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forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 4.4 out of 5 (2,757 reviews). Several guests report that being able to check how crowded the communal bath is on their smartphone let them enjoy the onsen almost to themselves. Satisfaction with the food is high as well, including the portions and flavor of dishes such as the shabu-shabu at dinner, and guests also praise the quality of the Kinsen and Ginsen spring water. On the other hand, some point out that the facilities are dated and that the road to the parking, and the parking itself, are narrow.
Categories
Kids Facilities
Children's items available to borrow (Bumbo chair, diaper bucket, baby bath and more)
Children's items available to borrow (Bumbo chair, diaper bucket, baby bath and more)
A Bumbo chair, children's chair, diaper bucket, bath chair, children's slippers, children's tableware, baby soap and baby bath are available to borrow. Quantities are limited, so they may not always be available.
- •Quantities are limited, so items may not always be available to borrow
Kids' meals and children's set meals
Kids' meals and children's set meals
Children who have not yet started elementary school are served a kids' meal at dinner and a children's plate at breakfast. Elementary school children are generally served the same dishes as adults, but if that is more than they can finish, the meal can be changed to a children's set meal or a children's plate.
- •Changes to the meal must be requested by 3 days before the stay
- •No baby food is prepared
Diaper-changing space
Diaper-changing space
A diaper-changing space is provided inside the building. However, there are no rooms that can be entered while remaining in a wheelchair and no barrier-free rooms, and there are steps at the entrance and around the baths, so take care when moving around with a stroller.
Overview
Arima Gyoen is a hot-spring ryokan in the heart of Arima Onsen, about a 3-minute walk from Arima Onsen Station. Guests can enjoy two kinds of onsen here: the reddish-brown Kinsen (gold spring) and Ginsen (silver spring), a radon spring. The ryokan takes pride in its kaiseki cuisine built around Kobe beef and other Japanese black wagyu. Children are welcome, with a kids' meal for those who have not yet started elementary school and the same dishes as adults for elementary school children. Baby items such as a Bumbo chair and a diaper bucket are available to borrow, but some rooms cannot be used by children of elementary school age and under, so it is worth checking the room type when booking.
Rooms
Arima Gyoen is made up of three buildings: the Main Building along the Arima River, the Annex looking out over the hot-spring town, and Fuyo Sanso, a wing of special rooms. Each offers rooms with a different character. The Fuyo Sanso special rooms with a Ginsen open-air bath (12.5 + 7 tatami mats, 12.5 + 4.5 tatami mats, or 12.5 tatami mats) are spacious layouts with an adjoining anteroom, described as roomy enough for a family to relax in together. The 3rd-floor Deluxe Japanese-style tatami room in the Main Building (12 tatami mats, 60 sq m, for 2 to 6 guests) sits in the same building as the entrance and the communal bath, and is recommended for families with children. On the mountain side of the Annex, a connecting suite of 12 tatami mats plus 6 tatami mats (54 sq m) sleeps up to 8 and is recommended for three-generation trips. On the other hand, the Fuyo Sanso Deluxe Room and the non-smoking Japanese-Western room in the Main Building (room 601) cannot be used by children of elementary school age or younger, and the Japanese-modern twin room on the top floor of the Annex cannot be used by children younger than elementary school age. Children's yukata are available from size 70 cm.
Dining
Arima Gyoen was the first ryokan in Arima Onsen to be certified as a Kobe Beef Designated Registered Restaurant, and it takes pride in its kaiseki cuisine using Kobe beef and Japanese black wagyu. Many plans let you enjoy dinner in your room, which guests appreciate for the unhurried, private feel. Elementary school children are generally served the same dishes as adults, but if that is more than they can finish, dinner can be changed to a children's set meal and breakfast to a children's plate at no change in price, with notice at least 3 days in advance. Children who have not yet started elementary school are served a kids' meal at dinner and a children's plate at breakfast. No baby food is prepared, but staff can help warm baby food you bring, prepare rice porridge, or send up light meals by room service, such as udon from the in-house cafe Aurora. For food allergies, the ryokan will make efforts to remove allergens as far as possible, limited to the 8 specified allergenic ingredients designated by the Consumer Affairs Agency, and this requires a phone call by 3 days before the stay.
