Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsu Sanso
Reference price as of October 9, 2026 (stay 2026-10-31). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
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forumWhat families say
Guests praise the setting surrounded by nature and Arima's renowned hot spring, and value the open-air baths fed straight from the source along with the chance to bathe at the sister ryokan as well. Some guests also report that there are many stairs and steps inside, so getting around takes some stamina.
Kids Facilities
Open-air and communal baths (a bath tour with the sister ryokan)
Open-air and communal baths (a bath tour with the sister ryokan)
Arima's renowned hot spring, a sodium-chloride spring at 100% purity, can be enjoyed at the open-air baths along the Takigawa River, Tamahoko-no-Yu and Afuku-no-Yu, fed straight from the source, and at the communal baths Kame-no-Yu and Tsuru-no-Yu. Cross the Gekko Bridge and you can also use the communal baths at the sister ryokan Korokan, which have indoor baths, open-air baths and saunas.
- •Children under 7 may use either the men's or women's public bath.
- •The women's communal bath Kame-no-Yu at Yugetsu Sanso and the women's communal bath Ginpa-no-Yu at Korokan have baby beds.
- •Bathing hours are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to midnight at Yugetsu Sanso, and 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to midnight at Korokan.
Private-hire baths (sister ryokan Korokan)
Private-hire baths (sister ryokan Korokan)
The sister ryokan Korokan has 3 private-hire baths: a hinoki-wood bath, a wine bath and a cave bath. Guests staying at Yugetsu Sanso can also reserve them and use them just with their family. The hinoki bath is barrier-free.
- •The private-hire baths are reservation-only, at 4,400 yen including tax for a 40-minute session.
Meals for children
Meals for children
Meals center on a creative Japanese buffet, and while there is no dedicated children's menu, there is a wide variety of dishes to choose from. On the kaiseki plan with in-room dining, children are served a boxed tiered set in the style of a kids' meal, with Hamburg steak, crab cream croquettes, fried shrimp and Kobe beef kuwayaki (grilled beef). Children on a buffet plan have the buffet only.
- •Baby food can be warmed on request; just ask a staff member.
- •Individual ingredient changes cannot be made to the buffet dishes, but for the half-buffet main dishes the ryokan will accommodate allergies as far as possible if you consult in advance. Note that dishes are prepared in the same kitchen, so allergens are not completely removed.
Baby and kids' items available to borrow
Baby and kids' items available to borrow
Humidifiers and air purifiers are available to borrow for use in guest rooms, handy for families with children during dry seasons.
- checkHumidifier (available to borrow)
- checkAir purifier (available to borrow)
- •Numbers are limited, so please let the ryokan know in advance if you would like one.
Categories
Overview
Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsu Sanso is a purely Japanese-style ryokan built in the sukiya style at the foot of Mt. Ochiba in the Rokko mountain range, in Arima Onsen. Part of the Gekkoen group, it is linked to its sister ryokan Korokan, right next door, by the Gekko Bridge, so guests can cross between the two and bathe at both. The spring water is a sodium-chloride spring at 100% purity, one of Arima's renowned hot springs, and families can take their time together at the open-air baths along the Takigawa River and at the sister ryokan's 3 private-hire baths. With guest rooms centered on Japanese-style tatami rooms, in-room dining plans and a boxed tiered set in the style of a kids' meal for children, it suits an onsen trip with children.
A purely Japanese-style ryokan built in the sukiya style at the foot of Mt. Ochiba in the Rokko mountain range at Arima Onsen, in Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo. Part of the Gekkoen group, its appeal lies in a setting embraced by nature along the Takigawa River, which flows right in front of it. The Gekko Bridge connects it to its sister ryokan, Gekkoen Korokan, next door, and staying guests can cross between the two to enjoy the onsen at both.
Onsen
The spring water is a sodium-chloride spring at 100% purity, a rich salt spring of the kinsen (Arima's golden spring) type, drawn from one of the few privately owned spring sources in Arima. Along the Takigawa River are the open-air baths Tamahoko-no-Yu and Afuku-no-Yu, fed straight from the source, and there are also the communal baths Kame-no-Yu and Tsuru-no-Yu. The sister ryokan Korokan has spacious communal baths of its own, Kinpa-no-Yu and Ginpa-no-Yu, with indoor baths, open-air baths and saunas. Bathing hours are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to midnight at Yugetsu Sanso, and 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to midnight at Korokan.
