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Arima

One of Japan's oldest hot spring towns, set behind Mount Rokko within Kobe's city limits.

Character
Arima Onsen has over a thousand years of history and is small enough to explore on foot, though its lanes are sloped and uneven. It has two kinds of water: brown, iron-rich kinsen and clear ginsen. It is a common day trip or weekend break from Kobe and Osaka.
Why it stands out
Winter is the quiet season and suits a slow soak. Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu are cheaper on regular weekdays.
Getting there
From Osaka Umeda, a Hankyu highway bus takes about 1 hour (¥1,400); trains take about 1 hour 10 minutes with 3 transfers. From Kobe Sannomiya, buses and trains take about 30 minutes. From Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Kobe (about 2.5 hours), then a bus or train from Shin-Kobe (about 25–45 minutes). Nearest airport: Kobe Airport, about 1 hour by Shinki Bus; there is no direct transport from Kansai Airport.
Seasons
Plum trees at Rinkei-ji bloom in mid-March, cherry trees bloom in spring, and geiko hold a Sakura Festival in early April. Early summer has fresh greenery, and summer brings festivals. Autumn leaves draw visitors, especially to Zuihoji Park. Winter is quiet and suited to soaking.
Watch-outs
Lanes are narrow, sloped and uneven, which can be tiring. Avoid the Mount Rokko ropeway route with heavy luggage. Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu each close on two Tuesdays a month.
Neighbourhoods
Town centre: Narrow lanes, wooden buildings, temples, and the Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu public baths. / Tansan Sengen Park: Carbonated spring up the slope past the hot spring town, with views over the town. / Ropeway station area: Rokko Arima Ropeway station and Tsutsumigataki Park, with an 8 m waterfall, near Arima Onsen Station.
Nearby
Kin no Yu / Gin no Yu / Taiko no Yu / Zuihoji Park / Onsen-ji / Arima Toys & Automata Museum / Rokko Arima Ropeway

Arima condotels and hotel condos for sale

A condotel (hotel condominium) is a hotel room you own outright, which the hotel rents to guests when you are not using it. These are the Arima buildings and resort clubs this site tracks, with their current asking prices.

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Sources