[2025 Kobe Hotels] Travel Guide for Arima Onsen Gekkoen Korokan (Updated Jul)

📍Address: 318 Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401, Japan ⏱️Check-in: 3:00 PM ⏱️Check-out: 12:00 PM ▶️Famous for its high-quality hot spring water, Arima Onsen is a popular destination with many excellent ryokans to choose from. Among them, Gekkoen offers both traditional and resort-style ryokans. After discussing with friends, we decided on the traditional ryokan and had a truly relaxing experience. The room was spacious, equipped with two bathrooms, making it comfortable for four adults. The large window provided a stunning view of the mountains, creating a serene atmosphere surrounded by nature. The staff who served us in the room were incredibly kind, and they took care of the bedding for both dinner and breakfast, making our stay very comfortable. It was a unique experience that we couldn't have in Korea.^^

📍Itinerary Introduction Self-driving with children hea hea shopping + hot spring trip 🚩Travel route Day 1: Drive from Osaka to Arima Onsen Day 2 Kobe Mita outlet Day 3: Tour Arima Onsen 🚇Transportation After visiting Osaka, drive to Arima Onsen. You can choose a paid route that passes through an ETC toll booth or a route that does not pass through ETC. On our way there, due to time constraints, we chose the toll route. The ETC fee was about HKD100 and it took about an hour. As we had plenty of time, we chose the free route from Arima Onsen to Osaka Kansai Airport, which took about 2.5 hours. On the first day in Arima, I basically walked around the hot spring hotel, bought some souvenirs there, and then went back to the room to prepare for dinner. The next day, we drove to Sanda Premium Outlets, which took about half an hour from Arima. On the third day, we will spend a day exploring the center of Arima City. 🏖️Check-in attractions Arima is famous for having two different hot spring waters, commonly known as the Gold Hot Spring and the Silver Hot Spring. Golden soup is iron-rich spring water, which warms the whole body and must be rinsed with clean water. There is a four-story footbath in the center of Arima Town. You can sit down and soak in it when you feel tired while walking. Remember to bring your own small towel. Mita Outlet is a good outlet with brands of different price ranges. There are benches outside each shop so children can take a rest and mothers can go into the shop for shopping. The food at Mita Food Court is delicious, including the pizza and crepes (as shown in the picture). The point is, there is a really fun playground next to the food court. The kids had so much fun that they didn’t want to leave. 🏠Accommodation 1. Moonlight Garden Honglong Pavilion (not recommended) The environment is quite old, but I stayed in a 12-tatami room with a private bath. The room was large, with a private bath, free parking, large food portions, and average service. However, the biggest problem was that there was no greeting courtesy, in-room coffee had to be paid for, and no snacks were provided after soaking in the hot spring, which was not a good feeling. 💰Consumption: HKD8,000 per night including breakfast and dinner (4 persons)

✨Hotel Highlights: different onsens in the hotel and close to many restaurants in town ♨️Amenities: amazing open air onsen which is situated by the river 🛁Room Environment: clean and tidy room 🛎️Hotel Service: friendly staff 💗Guest Experience: overall it was a great stay and I wish I stayed a bit longer to explore the town. I had one of the best wagyus in a small eatery and found some of the most exquisite souvenirs too!

📍Kobe Arima Hot Springs: • Located in the mountains of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, only one hour by train from Kyoto, Osaka, or Kobe. • One of the three oldest hot springs in Japan, personally visited and used by emperors and nobles. • Two types of hot spring water: gold and silver. Gold water is red and has a slightly rusty taste, which is beneficial for skin and blood circulation. Silver water is transparent and helps to relieve nerve fatigue and improve the respiratory system. - 🏯Arima Onsen Moonlight Garden ♨️Unlike hot springs with circulating water, Moonlight Garden is one of the few hot spring hotels with flowing water (natural flow). ∎ The two hotels under Moonlight Garden are high-end hot spring hotels, known for their ultimate hot spring experience and exquisite Japanese cuisine. - 🌸Moonlight Garden Yuzuki Sanso VS Moonlight Garden Hinoakari • Hinoakari: Modern Japanese design style, more rooms with private hot springs, more suitable for guests who pursue privacy • Yuzuki Sanso: Built earlier, more traditional Japanese design, three-story wooden building without elevator, more active social atmosphere, suitable for families and groups 🍱Both hotels offer exquisite breakfast and dinner, including Kobe beef, fresh seafood from Hyogo Prefecture, vegetables grown in Hyogo Prefecture, and "Hinohikari" rice - 💰Day trip package (one-day trip) ∎17:30/19:30 two times ∎90-minute buffet dinner ∎16:00–22:00 access to hot spring pools ∎Free for children under 2 years old 💰Accommodation and hot spring package ∎One night in a Japanese-style room ∎Free pick-up and drop-off service near Arima Onsen Station 💰One-night and two-meal package ∎One night in a Japanese-style room ∎Daily exquisite Japanese breakfast and dinner ∎Free pick-up and drop-off service near Arima Onsen Station

