is an onsen, or hot spring resort in Kita-ku, Kobe, Japan, located near Mount Rokkō. This onsen attracts many Japanese because of its easy access from the busy cities in the Kansai metropolitan area including Osaka and Kobe. Arima Onsen was named in the Heian-period The Pillow Book as one of the three famous springs in Japan. It was selected as the most prestigious hot spring during the Edo period.
History
This onsen is one of Japan's oldest, with Dōgo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture and Nanki-Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture. Many documents since the 8th century AD, such as The Pillow Book, mention this onsen.
According to these documents, among the many visitors to Arima Onsen are Gyoki (行基), a charismatic Buddhist monk in the 7th century, and Ninsai (仁西), another monk in the 12th century. Ninsai was said to greatly admire Arima Onsen and helped develop it. Hideyoshi Toyotomi visited this onsen several times in the 16th century.
Springs
Arima Onsen has two kinds of spring. One is , which has water colored yellow-brown from iron and salt. The other is , which is colorless and contains radium and carbonate.
Accommodation
In 2007, there were more than 20 hotels and inns in the Arima Onsen area.
Gallery
See also List of hot springs in Japan Tosen Goshobo an historic ryokan (Japanese inn) located in Arima Onsen Three Ancient Springs
References
External links
Arima Onsen Sightseeing Association Arima Onsen Sightseeing Association