Arimasansoh Goshobessho

We had our own outdoor onsen in the room, and using it at night felt magical. The kaiseki dinners were amazing, the staff were thoughtful, and the whole experience felt carefully put together. The onsen was a dream. Try the Uni breakfast at least once!

The indoor onsen was nice, and the best part was that the bathtub in our room had hot spring water. My one concern is that it doesn’t seem easy to use an outdoor onsen unless you’re staying at one of the hotels with one. Our room had two floors, definitely fit for a king, and the service was excellent. Staff greeted us in the mornings and the shuttle ride to town took around five to ten minutes each way. We needed Google Maps, but there were lots of restaurants to choose from in town. I loved staying in Arima because of these hotels. I miss Isda, Inoue and Kim, and their hospitality.

The hotel’s old-fashioned look is everywhere, with lots of dark wood and leather chairs. It’s over 100 years old and reminded me of the old ski cabins in Big Bears California. It’s a sister building of the original Gosho, which has been in business since 1191years (Goshobo). Service was excellent, and they seemed to have thought of everything, from valet parking to an outdoor moving walkway that goes up and down the hill. I stayed in room 7, a supremely comfortable space with heated floors. The wooden bath filled with the golden spring water Arima is known for, and part of the bathroom is a sauna. I also tried the shared onsen, but preferred my own bath. I would’ve liked an outdoor bath, though. The food was creative Japanese kaiseiki. It’s next to a little river in ancient Arima Onsen. Kyoto is about an hour away by car, and the Tosen shrine and bustling Arima town are just down the hill. I drove there for $1065, including $819 for the room and $264 for dinner for one before alcohol. At 4/5, it was a bit expensive for me.

It felt like staying in a luxurious African safari lodge, with each guest in a secluded villa. Ours had a very high ceiling with a fan above, and a view of a small pond with koi fish. Mixing the hot spring water in our bathtub was really cool, and there’s a sauna room before the bathroom. Staying here also lets you use the hot spring at their other hotel down in town, which is very classy and has both the golden brown and colorless waters.