Arima is one of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan, tucked into the mountains just outside of Kobe. The air smells like minerals, the streets are narrow and quiet, and steam rises from little vents in the ground. It feels close, a little hidden.
The ryokan here are different. Some have been run by the same families for generations. Simple wooden buildings, tatami rooms, meals served in silence or with a few polite words. What makes them special is the water. Arima’s springs are deep and rich, with a natural reddish tint in some baths that comes from iron and salt pulled from underground. It leaves your skin soft and a little warm for hours.
One small detail you might not hear much about: some of the ryokan in Arima use wooden ladles at the entrance, so guests can rinse their hands with onsen water before stepping inside. It’s a quiet ritual, but it sets the tone.
The ryokans with onsen here are part of what makes it worth the trip. Some are very traditional, with tatami rooms, futons, and set meals served in your room. Others are more modern but still keep the calm feeling of an old-style stay. A few places here also allow guests with tattoos, which isn’t always the case in onsen towns.
One thing locals know: if you go early in the morning, some of the small public baths are nearly empty, and the steam rising through the cold air makes the whole street feel quiet and soft. Here is our curated location of top ryokan onsen to enjoy the pure Arima hot springs.
Arimasansoh Goshobessho
Arimasansoh Goshobessho is a quiet, upscale ryokan in Arima Onsen with just 10 spacious suites, each with its own private onsen and thermal room. The property has a unique history—it used to be the Kiyomizu Hotel, one of the first onsen spots to welcome foreign guests during the Meiji era. Today, it still has a quiet, international feel but with a modern, nature-focused design using warm wood and open views.
Suites are large and peaceful, with forest or garden views. Some have two stories, high ceilings, or even a treehouse-style layout with an open-air golden spring bath. Every room includes a private onsen, so if you have tattoos, you’re completely covered—no need to worry about shared spaces.
Meals are seasonal “Yamaga Kaiseki,” using local seafood, Kobe beef, and ingredients from the mountains. Dining happens in private rooms with big windows looking out over the forest. You can also request special menus with crab or lobster if you’re visiting in the right season.
The thermal room in each suite is a nice touch—it’s not hot like a sauna, just warm enough to help you relax. The ryokan also has a small library, a terrace, and can arrange things like afternoon tea or gallery visits nearby.
A small detail: the bread and coffee served at breakfast are a quiet nod to its early days as a Western-style hotel—a simple but nice touch.
Motoyu Ryuusenkaku
Motoyu Ryuusenkaku is a relaxed, family-friendly ryokan in Arima Onsen, known for its private golden spring and easygoing atmosphere. It’s especially good for families with kids, offering open-air baths, rooms with mountain views, and a lot of child-focused extras. Rooms are traditional, with options like barrier-free layouts and private cypress baths. Some, like the “Sora” suite, have sweeping views of the Hokusetsu range.
Meals are served in-room, and they really think about kids—offering baby food, balanced children’s meals, and a year-round dinner plan just for little ones. Adults can enjoy local seafood and Kobe beef without leaving the room.
The onsen uses golden spring water, rich in minerals, and includes private bath options you can reserve. There’s also a “Forest Pool” open in summer, plus indoor and outdoor play areas.
If you have tattoos, you’re welcome here—just stick to private baths if needed.
Small detail: there’s an outdoor ping-pong table next to a mini-golf course, which sounds random, but it’s a nice way to end the day if you’re traveling with kids.
Kinzan
Kinzan is a refined, adults-only ryokan in the center of Arima Onsen, designed in traditional Sukiya style with views of the mountains and a quiet Japanese garden. The atmosphere is calm and intentional, inspired by the wabi-sabi simplicity of tea ceremony culture. Rooms are spacious, with semi-open-air baths using Arima’s silver spring water, and some suites offer full mountain views. It’s peaceful and feels very private.
Meals are Kyoto-style kaiseki, focused on seasonal ingredients and served with a lot of care—either in-room or in private dining spaces. The flavors are subtle, and the presentation is thoughtful without being fussy.
The onsen here includes both golden and silver springs, with large communal baths and private open-air baths available. If you have tattoos, you’ll be fine using the private onsen.
Kinzan also has a beauty salon, a quiet piano bar, and a shop with local products. One small detail: their seasonal garden is lit up at night and worth a slow walk before bed.
Okuno Hosomichi
Okuno Hosomichi is a luxury ryokan tucked into the quiet hills of Arima Onsen, surrounded by mountain views and forest. It’s a peaceful place with private onsen baths, garden views, and thoughtful details throughout. Rooms range from suites with open-air Kinsen baths to quiet terraces looking out at Mt. Yukadani. If you have tattoos, you can use the private onsen or cover up in the public ones.
Chef Tadamichi Ota’s cooking is a big part of the experience here—seasonal dishes, Kobe beef sushi, and small live cooking shows in some rooms. Breakfast and dinner are included, and some suites offer private dining options.
There are both golden Kinsen and a milder private hot spring on site. You’ll find outdoor baths, a sauna, and footbaths using onsen water in the lobby. The pace is slow and everything feels quiet and deliberate.
A small tip: they make their own miso-marinated salmon and sell it in the shop—it’s worth taking home.
Tocen Goshoboh
Tocen Goshoboh is one of the oldest ryokan in Japan, quietly sitting in Arima Onsen since 1191. The history is layered into the building—old wood, low ceilings, small surprises like a former Meiji-era dance hall tucked into the property. It’s peaceful, with views of forests and gardens, and draws people who like a slower pace and a sense of place.
