Luxury Healing Hotels Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsusanso
651-1401 Hyogo, Kobe, Kita-ku Arima-cho 318, Japan
HOTEL OVERVIEW
Look, I’ve stayed at my share of onsen hotels, but Gekkoen Yugetsusanso in Arima really caught me off guard. You know that feeling when you walk into a place and immediately think “okay, this is way nicer than the photos suggested”? That’s exactly what happened here. The lobby alone – I mean, they’ve got this incredible view that opens up to their gardens, and you can actually hear the mountain stream running behind the building. It’s one of those sounds that makes you forget you’re technically still in Kobe.
What honestly sets this place apart is how they’ve managed to feel both luxurious and genuinely Japanese without being touristy about it. The staff doesn’t hover, but somehow your tea cup never stays empty. My room had tatami floors that actually smelled like fresh grass (you’d be surprised how many places skimp on that), and the futon setup was way more comfortable than I expected – I’m usually a bed person, but I slept like a rock. The onsen itself is the real star though. Arima’s famous for its “gold” and “silver” hot springs, and this hotel has both. The outdoor bath at night? Absolutely incredible, especially if you can snag some time there around 9 PM when it’s quieter. Just be aware that mornings get pretty crowded with the tour groups.
Here’s the thing – Arima Onsen can feel a bit like a tourist trap during peak times, but Gekkoen somehow stays above all that chaos. It’s tucked up on a hillside about a five-minute walk from the main drag where all the souvenir shops are, so you get the mountain forest vibe without being completely isolated. Parking was actually easier than I thought it would be (they validate, which is clutch because street parking in Arima is basically nonexistent). The kaiseki dinner was honestly exceptional – and I say that as someone who’s had a lot of hotel kaiseki that ranges from mediocre to decent. This was the real deal, with seasonal ingredients that actually tasted like the season. The breakfast spread struck a nice balance between traditional and Western options, though honestly, after that dinner you’ll probably want to stick with the Japanese side of things. Fair warning though – this level of service and authenticity doesn’t come cheap, and you’ll definitely feel it in the bill. But for a special occasion or if you want to experience what a top-tier onsen hotel actually feels like, it’s worth the splurge.
HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS
Reviews
Staff: 9.2
Comfort: 8.5
Location: 8.9
Free WiFi: 7.2
Facilities: 8.4
Cleanliness: 8.4
Value for money: 7.7
Mann from Singapore (16 December 2024)
We were provided with buffet breakfast and dinner, with tables pre-allocated to our family which I didn’t expect. We were treated very well. When we went back from the our meal, the room was already arranged! We also like the surrounding areas which was quiet and scenic.
What could be improved: Nothing!
Chloe from Australia (18 November 2024)
Because it's 2 conjoining properties, there's more choices in terms of recreational facilities & onsens. The buffet dinner & breakfast were a treat, especially the freshly fried tempura! While property was dated, it was clean :) What could be improved: Shuttle bus service upto Arima Ropeway Station, because being first time visitor, it was an...
Rafael from Sweden (8 November 2024)
We really loved the Japanese style room, the tatami mat, the bamboo floor at the entrance. The futon worked well, we didn’t feel cold nor was it as hard as we expected. The baths also had great thermal water, which felt healing. The area is great, walking around in town and nearby was fantastic. It is quaint, and well connected with nature. ...
Tan from Singapore (2 November 2024)
Best onsen.
What could be improved: Room too old and indoor onsen pool too small.
Jesse from United States (7 October 2024)
Very cool Ryokan and hotel combination. The bridge in the photos is part of the hotel and divides the classic Ryokan side of the hotel and the more modern multilevel hotel. There are three onsen baths in the hotel and three more private baths that may be rented. We only went to the non-private baths which were still excellent. The bath in the...
