Arima Onsen Tosen Goshobo

The history of Arima Onsen Tosen Goshobo goes back almost a millennium! It was founded in 1192, at the beginning of the Kamakura period, when the hot spring town of Arima flourished and prospered. The first extant mention related to the present-day Goshobo comes from Fujiwara Teika's Meigetsuki, a diary he had kept of his travels, where he lavishes details about Arima. Of the three hot spring inns mentioned in the diary, Yuguchi-ya (the main bathhouse) developed into Arima Onsen Tosen Goshobo. The diary is dated to 1203.

Another interesting mention is provided in Zuikei Shuho's famous travelogue about hot springs (dated to 1452). The monk recounts that a house under the jurisdiction of the Onsenji Temple was named 'Gosho' as it is where Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, stayed on his visit to Arima. This home may very well be the present-day Goshobo with the similarity in name.

Goshobo is mentioned again in the diary of Kikyou Shinsui, dated to 1466. By this time, the home had become privately owned and was one of the popular hot spring inns in the town.

Design and Architecture

Goshobo's design owes much to the ideals of Watanuki Kosuke, an artist whose creative realms span across painting, sculpture, ceramics, and architecture. All the rooms combine Western and Japanese ideals. Western furnishings are usually restricted to the engawas, which are provided with comfy armchairs and coffee tables. Most of the rooms are bedecked with tatami mats and the associated chabudai and tatami chairs, and you can also find shoji screen doors and windows. Some of the rooms are even themed, such as the Deluxe rooms that are designed with a photography theme.

Furthermore, the premium suite has a private hot spring bath that is made up in traditional Japanese aesthetics. There are two bathing areas: a tub crafted out of wood and a huge stone basin. The bathing area features bare stone flooring.

The on-site restaurant has great views of the Itozakura cherry blossoms and Takikawa River. Guests can enjoy having dishes cooked right in front of them on hot plates. The cuisine served here is a special blend of Japanese and Western traditions, reflecting the flow of foreign traditions emanating from the nearby port of Kobe. Furthermore, the property has agricultural corporations in Oshiro, Kami, and Mikata in Hyogo, where local farmers grow rice and vegetables, including special crops such as the organic 'Hota Bokashi' rice. The property has a special relationship with Akashiura Fishing Port, where they're the only establishment that has the permission to enter the premises, so the freshest seafood is guaranteed to guests!

Dinner

A multi-course meal with appetizers, sashimi, grilled dishes, fried dishes, meat dishes, and desserts awaits guests here. The menu changes seasonally as seasonal ingredients are preferred.

Serving hours: 6 pm - 9 pm

Breakfast

Meals are light and mainly center around tofu made from black soybeans, unique to Tamba, and the boiled tofu is served with seaweed sourced from Sumaura.

Serving hours: 8 am - 10 am

Cultural Experiences

Staying at Arima Onsen Tosen Goshobo is sure to be an experience within itself, as it is filled with unique artifacts. The rooms are filled with artifacts such as books and calligraphy related to Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Mita celadon porcelain, haikus of Eiji Yoshikawa, antique tea ceremony utensils, and a piece of calligraphy called 'Kodan Goshin' prepared by Hirobumi Ito.

Of course, the highlight of your stay might be the on-site hot springs. The onsen set up is traditional, with rock pools and other beautiful features. The waters are rich in iron and salt and are said to have many therapeutic properties.