♨️There are many ways to experience Arima Onsen, but I think the most cost-effective way is to take a day trip. Many famous Arima Onsen hotels offer day trips, and this time we chose Gekkoen Korokan. ♨️Day trip onsen, as the name suggests, is an onsen that you can visit and return to on the same day. You can use the onsen even if you don't stay at the hotel, and a lunch can be provided according to your needs. Day trips are very cost-effective, and the prices vary from hotel to hotel. For example, the day trip we chose at Gekkoen Korokan included lunch and a 40-minute onsen, which usually needs to be completed between 11:00 and 15:00. There are a variety of lunch sets to choose from, and the prices vary accordingly. The most popular choices are Kobe beef and kaiseki cuisine, but you need to book your lunch and private bath time slot in advance on the official website. 💰 We booked a day trip package [Miyabi] at Gekkoen Korokan on the official website 2 months in advance for JPY 13,670 per person: 1-hour private bath + Kobe beef kaiseki cuisine. The cost was JPY 6,500 per person, which was much more cost-effective than the JPY 20,000 per person for a one-night stay with two meals. ♨️There are three private baths to choose from, including a cave bath, a cypress bath, and a wine bath. Each person can fill in two preferences. Our first preference was the cave bath, but unfortunately, as we booked a little late, we only got our second preference, the cypress bath, and didn't get to experience the cave bath. 😭 ♨️The public baths in the park are free to use, and there are two types: the outdoor golden bath and the indoor silver bath. Since we are not used to being naked with strangers, we only chose the private bath. 🍱 The lunch set was kaiseki cuisine [Miyabi], which also included the famous Kobe beef 🥩. You know, normally, a meal of beef for two people in Kobe costs a lot of money, and a day trip allows you to soak in the onsen to relax your body and relieve the fatigue of traveling. Although the time is not sufficient, I feel that it is not appropriate to soak in the onsen too many times in a short period of time, so a day trip is a good choice. 🚌 If you are staying in Kobe, you can take the Shinki Bus to and from Arima on the same day. The hotel we booked was halfway up the hill in Arima Town, and after getting off the bus, it took a 10-minute walk to get there. You can also take a stroll along Arima Shopping Street, which has a variety of specialty souvenir shops and many small shops worth visiting, especially a small shop that specializes in incense sticks, which has many amazing scents. 📝 Btw, the package also includes tea in the lobby on the third floor, and there is a small shop where you can buy hand cream, body lotion, and other products containing onsen water. 📍 3rd floor: Check-in for the package, tea area, and souvenir area 2nd floor: Kaiseki lunch area and onsen area

At Gekkoen Honglongkan, you can not only enjoy the nourishment of hot springs, but also taste exquisite Japanese cuisine. Tonight, let’s explore the barbecue dinner here, a feast for your taste buds is about to begin! • Aperitif: Seasonal fruit wine, allowing you to awaken your taste buds with a glass of fruity wine before tasting the main meal. • Main course sashimi: Fresh tuna and scallops delivered directly from Akashi❗️, every bite is the sweetness of the ocean. • BBQ 🍖: The tenderness of Kobe beef❗️, paired with the spiciness of wasabi, is the ultimate enjoyment for meat lovers. • Rice and fermented bean curd soup are the perfect accompaniments for this dinner. • Fruits, pears❗️ were especially delicious😋, which brought the dinner to a perfect end. At Moonlight Garden Honglong Pavilion, every dish is a respect for the ingredients and a display of culinary art. Whether it's an appetizer, main course or dessert, every bite is unforgettable. When you come here, you can not only enjoy the comfort of hot springs, but also taste the essence of Japanese cuisine. Come to Moonlight Garden Honglongkan and give your taste buds a hot spring trip! 🍴💖 #月光园鸿隆館 #日本温泉酒店 #烤肉晚飯 #日本料理 #美食推荐

