I visited the Arima Onsen Hot Spring Town in Kobe, Japan in the fall of 2015, when I was there for running the yearly marathon, shopping, and touring.
The Arima Onsen has been famous world wide, for its varieties of natural hot springs, which attract visitors and holiday takers from all over the world the globe.
Before I arrived at this hotel in Arima Onsen, I thought the hot spring we were going to enjoy were on the groud, outdoor, with rocks and trees surrounding, perhaps visited by monkeys from time to time. Quite the opposite, they were high above on the top of the building, occupying the whole floor. When I entered the hall, I saw many pools, large and small. One had very hot water in it, yet another had close to icy cold water, which was rather refreshing. There was a special shower which had water coming from all directions, enough to clean the whole body without one having to turn around. The water current was also strong, so the body could be cleaned completely in no time. It was my first visit to any hot spring, so I was really impressed.
What impressed me the most, was the healing pools on the balcony. The pools were round-shaped, not so big, and filled with muddy water. It's said that the water contains different minerals, from under the ground, and was quite healing. I jumped into the pool, an instantly felt warmth from outside to inside. I felt healed, somehow, body and soul. From the pool I could see the surrounding mountains, and the view was just perfect. I stayed there for a long time, not willing to leave.
Such was my trip to Arima Onsen hot springs, and the experience was unforgettable. I have always wanted to visit and enjoy the hotsprings in Arima again, but the Covid-19 epidemic stops me from going anywhere. Possibly, and hopefully, the trip can be made next fall, if not this fall.