Baths and Onsen
Even within Arima Onsen, this ryokan lets guests enjoy both types of spring water: Kinsen, an iron-bearing sodium chloride strong salt spring, and Ginsen, a weakly radioactive radon spring. The communal baths are on the 7th floor of the Main Building, one each for men and women with no swap between them, and a baby bath is available to borrow, which is handy when bathing with a baby. Children 105 cm or taller, or aged 6 and over, are asked to refrain from using the communal bath of the opposite gender. There is no private-hire bath, and cameras, mobile phones and smartphones may not be taken into the communal baths. Some of the Fuyo Sanso special rooms have a Ginsen open-air bath, so families can also enjoy the onsen on their own.
Family-Friendly Features
Children are welcome to stay. Items available to borrow include a Bumbo chair, a children's chair, a diaper bucket, a bath chair, children's slippers, children's tableware and baby soap; quantities are limited, so they may not always be available. Some plans allow co-sleeping for up to one child. Child rates apply to elementary school age and under: as a guide, 70% of the adult rate when the child has the same meals and bedding as an adult, 50% with children's meals and bedding, and 30% with bedding only. Among preschool-age children booked with no meals and no futon, those aged 0 stay free of charge and can be booked without being counted in the number of guests. If you would like to add meals only, a kids' meal at dinner is 3,300 yen and breakfast is 2,750 yen. A diaper-changing space is provided, but there are no rooms that can be entered while remaining in a wheelchair and no barrier-free rooms. There are also steps around the building: 2 at the entrance, 3 in the corridor in front of the communal bath, roughly 7 or 8 between the changing room and the bathing area, and about 3 in front of the Fuyo Sanso building, so take care when moving around with a stroller.
Access
The ryokan stands in the heart of Arima Onsen, about a 3-minute walk from Arima Onsen Station, the nearest station. There is parking for 50 cars, free for staying guests. No regular shuttle bus runs, but both the station and the highway bus stop are only a few minutes away on foot. A Seven-Eleven is less than a minute away and a Lawson about 2 minutes away, which makes picking up supplies easy. Some plans extend checkout from the usual 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 1296 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | A 2-minute walk from Arima Onsen Station on the Kobe Electric Railway line, and a 2-minute walk from the Arima stop on the Hankyu Bus. About 3 minutes by car from the Arimaguchi IC on the Hanshin Expressway, and 10 minutes by car from the Nishinomiya-kita IC on the Chugoku Expressway. |
| trainNearest station | Arima Onsen Station |
| local_parkingParking | Parking is available for 50 cars, free for staying guests up to the number of rooms booked. |
| callPhone | +81-78-904-3737 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, DC, NICOS, OMC, UFJ Card, Mastercard, Saison, AEON, JACCS, APLUS, ORICO, JTB, Daimaru, Takashimaya, Rakuten Card, ANA, JAL |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.arima-gyoen.co.jp/open_in_new |
Reference price as of August 28, 2026 (stay date 2026-09-19). Please check the booking site for actual rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we bring our own baby food, and will you warm it for us?
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The ryokan does not provide baby food, but staff can help warm baby food you bring and can prepare rice porridge, and light meals from the in-house cafe are available by room service.
What is served in the children's meals?
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Children under school age are served a kids' meal that includes grilled fish, teriyaki chicken, a croquette, fried shrimp, salad and chawanmushi (savory steamed egg custard). Elementary school children are served the same dishes as adults.
If the adult portions are more than our child can finish, can the meals be changed?
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Dinner can be changed to a children's set meal and breakfast to a children's plate. Please let the ryokan know by 3 days before your stay; there is no change in price.
Can children who are not yet out of diapers use the communal bath?
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To avoid problems between guests, children 105 cm or taller or aged 6 and over are asked to refrain from using the communal bath of the opposite gender. Nothing is stated about children below those thresholds, so please confirm with the ryokan.
What time is check-in?
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Check-in is from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and checkout is at 10 a.m. Times may differ depending on the plan.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com (a Japanese booking site) (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change — please check each booking site for the latest information.
We take care to keep information accurate, but always confirm the latest details on the hotel's official site and booking sites before you book or visit.