12 Best Onsen in and near Kobe | Experience Kobe’s Traditional Onsen

Do you want to visit Kobe?

Kobe is Japan’s 7th largest city and is located about 30 kilometers away from Osaka on the north shore of Osaka Bay. Known across Japan and the world for their famous beef and Japanese sake production, Kobe is one of the busiest port cities in the Kansai region.

Being located near a mountainous area in Japan, Kobe is also famous for its many different onsen sources scattered throughout the region. Here are 12 of the best onsen in Kobe that we recommend if you want to go on a trip to the City.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Day trip onsen

1. Kobe Kua House
2. Ginga no Yu
3. Aguro no Yu
4. Chimujiruban Spa

Ryokan and hotels with onsen

5. Hyoe Koyokaku
6. Kobe Minato Onsen Ren
7. Okuno Hosomichi
8. Hotel Monterey Kobe

Onsen towns near Kobe

9. Arima Onsen
10. Kinosaki Onsen
11. Ako Onsen
12. Yumura Onsen

Conclusion

Google Map of Kobe (Hyogo Prefecture)

Day trip onsen

Day trip onsen are places that you can just visit for taking a bath and relaxing before going home. These places are like spas, where you just enjoy it for a few hours before heading home or going to the next section of your journey.

We recommend visiting a day trip onsen to travelers in Kobe who already have a packed itinerary but don’t want to miss out on this classic piece of Japanese culture. Here are a few day trip onsen that we recommend.

Kobe Kua House (神戸クアハウス)

Kobe Kua House is an onsen bath house located directly in the middle of Kobe. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from Sannomiya Station, one of the largest stations in Hyogo Prefecture, giving it great access to everything across the city. Kua House sports 2 different onsen hot spring sources that fill many different types of baths with various different healing effects. Try out their sodium bicarbonate spring which is said to beautify your skin. The minerals in the water are also said to be effective in preventing illnesses and relieving fatigue. Kua House is also proud of its falling water bath, where guests can get a massage from water that drops from up above.

After getting out of the bath, relax in a sauna or get an akasuri exfoliating massage. If you are interested in staying at a capsule hotel with onsen bathing facilities, you might want to decide to stay overnight at Kua House. They offer two types of capsules, regular and deluxe. If you want to try out this unique Japanese capsule and onsen combination experience, check out Kobe Kua House below.

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Ginga no Yu (神戸天空温泉 銀河の湯)

Ginga no Yu is an onsen that’s sourced from over 1,200 meters underground. Located in northern Kobe at the foot of Mount Taishaku, Ginga no Yu is about a 20-minute drive away from Shin-Kobe Station. Because of its deep onsen source, Ginga no Yu is known among onsen enthusiasts as a “free-flowing onsen source”, basically an onsen source that comes straight from underground. The water at Ginga no Yu is about 37 degrees Celcius, which is just slightly above body temperature, so you can relax without being worried about waters that are too hot or cold.

We recommend checking out the outdoor open-air onsen, where you can relax in an onsen outside with a panoramic view of the city of Kobe. Go after sunset so that you can stay warm in the bath while watching the stars in the mountains. The onsen water is effective in treating arthritis, and joint and nerve pain, so you get to relax on vacation while healing your body. If you enjoy star gazing and onsen baths, check out the glamping domes that are offered for overnight rentals. You can learn more about Ginga no Yu below.

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Aguro no Yu (天然温泉 あぐろの湯)

Aguro no Yu is located about 20 minutes away from Kobe Sannomiya Station, making it a great place to stop and visit for those visiting Kobe for a day trip. If you are staying in hostels throughout the city or an Airbnb with less than the best of amenities, Aguro no Yu will also be a great place to get a good bath and relax. They even have a barber shop for those who want to get a fresh cut after a long soak in the 11 different types of baths that they have for guests.