The hot spring hotels here not only have spacious and comfortable rooms, but are also equipped with massage chairs, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate relaxation during your trip! 🛌💆♀️ Each guest can put on a cute yukata and easily go to the hot spring area to enjoy the famous Arima Onsen and completely relax the body and mind. After soaking in the hot springs, don’t forget to taste a glass of local milk, which is one of the specialties of the hotel. It allows you to end a tiring day with delicious food! 🥛♨️ Whether you come with family, friends or a partner, Moonlight Garden Honglongkan can provide you with an unforgettable hot spring trip, allowing you to enjoy every moment of life in this peaceful world! #月光园鸿隆馆 #Arima温泉 #hotspringhotel #relax #travelmustgo #2024travelreview

| Hidden gems of Kobe: Arima Hot Spring and Gekkoen Kolukan. Dear friends, the must-see items in Kobe that you must not miss are here! 🔥✨ Let me lead you into a dreamy place in Arima. This is not only a five-star hot spring hotel, but also a double feast for the soul and senses. أنشطة اليوم والعودة ⛺ Moonlight Garden Honglong Hotel - a haven with a long history that combines traditional and modern aesthetics. It is especially suitable for travelers seeking tranquility and relaxation, especially our elders. 🎨🏡 The interior design adopts warm and natural colors, which perfectly echoes the lush woods and gurgling water outside the window, creating a desirable living atmosphere. Private hot spring experience - you can choose from three special hot spring pools: cypress pool, red wine pool or cave pool. We chose fresh and fragrant cypress pools, each of which can bring an extraordinary soaking experience. Exquisite lunch - Kobe beef, kaiseki or teppanyaki and other options. We tasted the seafood-based kaiseki with satisfaction. The rich fish soup left people with endless aftertaste with every spoonful. Afternoon prime time - Enjoy the open-air golden hot springs and public baths from 11:00 to 15:00. The cool tree shadows under the golden hot springs and the gentle breeze blowing on your cheeks create a perfect summer picture. Total Care - Bathrooms feature a full range of head-to-toe products to ensure you feel rejuvenated from the inside out. The sweet time after bathing in the hot springs - After bathing, you might as well go to the lobby to have a cup of iced lemon tea and slowly savor the tranquility. Transportation Tips: Take the highway bus from Hankyu Sanban Street in Kobe and it will take you to your destination in about one hour. Additional bonus: After bathing in the hot springs, don’t forget to take the Rokko cable car to enjoy the scenery on the top of the mountain, which will add a surprise to the trip! 🌟 Are you ready? Then come and experience this unreplicable luxury! Don’t hesitate, act now and create your own unique holiday memories. 👋🌞

🌸A quite comfortable and beautiful hot spring hotel, the whole experience is very good, the staff is very friendly, there is a shuttle very convenient, you can walk to the cable car station, to the hot spring temple is also very close. ♨️ The pavilion is very large, because it also has a sister inn, both of the hot springs are universal, a total of 3 soups can be soaked, feels like a treasure hunt, everywhere surprises. There is also a private bath available for reservation. 🌸The room is very large and extremely clean, the scenery is super beautiful, the facilities in the room are very complete basically no place to complain. 🍳Breakfast and dinner are delicious and rich, especially the shabu shabu is highly recommended. #OsakaHotel

Unlike other accommodations, it has a theme hot spring attached, so you can enjoy lodging and hot springs at the same time, such as public baths and open-air baths, at a great price! The staff are friendly and the facilities are good. I recommend it~ It's a bit far from Arima Onsen Station, but it's not too far to walk!! The last climb is a bit difficult. I think there's also a bus service (I haven't ridden it)

Arima Gekkoen Honglongkan, one night and two meals, nine types of food, tastes good! So special!

One of the three major hot springs, Arima Onsen, Gekkoen Honglongkan, a very beautiful hot spring! Quiet environment, attentive service! The room was clean!