[2025 Kobe Stay] Travel Guide for Arima Onsen Tocen Goshobo (Updated Apr)

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Osaka and immerse yourself in Japan's traditional hot spring culture, Tosen Goshobo Onsen Ryokan is definitely the best choice! 🚌Transportation Guide: From Osaka, I chose to take the Hankyu bus to Arima Onsen. The bus stop is in Osaka city, near Umeda Hankyu Sanbangai, which is very convenient. The drive takes about an hour, and you can enjoy the beautiful countryside of Japan along the way. After arriving at Arima Onsen Station, it only takes a few minutes' walk to reach Tosen Goshobo Onsen Ryokan. The hot spring streets along the way are full of Japanese style, making people feel as if they are in a peaceful world. 🏨Hotel History and Decoration: Tosen Goshobo is a historic hot spring hotel with a history of more than 800 years. This weathered old hot spring hotel was once the exclusive hotel of the Japanese royal family and is full of legendary colors bestowed by the years. It is located in the heart of Arima Onsen. It is a three-story building with a decoration design that exudes the Showa style, simple and dignified, elegant and grand. The wooden structure, paper sliding doors, and traditional paintings hanging on the walls all reveal a simple and tranquil beauty. At the same time, as Kobe is a foreign port with prosperous foreign trade, the hotel has also incorporated many Western cultural elements, making this traditional hot spring hotel unique among many similar hotels. 🛏️Room features: I stayed in a basic room but was pleasantly surprised by the features of the room. Although the room is not spacious, it has a reasonable layout and gives people a warm and comfortable feeling. Japanese tatami, wooden furniture, and green plants placed by the windows all create a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. What satisfied me most was that the room was equipped with some modern facilities, such as TV, air conditioning, etc., which allowed me to enjoy the traditional Japanese style while also feeling the convenience of modern life. 👩💼The waiters are attentive: The waiters at Tosen Goshobo are all dressed in traditional kimonos. They are very polite and enthusiastic, and there are English-speaking waiters. They always greet every guest with a smile and make everyone feel at home. Whether it is checking in or asking for tourist information, they can provide timely and accurate assistance. This kind of thoughtful service makes me look forward to this hot spring trip even more. 🍱One night, two meals, delicious experience: The one-night-two-meals service provided by Tosen Goshobo was a real treat for me. Dinner was an exquisite Kaiseki cuisine, and every dish was full of Japanese style. From appetizers to main courses to desserts, every bite is an ultimate temptation for the taste buds. The Kobe beef was especially tender and juicy, melting in the mouth and leaving me with an unforgettable aftertaste. Breakfast is a traditional Japanese breakfast, mainly consisting of rice, miso soup and various side dishes. It is simple yet nutritious. 🛁The ultimate enjoyment of private hot spring bath: Of course, the highlight of this stay at Tosen Goshobo is the private golden bath. The Golden Bath is located outside the hotel and is a completely private space. Yukata robes are fully equipped and provided. The spring water is rich in various minerals, is opaque reddish-brown in color, and has a faint smell of sulfur. As the hot steam rose, I relaxed completely, enjoying the comfort and pleasure brought by the hot spring. Skin care products, shampoo and shower gel are also provided next to the bath, all of which are Shiseido products, which made me feel the hotel's caring and thoughtfulness. In addition to the hot springs, I also use my free time to read and meditate in the salon library on the first floor. The environment here is elegant, with melodious music playing from the gramophone. I sip warm tea or coffee, admire the hotel's collection exhibition, and immerse myself in the classical beauty that slowly flows from this century-old hotel. Overall, I am very satisfied with my stay at Taoquan Goshobo. Not only did I experience Japan's traditional hot spring culture, but I also tasted delicious Japanese cuisine and enjoyed thoughtful service. Recommended #MarchGoodPlaces2025

📍Address: Taoquan Goshobo 858 Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401 Japan 🏖️Environment/Facilities: This time I chose to stay at Tosen Goshobo in Arima. This hot spring hotel has a long history. It is recommended that you book early because the rooms are usually in high demand. 💞Recommendation reason: The hotel already has a golden hot spring, which allows guests to enjoy the hot spring comfortably without having to go to a hot spring shop outside to pay for it. The golden hot spring is a hot spring water containing strong iron and sodium salts. The salt in it can form a thin film, which has a moisturizing effect; it also contains high silicate substances, which can improve the heat preservation effect and has a sterilization effect. If you come here, you may wish to soak in it for a while😂 The hotel also includes one night and two meals. I personally think the food is quite satisfactory. However, the Wagyu Kamameshi at Kutsurogiya near the hotel is highly recommended. After checking out the next day, you can have lunch there before going back to the city. #Arima Onsen #Golden Hot Spring #Wagyu Kamaboko