If you want to get some fresh air while relaxing in an onsen bath, Aguro no Yu has a variety of different outdoor onsen baths with various healing and massaging effects. They have a special ancient Chinese herbal medicine sauna, which is a hot tile sauna filled with various herbs and scents that create relaxing effects for the body. They’re open until midnight, every day, so you could visit late at night on your way back to your accommodations to relax and get clean before checking out for the night. Consider visiting Aguro no Yu on your trip to Kobe.

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Chimujiruban Spa (チムジルバンスパ)

Chimujiruban Spa is a Korean-style spa 15-minutes by car from Sannomiya Station. If you can’t drive and don’t want to ride the public bus, look into their free taxi pick-up service. After arriving, hop in the onsen baths first. There are a variety of onsen baths with different healing effects that use natural onsen water straight from the source. After you finish with your bath, Chimujiruban recommends that you relax in their hot stone rooms, or “Chimujiruban”. These rooms are kept at high heat with hot rocks and places to relax. You will be fully clothed in this room and they are not separated by gender.

For the ultimate Korean relaxation experience, head to the restaurant and order some Korean food. They offer a variety of Korean dishes that are eaten often in combination after the hot stone baths. Make a reservation on the second floor, then get a Korean-style massage to refresh your body and relieve fatigue. For the restaurant, massage parlor, vending machines, and massage chairs throughout the spa, you can pay by scanning your wristband. When you check out, you’ll be charged for all of the services that you used.

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Ryokan and hotels with onsen

Up next are Japanese ryokan and hotels with onsen that we recommend you stay at when you’re in Kobe. These Japanese Inns have tons of traditional Japanese culture, delicious foods local to Kobe, healing onsen waters, and great Japanese hospitality. Check them out if you’re planning a trip to Kobe.

Hyoe Koyokaku (兵衛向陽閣)

Hyoe Koyokaku is a luxury Japanese ryokan with 700 years of history and tradition located in Arima onsen, about 35 minutes from Sannomiya Station. If you’re looking for a traditional Japanese experience while in Kobe, you should consider staying here. They offer 3 large different types of public baths, including the famous Arima “Golden Spring” which is one of Japan’s oldest onsen hot springs. The waters at Hyoe Koyokaku are great at treating stiff shoulders or joints, muscle pain, and fatigue.

If you stay at Hyoe Koyokaku, you’re going to want to book a plan that includes dinner. They offer a Kaiseki-Japanese multi-course menu with seasonal, fresh, and high-quality ingredients. If you have come to Kobe to enjoy Kobe beef, book their Kobe beef package to try the impressive and world-class flavor. If you want to enjoy a special experience with your friends and loved ones, we recommend booking the guest room suite with an open-air onsen bath on the balcony. All of the rooms at Hyoe Koyokaku have tatami mat rooms and futon beds, so you’re sure to get the full traditional Japanese onsen ryokan experience. Check out Hyoe Koyokaku below.

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Kobe Minato Onsen Ren (神戸みなと温泉 蓮)

Kobe Minato Onsen Ren is a luxury onsen ryokan located in the heart of downtown Kobe, right next to the port and various sightseeing attractions. For those looking for a high-class and special overnight onsen experience close to Sannomiya. All of the guest rooms are larger than 60 square meters and are packed full of Japanese culture and tradition. The source of the onsen water at Ren is Kobe Minato Onsen, which is pumped out from 1,150 meters underground. This special onsen source has a beautifying skin effect.

If you want to experience a real Japanese zen garden, Ren keeps an area outside with a garden that preserves old Japan. There are groves of bamboo, raked stones, beautiful trees, and an assortment of traditional Japanese games, like hanafuda. Before bed, head to the 10th-floor rooftop public onsen bath, where you can gaze at the stars. On the second floor, warm up at the bedrock lava bath and hot yoga studio, and then get a Taiwanese-style foot massage. There are many different onsen and relaxation facilities at Ren, so you may not be able to do everything in one night. Book your vacation in Kobe at Kobe Minato Onsen Ren.

