When it comes to accommodation in Arima Onsen, you’ll find a range of options from dormitory to grandeur and all in between. Back in the 12th century, the town was a religious pilgrimage area with a number of inns, some of which have a legacy that continues to this day. In fact, the ryokan with the longest history, spanning over 800 years, is Tocen Goshoboh. And if you’re partial to a touch of luxury, you can’t skip this.
In business, you don’t get to operate for eight centuries without embracing new ideas and that’s apparent at Tocen Goshoboh. Renovations were carried out in 1991 which added some modernity to the ryokan, while still very much retaining its 1920s charm.
Everything is beautiful and considered and feels fresh and exciting despite its 800-year history. Their mission is for guests to connect with nature and, above all, relax — the perfect plan for any accommodation in Arima Onsen.
The rooms and suites
Tocen Goshoboh has a total of 20 rooms and suites available. For those looking to splash out, the two top of the line suites are 130m2 and include their own private onsen. We stayed in a lower tier room but still enjoyed plenty of space and style with all the mod cons and a gorgeous courtyard view.
The onsen
One of the most unique aspects of Tocen Goshoboh is its onsen. In fact, the “tosen” in its name means “clay spring” which refers to the reddish brown spring water supplied from Kinsen.
In the women’s bath, things really get interesting post-shower. Instead of a large bath beside the showers, you’ll need to head through a doorway and walk through a ‘water corridor’ that gradually gets deeper as you make your way to the largest part of the outdoor bath.
Outside, the wall on the left separates you from the men’s side, but it gradually gets lower and lower as the bath goes on, creating what they call a semi-mixed outdoor bath. If you’re a little shy, stick to the higher part of the wall.
You don’t have to be a staying guest to enjoy the baths, either; you can access them during the day for ¥1650. This includes a face towel, however full sized towels are available to rent for ¥300. There is also an additional ¥75 bathing tax added on. Day use operates from 11:00am – 2:00pm, closed Mondays. You can find out more here.
Dining at Tocen Goshoboh
Food lovers will be pleasantly surprised by the bounty of local and organic produce across the menu from the rice to the fish hand-selected by the chef at the nearby Akashiura Fishing Port.
Aside from being the most important meal of the day, breakfast here is also a spectacle. You are presented with a wooden box, heated by a chimney of hot coals. Inside you’ll find tofu made from Tamba black soy beans, shiitake mushrooms, and grilled nori from the nearby coast of Sumaura. Add to that countless other small dishes to complete the full Japanese breakfast fantasy.
For dinner, Tocen Goshoboh offers seasonal kaiseki cuisine, but staff can also refer you to the restaurants at their sister properties. We ended up heading to their sister property Hotel Hanakoyado to dine at SHUNJU. Here, the multi-course meal is cooked in an open kitchen over sumiyaki (charcoal grill) and in a kamado (traditional stove).
I even tried a delicious signature cocktail featuring sake and Arima Cider. Dinner here was ¥12,100 per head.
Sister properties
Tocen Goshoboh is one of three boutique sister properties in Arima Onsen. Hotel Hanakoyado represents a time in history when Kobe Port opened to the world, giving rise to foreign-friendly hotels. The decor is 1920s hotel with a touch of Japanese ryokan style to a charming effect.
Goshobessho is an upscale villa-type boutique hotel offering ten suite-room cottages, each with their own private onsen nestled in the lush mountainside. One villa even features an incredible “treehouse style” outdoor onsen bath which is reminiscent of a bird’s nest. All of these properties are fabulous options for accommodation in Arima Onsen.
How to get to Tocen Goshoboh
Arima Onsen is easy to access from various nearby cities. There are direct buses from Kobe (25 minutes, ¥600), Osaka (60 minutes, ¥1,400), and Kyoto (70 minutes, ¥1850).
Of course, there are also train routes from the nearest city, Kobe. From Shin-Kobe Station or Sannomiya Stations, you can reach Arima Onsen in around 30-40 minutes at a cost of around ¥690. You will need to take the Hokushin Subway Line to Tanigami Station, then transfer to the Kobe Dentetsu-Arima Line.
Name: Tocen Goshoboh
Address: 858 Arimacho, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401 (link)
Website: https://goshoboh.com/
Post by Japan Journeys.