Stela from Bulgaria (12 July 2024)
Very nice hotel, access to onsens and good breakfast and dinner. Quite clean place
What could be improved: nothing to be mentioned
Isabel from United Kingdom (22 June 2024)
Very nice staff. Great public baths and lovely private ones too. Food was great and our room was very comfortable. Wish we had stayed for longer
What could be improved: Hotel is going through some refurbishment so there was some scaffolding up. Not a bother but I'm sure the building looks nicer without it.
Angie from Australia (7 May 2024)
onsen. few onsen to choose from which really fit our purpose to go arima
What could be improved: room is a bit dated but is normal for all onsen hotel
Yoann from France (3 April 2024)
Nice onsen
What could be improved: Old building, need a little refreshing
Yasmin from Australia (19 March 2024)
Traditional stay was an incredible experience. Staff were impeccable. The shuttle service to and from the train was so helpful. Loved the onsen experience too. Buffet dinner was AMAZING. Would stay again! What could be improved: Floor beds weren’t super comfortable but to be expected I guess! Buffet brekkie wasn’t to my taste, couldn’t stomach the...
SURROUNDINGS
What's nearby:
- Zuihoji Park: 1.3 km
- Tanasangen Park: 600 m
- Kittebunka Museum: 800 m
- Former Kuki House Museum: 11 km
- Rokkokozan Botanical Gardens: 5 km
- Arima River Kasen Shinsui Park: 550 m
- Arima Toys and Automata Museum: 300 m
- Emba Museum of Chinese Modern Art: 10 km
- Philatelic Culture Museum Arima, Kobe: 800 m
- Michi-no-eki Kobe Fruit Flower Park Osawa: 10 km
Restaurants & cafes:
- Cafe/barなかさ: 250 m
- Cafe/barチックタク: 300 m
- Cafe/barカフェ・ド・ボウ: 250 m
Top attractions:
- Sanda Craft House: 17 km
- Horie Orgel Museum: 12 km
- Mentai Park Kobe Sanda: 13 km
- Aono Dam Memorial Museum: 19 km
- Susumu Shingu Wind Museum: 18 km
- Sanda Furusato Learning Museum: 11 km
- Museum of Nature and Human Activities Hyogo: 13 km
Natural beauty:
- Mountain Mount Rokko: 4.1 km
Public transport:
- Metro Tanigami: 9 km
- Metro Shin-Kobe: 16 km
- Train Arima Onsen: 650 m
- Train Rokko Cable Shita: 10 km
Closest airports:
- Kobe Airport: 28 km
- Itami Airport: 25 km
- Kansai International Airport: 79 km
ROOMS
- Estimated price from: $248. Room Selected at Check-In - Room Only with 4 futon beds for 1 - 1 guests
- Estimated price from: $433. Japanese-Style Room -8 tatami-Meal Provided at Restaurant with 4 futon beds for 1 - 2 guests
- Estimated price from: $448. Japanese-Style Room -10 tatami-Meal Provided at Restaurant with 5 futon beds for 1 - 2 guests
FACILITIES
General:
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
Services:
- Shuttle service
- Luggage storage
- Fax/photocopying
- 24-hour front desk
- Meeting/banquet facilities
- Room service
Wellness:
- Massage chair
- Public Bath
- Open-air bath
- Hot spring bath
- Massage Additional charge
- Spa and wellness centre
- Sauna
Food & Drink:
- Breakfast in the room
- Restaurant
Languages spoken:
- Japanese
Most popular facilities:
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Free parking
- Spa and wellness centre
- Room service
- Free WiFi
- Family rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Hot spring bath
- Very good breakfast
Parking Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).:
- Valet parking
HOUSE RULES
Pets:
- Pets are not allowed.
Smoking:
- Smoking is not allowed.
Check-in:
- From 15:00 to 19:00
Check-out:
- Until 10:00
Cancellation/prepayment:
- Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please check what conditions may apply to each option when making your selection.
HOTEL ADDRESS
651-1401 Hyogo, Kobe, Kita-ku Arima-cho 318, Japan
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