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Okuno Hosomichi (天地の宿 奥の細道)

Okuno Hosomichi is a luxury onsen ryokan located in the mountains of Kobe in Arima Onsen, less than a 10-minute walk from the Rokko Arima Ropeway Station. For those who plan to visit Arima Onsen, consider booking a night here. You can enjoy Arima’s Golden onsen waters in private after reserving the private rental onsen. The rental area has 2 onsen baths in it, so if the weather is cold outside you can relax indoors. There is a large glass window pane on the roof, so you can kick back and enjoy the stars at night even from indoors. You won’t have to bring any towels or amenities from your room to the onsen bath, as the baths are constantly stocked with plenty of clean towels for guests.

After your bath, hop in a massage chair with a complimentary ice pop in the post-onsen relaxation area. Head to your room and hop into the private onsen one more time if you booked a room with a private onsen bath attached. If not, you can still relax and enjoy the large number of free amenities that come with your stay. For those looking to enjoy traditional Japanese culture, change into the Japanese Yukata before going to bed at Okuno Hosomichi in Arima Onsen.

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Hotel Monterey Kobe (ホテルモントレ神戸)

Hotel Monterey Kobe is a nice business hotel located within a 5-minute walk from Kobe Sannomiya Station. Because of the great location and great access, we recommend this hotel for those who want to explore all of the amazing things that Kobe has to offer. On the second floor of the hotel is the large public onsen bath. After a long trip, relax in a large public onsen to wash away the fatigue. The men’s onsen area has a dry sauna, and the women’s onsen area has a mist sauna.

For dinner, enjoy the Italian cuisine and atmosphere while watching the chefs at work in the open kitchen restaurant San Michele. They create and serve delicious pasta and pizza right in front of customers’ eyes. For breakfast, head down to the full breakfast buffet. They offer freshly baked bread, Japanese dishes, desserts, and more. Before checking out, you can get a great start to your day of exploring Kobe by taking a soak in the onsen one more time. Take a look at Hotel Monterey Kobe on their website below.

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Onsen towns near Kobe

Lastly, we will be introducing our favorite onsen towns near Kobe. These towns are home to large onsen sources with popular healing effects like skin moisturization. These towns are all close to Kobe and we think that you should check them out.

Arima Onsen (有馬温泉)

Located within Kobe at the top of the Mount Rokko ropeway is Arima Onsen, one of Kansai’s most popular weekend getaways. Arima Onsen is easily accessible from the center of Kobe and can be reached from downtown within 45 minutes. If you travel to Arima Onsen, you can be transported away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Arima Onsen is a historic onsen town that has been known as one of Japan’s three ancient onsen hot springs. Arima Onsen also is known for the many Geisha shows and events that happen throughout the year. Double-check the dates of the events before you book your onsen ryokan.

At Arima Onsen, there are 2 different main types of onsen water from 2 sources. The first is kinsen, or “Golden Onsen”. This is an onsen source that is high in iron and salt minerals. It’s great at relieving lower back pain, muscle and joint pain, and increasing blood circulation. The salt in the Golden Onsen sticks to your skin in a thick film, which is great for moisturizing and healing cuts and bruises. Ginsen, or “Silver Onsen” is the other onsen source in Arima, which is great for reducing hypertension, relaxation, and heart disease. We recommend staying at Arima Onsen to those who want a relaxing and traditional Japanese onsen experience in Kobe.

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Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉)

Kinosaki is a tattoo-friendly onsen town in northern Hyogo Prefecture, about 2 to 3 hours away from downtown Kobe. All 7 of the onsen town’s public onsen facilities can be entered with tattoos. Kinosaki is famous for these 7 different onsen bathhouses, each with a different type of water and a different healing effect. Surrounding each bath house is a classic myth, for example, the Yanagi-yu bath house is said to ensure safe childbirth for women. All of these famous 7 onsen bathhouses are within walking distance from one another, some are even right next door to each other. If you love onsen, you have to visit Kinosaki.

