thumb|Arima Onsen Town

thumb|Yumotozaka street

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.

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File:Arima Onsen River 2013.jpg|Arima Onsen River 2013

File:Zuihoji park14n4272.jpg|Zuihoji Park

File:Tudumi-ga-taki Park Kobe01s4272.jpg|Tudumi-ga-taki Park

File:Arima Onsen Tenjin Sengen.JPG|Arima Onsen Tenjin Sengen

File:141108 Gekkoen Yugetsusanso Arima Onsen Kobe Japan04bs3.jpg|Gekkoen Yugetsusanso, Arima Onsen

File:Feet bath Arima onsen.jpg|Public foot bath Arima Onsen

File:Taiko-no-yudonokan01s3872.jpg|Taiko-no-yudonokan municipal museum

File:Arima Onsen Gosho-bessho02s5s4272.jpg|Typical ryokan in Arima

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See also

  • List of hot springs in Japan
  • Tosen Goshobo an historic ryokan (Japanese inn) located in Arima Onsen
  • Three Ancient Springs

References

  • Arima Onsen Sightseeing Association
  • Arima Onsen Sightseeing Association