The "Goshobou Breakfast" at Tosen Goshobou is exquisite✨✨ Some people even stay just for this breakfast😊 The Goshobou breakfast is an exquisite breakfast, with boiled tofu made from "Tamba black bean tofu," large pickled plums from Wakayama, extra-large hirousu, and freshly squeezed mandarin juice✨✨✨ It's definitely worth eating✨✨✨ #breathtakingview #gourmettrip #hotspring #luxuryhotel

Ryokans always have tea prepared. But, for travelers from overseas, it can be hard to know what to do. So, I'll show you how to make delicious tea. If you follow steps 1 to 5, you can make delicious tea. Please enjoy delicious Japanese tea. #Breathtaking views #Gourmet trip #Luxury hotel #Hot spring #Recommended list #Japanese tea

The specialty of Arima Onsen is "carbonated rice crackers" ♨️ Actually, Goshobo is located in the middle of Arima Onsen, on the tourist street, but there is also a shop selling freshly baked carbonated rice crackers right in front of the Goshobo entrance. Enjoy the thinly baked "carbonated rice crackers" with Japanese tea 🥰 The Kobe beef soap, the inn's original coasters, the tin sake cups, etc. are a little pricey, but they are very beautiful. I bought a chopstick rest ✨✨✨ I hope you find a nice souvenir ✨ #gourmet trip #breathtaking view #luxury hotel #hot spring #recommended list

Arima Onsen is famous for its reddish-brown water, called Kinsen 😊 So much so that white towels turn brown. It also contains a lot of salt, so if you're not used to it, you might get a hot spring rash. Goshobo's hot spring is a semi-mixed bath, and there is a low wall between the men's and women's baths, but if you sit in the water, you can't see through the reddish-brown water ✨✨✨ Arima Onsen's Kinsen ♨️ is recommended ✨✨✨ #Breathtaking views #Gourmet trip #Luxury hotel #Hot spring #Hot spring inn

The amenities at Tosen Goshobo were truly carefully selected✨ There was even mouthwash in the bathroom✨ Letter paper, envelopes and writing utensils were prepared in the small desk drawer, making you want to write a letter from your travels. The traditional "yukata" is available at ryokans. This yukata features the Tosen Goshobo mark, the gears of a Goshoguruma cart✨ And for foreign tourists, there is a guide on how to wear the yukata in English. Please be surrounded by the spirit of "omotenashi" (hospitality)😊💗 #breathtakingviews #gourmettrip #luxuryhotel #ryokan #hotsprings

Let me introduce the Chikuwa-style twin room. First of all, there is a great reason why the lighting in the room is dim. It is to create a light and atmosphere in reference to the works of famous Japanese writers. That is why it was such a wonderful room✨ This room has a bed. There is a small desk in the hallway by the window. I was deeply moved to think that masterpieces were written here. The toilet and washroom are behind the noren curtain. But don't worry. The toilet is clean✨✨✨✨ It's an inn I would like to visit again✨✨✨ #breathtakingview #gourmettrip #luxuryhotel #hotspring #inn #recommendedlist

In front of the front desk, there is a "Kotatsu Room", which can be considered a part of Japanese culture. It is a round kotatsu with a sunken floor. It is a paradise piece of furniture that you won't want to leave on cold days. And on the upper level, there is also a "hibachi". You can put charcoal in it and it's great for warming up your numb hands✨✨✨ Please try out this piece of Japanese culture and furniture, the "kotatsu"✨♨️✨♨️ #Breathtaking views #Luxury hotels #Ryokan

I booked the plan for two adults, "Jikuwa-style twin room, breakfast, dinner: Wagyu beef" at Arima Onsen "Tosen Goshobou" for ¥59,500✨✨✨ When I entered the entrance, the staff took my luggage and I went to my room. Then, instead of going to the front desk, I went to a room for the welcome service. I was given a Joyou manju and tea. Here, I checked in. It seems that from this welcome service room, you can see beautiful cherry blossoms in spring. And at dinner time, you can enjoy a steak of wagyu beef, a brand of Kobe beef called Tajima Kuro. It's the culture of Japanese "omotenashi"😊 #breathtakingview #gourmettrip #luxuryhotel #hotspring #ryokan

Founded in 1191, Tosen Goshobo is the oldest inn in Arima Onsen. This famous inn, which represents Arima, has been loved by many famous people who have left their mark in history. A famous inn that embodies the praise of shadows and the beauty of Japan The inn was founded the year before the Kamakura Shogunate was established. I was surprised and impressed that it was still here in 1191 and 831✨It was located next to the current "Kin no Yu" and was called "Yuguchiya". The travel diary "Meigetsu-ki" by the poet Fujiwara Teika describes Arima bustling with aristocrats. At the end of the 14th century, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu stayed there. It is said that this led to Yuguchiya being called "Gosho". It is said that the "bo" in the name was added around the time that Rennyo Shonin stayed there in 1483. After 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who visited Arima many times, built the Yuyama Palace, and Goshobo was granted its current location by Hideyoshi and moved there. It's amazing how many names of historical figures appear in the story. #BreathtakingViews #GourmetTrip #LuxuryHotels #HotSprings