Private-hire baths
The sister ryokan Korokan has 3 private-hire baths: a hinoki-wood bath, a wine bath and a cave bath. Guests staying at Yugetsu Sanso can reserve and use them as well; reservations are required, and a 40-minute session costs 4,400 yen including tax. The hinoki bath is barrier-free. These baths are handy when you want to bathe as a family without worrying about other guests.
Rooms
The rooms are mainly Japanese-style tatami rooms of 8, 10 or 12 tatami mats, each with an entrance area and a broad window-side space, in a purely Japanese-style building from the early Showa period. There is also the VIP suite Kyokusuitei, which has its own open-air bath. Humidifiers and air purifiers are available to borrow for guest rooms.
Dining
Dinner is normally a creative Japanese buffet at the buffet restaurant Tsuki no Kura. The half-buffet style pairs two carefully chosen main dishes, a beef dish and seasonal sashimi, with the buffet, and about 50 kinds of dishes are laid out, changing monthly: obanzai (home-style side dishes) made with local Hyogo vegetables, seasonal seafood, meat dishes and more. The live kitchen serves tempura and sushi freshly made. Colorful sweets and dishes that children enjoy are on offer too, so families can eat together at ease. Guests staying in the special room with an open-air bath, Kyokusuitei, are served a full kaiseki meal in their room, prepared with Kobe beef and seafood from the Seto Inland Sea.
Family-friendly features
For mixed bathing, children under 7 may use either the men's or women's public bath, and the women's communal bath Kame-no-Yu at Yugetsu Sanso and the women's communal bath Ginpa-no-Yu at Korokan have baby beds. For children, the ryokan prepares a boxed tiered set in the style of a kids' meal, with Hamburg steak, crab cream croquettes, fried shrimp, Kobe beef kuwayaki (grilled beef) and more. Staff can also warm baby food. In-room dining is limited to guests staying in the 2 special rooms with an open-air bath, Kyokusuitei; everyone else dines at the buffet restaurant Tsuki no Kura. Checkout is normally at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. at Yugetsutei, and 12 p.m. for the Kyokusuitei rooms with an open-air bath.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 318 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | About 10 minutes from the Nishinomiya-Kita Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway, heading toward Arima Onsen. About a 10-minute walk from Arima Onsen Station on the Kobe Electric Railway; a free shuttle runs daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you need to call 078-904-1737 once you reach the station or bus stop. |
| trainNearest station | Arima Onsen Station |
| local_parkingParking | Parking for about 40 cars, free of charge and with no reservation needed; as a rule, one car per room. Rakuten Travel and Ikyu.com list 50 spaces. |
| callPhone | +81-78-904-0366 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, DC, NICOS, OMC, Bank Card, Mastercard, Saison, AEON, ORICO, JTB, Takashimaya, ANA, JAL |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.gekkoen.co.jp/open_in_new |
Map
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Reference price as of October 9, 2026 (stay 2026-10-31). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
Check rates & availability
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Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsu Sanso best suited to?
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It has facilities that work especially well for babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 2) and children aged 3 and over. There is no age limit, and families with children of any age can stay.
Is there parking at Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsu Sanso?
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Parking: Parking for about 40 cars, free of charge and with no reservation needed; as a rule, one car per room. Rakuten Travel and Ikyu.com list 50 spaces.
How do you get to Arima Onsen Gekkoen Yugetsu Sanso?
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About 10 minutes from the Nishinomiya-Kita Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway, heading toward Arima Onsen. About a 10-minute walk from Arima Onsen Station on the Kobe Electric Railway; a free shuttle runs daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you need to call 078-904-1737 once you reach the station or bus stop.
Can we bring baby food, and will you warm it?
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Baby food can be warmed. Just ask any staff member nearby when you would like it done.
Is there a meal menu for children?
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Meals are mainly buffet-style, and there is no dedicated children's menu, but the wide range of dishes gives children plenty to enjoy.
Can we use a private-hire bath just as a family?
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Yes. There are private-hire baths where families can bathe at their own pace. The barrier-free hinoki bath is reserved on a first-come basis, at 2,200 yen for a 40-minute session.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com (a Japanese booking site), Jalan (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change. Please check each booking site for the latest information.
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