Kansai · Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

♨ Arima Onsen (Kin no Yu)

Famous rusty-gold 'kinsen' water, close to Kobe and Osaka.

Top 3 Famous Three Ancient Springs Day trip from Kyoto/Osaka

About Arima Onsen (Kin no Yu)

One of Japan's oldest and most famous hot springs, tucked into the mountains behind Kobe. There are two kinds of water: rusty-brown, iron-rich 'kinsen' (gold) at the Kin no Yu bathhouse, and clear 'ginsen' (silver) at Gin no Yu. Try both! There's a free foot bath next to Kin no Yu. JR expressway buses run from Sannomiya Bus Terminal in Kobe to Arima Onsen in about 30 minutes.

The water

Two famous waters. Kinsen ('gold spring') is rich in iron and salt, and turns reddish-brown when it meets the air. Ginsen ('silver spring') is clear and includes carbonic and radium-bearing types. The thick, salty kinsen is traditionally said to warm you to the core.

History

One of Japan's oldest hot springs. The Nara-era priest Gyoki is credited with founding Onsenji Temple here, and later the priest Ninsai rebuilt the town after a flood. The warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi loved Arima, visited many times and helped restore it. The remains of his bathhouse, the Taiko no Yudono, were dug up and can be visited.

Getting there

Famous for (meibutsu)

• Tansan senbei (food): thin crackers made with Arima's carbonated spring water
• Arima ningyo-fude (craft): brushes with a doll that pops up when you write
• Arima kago (craft): fine bamboo baskets

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