Throughout Japan’s long history, animals have been known to be the ones to discover onsen, and Kinosaki Onsen is no different. It is said that Kinosaki was discovered when an injured white stork was found healing its injured leg in the warm onsen waters of Kono-yu. Before receiving the healing effects of the water, it is best to pay your respects to the local deity at Onsenji Temple. Take the ropeway to the top of the mountain to get an amazing view of the town, river, forest, and ocean on a clear day.

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Ako Onsen (赤穂温泉)

Ako Onsen is an old historic town on the southern coast of Hyogo Prefecture, along the border with Okayama Prefecture. It’s about an hour and 20 minutes away from Shin-Kobe Station by shinkansen and train. If you enjoy Japanese history and architecture, Ako Onsen might be the perfect place to visit while touring Kansai. Visit Ako castle and check out the old ruins and zig-zagging walls of a real Japanese castle, or dine on fresh seafood in this seaside town.

Being an onsen by the sea, the views from the onsen baths are amazing. From the right baths on clear days, you can even see Shikoku, one of Japan’s large islands, along with various other islands dotted around the sea. For this reason, we recommend booking a hotel near the shores with a private open-air onsen bath attached to your room, or a private renal open-air onsen bath. This way, you’ll also be able to watch the sunset over the sea while soaking in a private onsen bath. The waters are said to have beautifying and moisturizing effects, along with relieving fatigue and muscle pains. If this sounds interesting to you, check out Ako Onsen below.

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Yumura Onsen (湯村温泉)

Yumura Onsen is a small onsen town in the mountains of northwestern Hyogo Prefecture and is about 2 and a half hours away from Kobe by car. The hot onsen water has been playing an important role in the lives of villagers here for centuries, although it’s not used as often anymore for daily cooking. Visit Tajima pasture park and see cows that are commonly turned into Kobe beef, or visit during the Yumura Onsen festival, where people line the streets and play tug-of-war. In August, there is the Yumura Fire festival, where giant rings of fire are carried in the night along the river. Yumura Onsen has many interesting activities that you can’t find anywhere else in Japan.

The source of Yumura Onsen is called Arayu, and it comes out of the ground at 98 degrees Celcius, the hottest in all of Japan. The water at Yumura Onsen is colorless, transparent, and gentle on the skin. Your skin will feel moisturized and fresh after getting out of the bath. Because the onsen water comes out of the ground hot, there are several foot baths along the Haruki River that visitors and locals enjoy year-round. There are several mixed-gender and outdoor baths that are allowed to be entered with bathing suits, making it perfect for families and couples who want to enjoy the healing effects together.

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Conclusion

Are you ready for your onsen trip to Kobe?

If you aren’t familiar with the rules of public onsen baths or just need a quick refresher, check out our article that explains onsen etiquette in detail. Learn what to do and what not to do to enjoy Japanese onsen in traditional fashion.

• Onsen Etiquette

Some of the smaller onsen towns that we included on this list may be far away from a big city and thus may have slow data and internet speeds. If you decide to stay at a very traditional Japanese ryokan, they may not even offer Wi-Fi or internet services. To stay connected on your trip, check out Pocket Wi-Fi and data solutions from Sakura Mobile.

Reserve ahead of time to secure your Wi-Fi device or SIM card, and pick it up at any international airport in Japan. For those currently in Japan, there is also urgent next-day shipping to hotels and ryokan in the Tokyo area. Check it out below.

• Sakura Mobile

Have you booked your SIM card or pocket WiFi for your trip to Japan yet?

In Japan, you’ll want to be connected without missing out on high-speed data and internet!

By reserving online before departing, you can

• Lower your rental fees
• Avoid stock shortages at the airport

To learn more about data and WiFi options for your trip, check out our products below.

CUSTOMER’S VOICE

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