Arima walkabout - scenes and food

Nestled in the mountains just north of Kobe, Arima Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest and most charming hot spring towns.

Arima is famous for its two types of spring water:
- Kinsen (Gold Spring): Rich in iron and salt, this reddish-brown water is believed to improve circulation, skin health and fertility.
- Ginsen (Silver Spring): A clear, carbonated spring with radium (low radioactive), known for its soothing and rejuvenating effects.

The town’s narrow streets, lined with Edo-period buildings, are perfect for slow strolls particularly Arimagawa water park. The gentle stream, shaded paths, and occasional koi sightings make it a peaceful retreat within the town.

Beyond the baths, Arima is a hidden gem for food lovers. The town's culinary scene is a delightful mix of traditional japanese flavours and local specities. And we are here on a food tasting trail:

Arima 18-ban 明石焼有馬十八番– Worth the Queue

This was the only place where I had to queue—and it was absolutely worth it.

I came here specifically for the raw whitebait, which was incredibly fresh with a clean, non-fishy taste. The Arima-yaki was soft and special, a delightful twist on the classic Takoyaki.

The fried local prawn was crispy, flavorful, and easy to chew. The tofu was silky and comforting. We also tried the dumplings, which came in a piping hot soup—be careful, it’s hotter than it looks!

Mitsumori – The Senbei Surprise

This shop offers Tansan Senbei, a lightly sugared, crispy rice cracker. They give out free samples, and trust me—you’ll want to buy a pack after just one bite and you must eat it within 5 seconds!

Arima Cider – My Favorite

On a hot day, nothing beats the Arima Cider Teppo water. Lightly sweet and incredibly refreshing, it’s the perfect drink to cool down after a soak or a walk.

Street Snacks & Local Treats

- Red Bean Bun (Yoiyu manju): Just 100 yen for a small bun packed with sweet red bean filling . It’s cheap, satisfying, and full of flavor.

- Takenanka Nikuten (closed when we are there) for their fried beef croquette.

- Arima gelateria stagione アリマジェラテリアスタジオーネ (closed) for the pistachio gelato

Arima Onsen is more than just a hot spring destination—it’s a full sensory experience. From the healing waters to the unforgettable food, every moment here feels like a step back into a more peaceful, flavourful time.

Comments

Panasonic steam oven NU-SC100WYPQ "Cutie" Product Review

I wanted to get weeks about it I purchased this item from Tangs at SGD $399. They are having a promotion of discount SGD $50 if you spend SGD $500. So i top up with a vacuum tumbler and pyrex glass dish. After several months of using, here are my comments on this cutie steam oven. This is purely a steam oven with no microwave function. One of the rare oven with no microwave function. I am ok with it as i steam fishes regularly and its a perfect addition of appliance. The other alternative is the miele steam oven and it is on offer at the same time for SGD $1600. The oven can be plugged to main power point as it is at 13 amp. Summary: Here are some of my observations using the steam oven. Buns Easy peasy for the early morning rush to work, put the char siew bao into the oven. Set it to 10 mins and you can steaming hot bun to eat for breakfast. Fish I steam fish majority of the time. It is super easy to use for steaming fish Vegetables Tr...

Kose Beauty Centre Facial Review (Isetan Scotts)

I was very very taken aback when i entered the unassuming beauty salon right in the heart of orchard. While the place is clean and design is simple, it was very sparsely furnished considering its brand name and in comparision with Yamano (the other japanese salon i went). I entered the facial premises after i passed through the hair salon. What greeted me makes my jaw dropped even more, the room is bare. There is no wall partitions for privacy, in its place are curtains hung to separate the different beds. And i am able to see all the facial therapist and guests. Each therapist handles 2 guests both at the same time!!! From My session suppose to start at 3 pm since my therapist is also handling another customer, i whipped out my phone and start playing candy crush till my therapist is available at 3.30pm. The therapist started by cleaning my face and recommending the appropriate therapy for my skin. I was advised to do the Whitening & Anti-ageing Treatment an...

Wedding solemnisation at Chijmes - Review

Having a romantic church wedding is the dream of every girl, myself included. But unless you're a christian, its almost impossible to hold your wedding solemnisation at a church. In japan, the church wedding concept is very prevalent and it comes at a price. One such place is Hotel Monterey Kyoto with a "church" extension that can fulfill a bride-to-be dream church wedding. So if we love to hold a wedding at a chapel in Singapore, Chijmes is the place to go. Chijmes is a beautifully structure historic building complex in Singapore that has been gazetted as a national monumnet. It once housed a Catholic convent school known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) and their convent quarters known as Caldwell House. It has been restored for commercial purposes, such as shopping, dining and an entertainment centre. Here is the views of the former church decorated as a solemnisation venue. For solemnisation, the 2 aisles will serve as the d...

My Solitaire Wedding

Search This Blog