Rooms range from Japanese-Western suites for families to more intimate spaces, each with its own character. Some include private onsen baths using Kinsen water straight from the source—rich, mineral-heavy, and deeply warming.
Meals are based on local produce, with a rustic touch inspired by Kamakura-period cooking. You’ll see dishes built around mountain vegetables, fish from Akashi, and tofu made from black soybeans. Kaiseki dinner and breakfast are served in-room or in the dining space, depending on the room type.
The ryokan uses Kinsen hot spring water in its indoor and open-air baths, with semi-private and private options. Even though the building is old, the bathing areas are kept in good condition, and the staff help guide guests through everything.
One small detail: some rooms have books left behind or donated by writers and artists who stayed here. It’s a nice, quiet way the ryokan keeps its long creative history alive.
Taketoritei Maruyama
Taketoritei Maruyama is a hillside ryokan in Arima Onsen with big views over Sanda City and the surrounding mountains. It’s a quiet spot but easy to reach from Osaka or Kobe. The ryokan has 30 rooms, some with private open-air baths using Arima’s silver spring water. A few suites, like the penthouse or Presidential Suite, come with extra space and full views.
The highlight here is the onsen setup—guests can use eight private baths (indoor and outdoor) free of charge, first-come, first-served. Both golden and silver hot springs are available, and tattoos are fully accepted, no questions asked.
Dinner is a seasonal kaiseki served in private dining rooms, often featuring Kobe beef and seafood from nearby waters. Breakfast can be Western or Japanese, and starts early if you’re an early riser.
It’s a good mix of tradition and comfort—tatami rooms with modern touches, forest views, and no pressure to rush. Small tip: the free shuttle runs all day, so getting around town is easy without planning ahead.
Arima Grand Hotel
Arima Grand Hotel sits at the highest point in Arima Onsen, with wide mountain views. It’s a large, polished hotel with plenty of options—from simple Japanese rooms to VIP suites with private Ginsen or Kinsen baths. If you have tattoos, it’s best to book a room with a private onsen, since the public baths have restrictions.
There are multiple dining choices, including classic kaiseki meals, custom course menus, and even a Chinese buffet. Many dishes feature local seafood and Kobe beef, and some restaurants offer made-to-order tempura and skewers.
The hotel has access to both of Arima’s signature hot springs: Kinsen (rich and golden) and Ginsen (clear and gentle). The large public bathhouse has floor-to-ceiling views and includes saunas, jacuzzis, and quiet rest areas. Private baths and spa treatments are also available.
A small tip: the “Sea of Clouds” bath is best early in the morning—less crowded, and the view over the misty hills is worth it.
Gekkoen Korokan
Gekkoen Korokan is a peaceful ryokan in Arima Onsen, set along the Takikawa River beneath Mount Ochiba. Many rooms have open-air baths with mountain or river views, and the top-floor Royal Suite gives a wide view over the valley. It’s quiet, spacious, and good for both couples and families.
Rooms range from classic Japanese styles to suites with private Kinsen baths. If you have tattoos, private baths are available and there are no restrictions. The larger public baths also offer scenic views and include unique options like a cypress bath, a cave bath, and even a wine bath.
Meals are in-room kaiseki dinners made with local seafood and Kobe beef. The menu changes with the season and is served fresh to your room. Breakfast and dinner are both included.
The ryokan has a few extras—like a bar lounge, tea room, and spa offering Balinese treatments. A small touch locals know: guests get free beer in the lobby from 5 to 7 p.m. after their bath, which hits just right before dinner.
Nakanobo Zuien
Nakanobo Zuien is a calm, adults-only ryokan in Arima Onsen, ideal for couples or families with older kids looking for a slower pace. It’s about an hour from Osaka and just 30 minutes from Kobe, but feels tucked away. The ryokan has both of Arima’s famous hot springs—Kinsen and Ginsen—available in public and private baths.
There are 13 room types, including spacious VIP suites with open-air onsen baths that draw from both spring sources. All rooms are non-smoking, with modern touches like air purifiers and Wi-Fi, but still hold on to a traditional feel.
Meals are a highlight, with four dining options offering seasonal kaiseki menus. Ingredients like Kobe beef and local mushrooms show up often, and you can choose from in-room or private dining spaces for a quiet meal.
The large shared bath includes outdoor tubs and a sauna, but there are also private onsen rooms free for guest use—perfect if you have tattoos or want more privacy.
Small detail: their private family baths are often overlooked, but if you book one near sunset, the garden views are especially nice.
Negiya Ryofukaku
Negiya Ryofukaku is a quiet ryokan in Arima Onsen, surrounded by maple trees and mountain views. It has a long history—originally a resting spot for Shinto priests—and still keeps a calm, spiritual feel. Rooms range from classic tatami to Japanese-Western hybrids, some with private open-air baths and massage chairs. If you have tattoos, you’ll need to use one of the two private baths, which can be reserved in 45-minute slots.
The onsen water comes from Arima’s golden spring. Public baths include a cypress indoor bath and an open-air tub under a large zelkova tree. Even at night, you can use the public baths, except during cleaning.
Meals follow the seasons, with kaiseki courses featuring fish and vegetables from the Kobe market. Kobe beef sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are also available if requested in advance.
A nice local touch: the lounge area, called “The Perch,” is a quiet spot with books and forest views—good for a short break after your bath.
