In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Arima Onsen
One night covers the main baths and a ropeway ride; add a second night if you want to try both Gold and Silver springs at a relaxed pace.
Arima Onsen is a historic hot‑spring town on the far side of Mount Rokko, reachable from Kobe or Osaka in under an hour. Its two mineral waters (Gold and Silver) feed public baths and ryokan, and a short ropeway climb offers city views. A single night lets you sample the baths and stroll the village; a second night lets you soak twice and enjoy a relaxed dinner.
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat), Golden Week
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Public bath entry | ¥500–700 |
| Ropeway one‑way | ¥590 |
| Cablecar one‑way | ¥590 |
| Combo Rokko‑Arima ticket | ¥1,750 (foreign visitors ¥1,000 if pre‑bought) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UKB · Kobe Airport
- Limited domestic flights; bus to Kobe city centre ~30 min, then train to Arima.
- ITM · Osaka Itami Airport
- Main domestic hub; JR or limousine bus to Osaka, then train to Arima (≈1 h).
Typical fares
- Practical train (Kobe → Arima)
- about ¥900–1,000, 45–60 min (check)
- Ropeway one‑way
- ¥590, 10 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is compact; most sights are within walking distance. Use the ropeway or cablecar for the Mt Rokko view. Public transport to Arima requires a transfer at Arimaguchi Station.
See and do
Known for
- Gold Spring (Kinsen) iron‑rich water
- Silver Spring (Ginsen) slightly radioactive water
- Geisha performances
- Ropeway up Mt Rokko
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kobe city centre | JR or Kobe Subway to Sannomiya, then local bus 15 min | ≈45 min total |
| Mount Rokko summit | Cablecar from Rokko Station, 10 min ride | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Hotel Kinzan
- Ryokan‑style hotel near the baths; check‑in 13:00, check‑out 12:00.Ryokan‑style hotel near the baths; check‑in 1:00 PM, check‑out 12:00 PM.
- Guesthouse ENN
- Private rooms or dormitory, 5 min walk to public baths; shared dinner ¥2,000, bunk ¥4,000.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Transfer at Arimaguchi Station is required for both practical and fun routes.
- Heavy luggage makes the ropeway/cablecar route inconvenient.
- Combo ticket (¥1,750) is cheaper for foreign visitors but must be bought before boarding (Hanshin service centres).
Arima is generally safe; be careful on wet steps in baths and keep an eye on belongings in busy stations.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Arima Onsen yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gold Spring (Kinsen) iron‑rich water
- Silver Spring (Ginsen) slightly radioactive water
- Geisha performances
- Ropeway up Mt Rokko
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Arima Onsen tourist association (Japanese): www.arima-onsen.com/
- Wikivoyage: Arima Onsen, revision 5194966 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5194966
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/arima-onsen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.