narrow paths and witness the mountain's beauty from the ropeway.