At the Tosen Goshobo Hotel in Arima Onsen, Kobe, dinner is more than just a meal, it’s a feast that combines food, art and culture. This hot spring hotel, which has a history of more than 800 years, attracts countless diners with its unique dinner experience. 🕒Dinner time: The dinner time at Taoquan Goshobo is usually fixed, usually from 17:00 to 19:00. It is recommended to confirm the specific time with the hotel in advance to arrange the itinerary. Dinner was held in an elegant restaurant, which was decorated in Japanese style, making people feel as if they were in an ancient Japanese aristocratic mansion. 🍲Dishes features: Dinner was authentic Kaiseki cuisine, with each dish placed on the low table like a work of art. Ingredients are carefully sourced from the local area, such as rice and vegetables grown in the hotel's own farm, fresh fish from Akashiura Fishing Port, and the famous Kobe beef, Tajima beef. Each dish is carefully prepared with great color, aroma and taste, making people feel the taste of happiness while tasting it. 🍷Drink pairing: While enjoying your meal, why not try pairing it with some selected drinks. The hotel offers a wide selection of Japanese sake and wine to complement the Kaiseki cuisine and make dinner even more perfect. 💁Service experience: The service at Tozen Goshobo is first-rate. The waiters are friendly and know the origin and preparation methods of each dish very well, and will patiently introduce them to the guests. During the meal, the waiter will replace the tableware in time to ensure that the guests can enjoy the most comfortable dining experience. #MarchGoodPlaces2025

🌸Located in the center of Arima Onsen, not far from all nearby attractions. 🌸Founded in 1191, this quaint hotel has a strong Japanese style as soon as you enter the door. The building is made of pure wood, which makes people naturally relax and slow down. 🌸The bed in the twin room is very large, very comfortable for one person to sleep on, and the bed is moderately soft and hard. The twin room has an entrance hall with a table and chairs where you can eat, drink and then go inside to find the tatami mat with two extra large single beds and a sofa on the side; it is very relaxing overall. ♨️The characteristic of the Gosho room is the open-air bath, which is half open-air and half mixed, and the water flows directly from the Golden Spring. ♨️There is a wash area and indoor bath in front of the bathhouse, and an open-air bath with golden springs in the back. 🍜In the evening and morning, you can enjoy Japanese kaiseki cuisine, which is mainly based on mountain home cooking and seasonal ingredients. #OsakaHotel #ArimaOnsen #OsakaTravel #KobeBeef #Osaka Hotel

Arima Onsen, one of the three major hot springs in Japan, is close to Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara. No matter which city in the Kansai region you are in, it takes less than an hour and a half to get to Arima Onsen by car, making it very convenient. If you're traveling to Kansai, why not take a dip in the hot springs at Arima Onsen, surrounded by mountains? The 'Gosho Bessho' is the oldest hot spring inn in Arima Onsen, founded in 1191, as old as Arima Onsen itself. The main building of Gosho Bessho now is a three-story wooden building full of historical charm. The design was inspired by the essay 'In Praise of Shadows' by Junichiro Tanizaki, a representative figure of Japanese aestheticism. It uses the contrast of light and shadow to show the classical beauty of Japan. The inn is filled with a rustic artistic atmosphere everywhere. The items placed seemingly casually at the corners of the stairs and along the corridors are basically antiques, and the traces of time flow inadvertently in every corner. The hot spring water of Arima Onsen has a strong sulfuric acid taste, and the color is golden yellow (a bit like the color of soil). This is the so-called 'golden soup'. In addition to the men's and women's baths, the inn also has rooms with private baths, where you can enjoy the 'golden soup' of Arima Onsen, the 'first divine spring in Japan', in your room. The food at this ancient hot spring inn is naturally worth mentioning. Even guests who are not staying at the inn come here for its reputation. In addition to Kobe beef, there are fresh seafood from Akashi Port and seasonal vegetables from the surrounding Rokko and Maya Mountains. You can taste all of these here. Despite the variety of dishes, Gosho Bessho modestly calls its cuisine 'rustic mountain cooking'. Arima Onsen is surrounded by mountains on three sides. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and red leaves in autumn. If you come to Kansai in these two most beautiful seasons, why not escape from the crowds during the peak season and take a dip in the 'golden soup' in the mountains?