How to Get to Arima Onsen from Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe

Planning a trip to Japan’s oldest hot spring town? Knowing how to get to Arima Onsen is the first step toward a relaxing getaway. Nestled in the mountains behind Kobe, this historic retreat is surprisingly accessible from major hubs like Osaka and Kyoto. Whether you prefer the speed of a direct bus, the scenic views of the Shinkansen, or the local charm of the Kobe Electric Railway, we have broken down the best transport options to help you reach the “Silver” and “Gold” waters of Arima Onsen with ease.

Tip: Many shops in Arima Onsen are closed on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, so if you can, come on other weekdays, as weekends will most likely be packed.

How to Get to Arima Onsen

Below is the approximate time required to reach Arima Onsen by public transport from major cities in western Japan.

• 30 minutes from Sannomiya in Kobe
• 60 minutes from Osaka
• 90 minutes from Kyoto
• 90 minutes from Himeji

Getting to Arima Onsen by Train

• From JR Osaka Station (大阪駅), Shin-Osaka Station (新大阪駅), and Shin-Kobe Station (新神戸駅), take the Kobe Line (神戸線) to get to JR Sannomiya Station.
• From Hankyū (阪急) or Hanshin (阪神) Osaka Umeda Station (大阪梅田駅), firstly get to Shinkaichi Station (新開地). Note you might need to change trains at Kobe Sannomiya Station (神戸三ノ宮駅).
  • From Shinkaichi Station, take Kōbe Rapid Transit Railway (神戸高速鉄道) to get to Tanigami Station (谷上駅).
  • Note from Umeda Station, it takes 20 minutes more than from JR Osaka Station.
  • There are also direct trains to Arima Onsen Station from Shinkaichi Station, but the service is limited.
• From Kyoto’s JR Fukuchiyama Station (福知山駅), first get to JR Sanda Station (三田駅).
  • Then change again for Kobe Electric Railway’s (神戸電鉄) Sanda Line (三田線) and get off at Arigaguchi Station (有馬口駅), where Arima Onsen Station is just one stop away by taking the Arima Line.
• From JR Himeji Station (姫路駅), there are direct trains that will stop at JR Sannomiya Station.
• You can also take Sanyo Electric Railway’s (山陽電気鉄道) express to Shinkaichi, but service is limited.

Tip: Download one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit!

Going to Arima Onsen by Bus

• From JR Nanba Station’s Minato-machi Bus Terminal (JRなんば 湊町バスターミナル), Osaka Station JR Express Bus Terminal (大阪駅ＪＲ高速バスターミナル), JR Shin-Osaka Station (新大阪駅), JR Shin-Kobe Station (新神戸駅), and Sannomiya Bus Terminal (三宮バスターミナル), you can take Arima Express (有馬エクスプレス) to Arima Onsen.
  • At the time this article was updated, services departing from Osaka have been suspended.
  • Refer to HERE for Arima Express’ timetable.
  • You can make a reservation through Japan Express Bus Net.
  • The cost ranges from 780 yen to 1,400 yen for a one-way trip, depending on which stop you board the bus. Children’s bus fare is half the price of an adult’s.
• From Kyoto, there are also direct buses operated by Hankyū Bus (阪急バス) and Kyōhan Bus (京阪バス) departing from JR Kyoto Station (京都駅).
  • Check the services timetable in advance and reserve your seats HERE.
• From Himeji, there are direct bus services from JR Himeji Station and Himeji Castle to Arima Onsen run by Shinki Bus (神姫バス).
  • A one-way trip costs 1,500 yen. Children’s bus fare is half the price of an adult’s.
  • You can pay with Japan’s transportation IC card, such as ICOCA. But note you can’t recharge the IC card on the bus.
• There are also bus services run by Hankyū Bus departing from/for Osaka International Airport (大阪国際空港), Senri New Town (千里ニュータウン), Shin-Osaka (新大阪), and Osaka Hankyū Sanbangai (阪急三番街).
  • Please refer to the service’s timetable HERE.

Arima Onsen’s Transportation Ticket Deals

Arima Onsen’s Transportation Ticket Deals Issued by Hankyū (阪急)

• Arima, Rokkō 1-day or 2-day Pass (有馬・六甲周遊２dayパス): 3,600 yen
  • Gives you unlimited rides to the following train lines and bus routes during the validity period.
    • Hankyū’s train lines (excluding Kobe High-Speed Line (神戸高速線),
    • Kobe Municipal Subway (神戸市営地下鉄) between Tanigami Station (谷上駅) and Sannomiya Station (三ノ宮)
    • Kobe Electric Railway (神戸電鉄) between Tanigami Station (谷上駅) and Arima Onsen Station (有馬温泉駅)
    • Kobe City Bus Route 16 (神戸市バス16 系統)
    • Rokkō Cable Line (六甲ケーブル)
    • Rokkō Arima Ropeway (六甲有馬ロープウェー)
    • Rokko Sanjo Bus Route 1 (六甲山上バス1系統)
  • The ticket can be purchased from major Hankyū stations.
• Arima Onsen Taiko-no-Yu Package Ticket, Hankyū Version (有馬温泉 太閤の湯クーポン)

Arima Onsen’s Transportation Ticket Deals Issued by Hanshin (阪神)

• Arima Onsen Taiko-no-Yu Package Ticket, Hanshin Version (有馬温泉 太閤の湯クーポン)
• Arima, Rokkō 1-day Pass (有馬・六甲周遊1dayパス【阪神版】): 3,000 yen
  • Gives you unlimited rides to the following train lines and bus routes during the validity period.
    • Hanshin’s train lines (excluding Kobe High-Speed Line (神戸高速線)
    • Hankyū Rokko – Kobe Sannomiya Line
    • Kobe Municipal Subway (神戸市営地下鉄) between Tanigami Station (谷上駅) and Sannomiya Station (三ノ宮)
    • Kobe Electric Railway (神戸電鉄) between Tanigami Station (谷上駅) and Arima Onsen Station (有馬温泉駅)
    • Kobe City Bus Route 16 (神戸市バス16 系統)
    • Rokkō Cable Line (六甲ケーブル)
    • Rokkō Arima Ropeway (六甲有馬ロープウェー)
    • Rokko Sanjo Bus Route 1 (六甲山上バス1系統)
  • It also includes admission to either Kin no Yu or Gin no Yu.
• Other discounted tickets might also suit your itinerary. Please refer to Hanshin’s website HERE and click the “Discount Plus Tickets” on the menu bar. You will also find more details about the Arima, Arima, Rokkō 1-day Pass mentioned above in English.

Take the Rokkō Arima Ropeway to Visit Arima Onsen Town

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