Taikou-no-Yu Hot Spring — Local services in Kobe

If you're here for a day, this onsen is great. The onsen itself (which has a downstairs indoor area and upstairs outdoor area both with multiple pools) is just one part of the exoerience. They also have relaxation lounges, special saunas and massages etc.

You pay to get into the complex, which gives you access to the onsen (split to male and female) and the relaxation area/lounge. The shops and restaurants as well as other specialty activities cost extra.

For those non-japanese who get a bit anxious because of the cultural etiquette heres the guide I wish I had before you go in, this onsen can be a little more complex than others. To give context, there are 3 lots of lockers to navigate;

1. shoe locker
2. changeroom locker to change into yukata to walk around the main building
3. onsen locker where you strip down to nothing before going into the onsen.

How to navigate: [Pre-onsen (from entry to building)] The entrance to the building itself is around the side/back of the connecting hotel if you are walking up from the train station. Upon entering, you will need to take off your shoes to step up into the reception area. Once you take your shoes off, go to the shoe lockers, pick an empty locker and take the key. No shoes in the building, you are barefoot while wandering around the complex. Then proceed to the reception counter and pay the base fee (from memory, a few thousand yen each). They then take your shoe locker key, and give you a yukata change room locker number and key. The key is used to pay for extra stuff within the complex, pay at end. They also give you a small bag and towels (1 big, 1 little) and direct you to the area to select yukata to wear around the onsen (traditional top and bottom, more lightweight than a kimono). Keep japanese sizing in mind, I needed the ones marked as extra large. You wear this yukata around the complex, while barefoot (or in socks, some people did this). Once you pick your yukata, proceed to your change room. Change into yukata. Generally keep underwear on at this stage. Transfer spare underwear, water bottles, phone to the towel bag as needed. You pass through another changeroom prior to the actual onsen.

[Onsen] downstairs are the onsen. They are male / female separated..if you are new to the experience, remember you go in totally nude & make sure you wash your body at the showers upon entering the onsen area. Obviously, no phones in the onsen area itself and just don't be excessively noisy or obnoxious. go into the onsen change room and pick a locker (non allocated, just like the shoe lockers). Put all belongings including yukata in here. Remember; fully naked. Lock, take this locker key with you too. Only thing you should take with you is the small towel - this doesn't go into the onsen water at all. Its for modesty mostly. shower at the dedicated washing stations before going in, you can't miss em. Soap and shampoo provided. The idea is that you should be fully clean before going into tje shared bath water so clean up well and make sure you rinse everything. enjoy the onsens! There are 2 floors and the upper floor is outdoors so its quite nice. when you are done, dry off any excessive water with small towel. Change to big towel when you get back to your locker. Put on fresh underwear (if you brought) and change back into yukata.

[Other] Highly recommend checking out the lounge section when you are done...

Ooh, the trek up the STEEP slope needed to get to this place is NOT for the faint-hearted.

Thank goodness there's no ice (melted & hardened snow) on the road. Otherwise, you could find yourself rolling down all the way when you return to the bus stop.

Jokes aside, yes. I love the natural hot spring here because this is the ONLY place in Arima that you can get to enjoy a variety of hot springs to soak in.

Most people will enjoy the outdoors hot springs more but you can't just go up there without soaking in the warm pools below first because you will find yourself freezing cold as you climb up the stairs to go to the third level.

So do yourself a favor, be patient and soak in the 3 pools below first.

And oh, did I tell you that there's a sauna below that is as hot as an oven?!

The moment the door was opened, I chickened out as it was very dark inside.

I did not want to be roasted alive. I only made a courageous attempt to go in on my second visit here.

If you are short on time, you can totally skip this oven and go straight up to the open air hot springs.

And when you are here, you must definitely try their fried chicken set meal because the chicken was very fresh and juicy, and well-marinated.

And here is an insider tip. If you happen to understand Japanese, please go to their Japanese website and buy their combi coupon because it is much cheaper than buying the English one.

On my first visit, I did not know that. On my last visit, I happened to find out and so I went to buy the combi ticket that entitled me to a delicious set meal, an ice cream and 10 mins Dr Fish therapy, on top of the entrance fee. I just paid a little more than what a ticket on their English website would cost, so it's definitely worth it.

I came here three times during my holiday last year, and I can't wait to go...

I visited this sento last Thursday 15:30-20h. I can highly recommend it, the 2 public onsens of Arima are very small and not so interesting, instead better come here; I had a wonderful time. It was very helpful for me reading before other reviews here so I knew about the 2 lockers + shoe locker. If I hadn't read the reviews, I wouldn't hsvr known exactly what to put in which locker so this was very helpful.

At first, there werw still quite a few women in the onsens, but at about 17:30 most werw gone and I had most of the outside pools even for myself. Btw during my whole stay I have seen only ONE other Western woman in the onsen apart from me, so this made me feel comfortable. I especially enjoyed the outside pool in the back which was the only one being not too hot so I could stay there easily about 25mins. They also have a place in the outdoor area where you put your feet in warm water and lay down, I have never seen that before. Sauna, steam bath and the cold bath werw great, too! And the chairs for relaxing outdoors also nice. I just wish the outdoor area was completely roofless and without these wooden structures. Overall, I liked very much the variety, which maked it not boring at all. I had a great time there, especially when it was darl, the atmosphere was amazing.

I recommend buying it online via some travel agencies/tour operator websites as it was much cheaper and only cost me 1700yen. Great place, highly...