The most popular of Kinosaki's seven public baths. In a building modeled on the Kyoto Imperial Palace, a waterfall rotenburo faces the hillside and a glass-roofed 'sky bath' sits indoors, all renovated in 2020. Overnight guests get free entry with the 'Yumepa' pass, so evenings are busy with yukata-clad bathers — go at 7 am when it opens.
The public bathhouse of Arima, one of Japan's three oldest hot springs. For ¥800 you can soak in the 'kinsen' — iron- and salt-rich water that turns rusty brown on contact with air, in pools at 42°C and 44°C. Under an hour by train from Kobe or Osaka, so an easy day trip. Free foot bath and drinking fountain outside. No tattoos.
Kinosaki's flagship outer bath, praised as 'the best under heaven' by an Edo-period physician. Its cave bath carved into rock is the draw; the kabuki-theatre-style building is the town's landmark.
Sister facility to Kin-no-Yu. Clear carbonated and radon water that leaves skin silky, plus a steam sauna. Usually less crowded than Kin-no-Yu. ¥700 on weekends/holidays, ¥550 on regular weekdays.
Closest of Kinosaki's seven public baths to the station. A striking hexagonal lantern-motif window; indoor bath only, simple and quick.
The smallest and hottest of the seven baths — a little wooden bathhouse on the willow-lined canal, where you soak shoulder to shoulder with locals. Opens at 3 pm.
The bath tied to Kinosaki's founding legend. Popular for its cypress open-air tub and barrel baths facing the wooded hillside; at the quiet end of town. Opens at 3 pm.
Arima's biggest day-spa complex: gold spring, silver spring and (artificial) carbonated baths — 26 baths plus stone saunas, with loungewear and towels included. Free shuttle from Arima-Onsen Station.
About 8 minutes from Arima-Onsen Station, a hotel day-bath offering both the iron 'gold' and clear 'silver' springs. ¥1,360 includes free towels and drinks, so arrive empty-handed. Open 9 am–9 pm (cleaning 11–1), longer than the public baths.
The town-run communal bath at the heart of Yumura Onsen in northern Hyōgo, where the 98 °C 'Arayu' source boils eggs and vegetables for visitors on the banks of the Haruki River. Bicarbonate water flows freely through separate men's and women's main baths, with an open-air tub, sauna, an assisted bath and an upstairs rest room. ¥500 for non-residents; open 9:00–21:00, closed on the 15th of each month. No towels or soap are provided — bring your own or buy at reception. Parking is free for two hours for bathers. About an hour by car from Kinosaki; pairs well with the San'in Kaigan Geopark or Hamasaka's snow crab season (Nov–Mar).
The oldest of the seven sotoyu public baths of Kinosaki Onsen, said to be the spa's earliest spring. Its name comes from the legend that 1,400 years ago a wounded stork healed its leg here, and it has a garden rotenburo. Adults ¥800, children ¥400, 7:00–23:00 (last entry 22:40), closed Tuesdays (open on holidays). 20 minutes on foot from JR Kinosaki-Onsen Station, at the far end of the spa street in front of the ropeway, with the first hour of parking free. Note: closed for renovation from 11 May to 30 October 2026, due to reopen 31 October.
A hot-spring park in Yumura Onsen, Shin'onsen-cho, Hyogo, using the area's abundant spring water. It features five swimsuit-on mixed open-air baths including a 3-meter waterfall bath, eight indoor health baths, and an indoor heated pool.
A historic ryokan in Kita Ward, Kobe - said to be the oldest inn in Arima Onsen, founded in the Kamakura period. Beloved by literary figures including Junichiro Tanizaki, the interior retains a retro Showa-era atmosphere. The bath uses a distinctive semi-mixed style: changing rooms are separate, but the tubs connect, letting couples talk without seeing one another (the turbid gold water hides the body). The water is Arima's famous iron-rich, reddish-brown kinsen spring, enjoyed 100% free-flowing with no heating or added water. Day bathing runs 11:00-14:00 at 2,250 yen (face towel included; bath towel rental 300 yen), closed Mondays and on facility closure days. About 4-5 minutes on foot from Arima Onsen Station on the Kobe Electric Railway. Pair it with the Kin-no-Yu and Gin-no-Yu public baths to touch 1,300 years of Arima history.