Events & Topics

Spring Special Promotions in the Arima Onsen Area -Free bus and ropeway ride-

Posted：2021.3.20


As spring has arrived in Kobe and it’s beginning to get warmer day by day, the Sakura (cherry blossom) viewing season is just around the corner. It’s time to get out of crowded and tight places and go see the Sakura! Under the fresh air with cherry blossoms, let’s inhale and bask in the fresh spring vibes of the Rokko and Arima Onsen area. Come along with your family members, a wide variety of facilities with abundant nature are waiting for you!

Two Special Free Ride Services
1: Rokko-Arima Ropeway and Maya Viewline (Maya Cable-car, Maya Ropeway)

■Terms of use
Only children under primary school student’s age apply.
An adult (guardian) along with up to 4 children is accepted.
No reservation needed.
■Service period
March 20th, 2021 (Sat., national holiday) – April 7th, 2021 (Wed.)
■Access info
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/access/
*Related article about Rokko Arima-Ropeway is below↓
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/events/408/

2: Free Shuttle Bus Service
(between Shintetsu Railway Arima Onsen Station and the Ropeway Arima Onsen Station)

■Service Period
March 20th, 2021 (Sat., national holiday) -April 7th, 2021 (Wed.)
Arima Onsen map：https://plus.feel-kobe.jp/en/map/
■Duration
About 5 minutes
■Operating hours (timetable)
Every 20 minutes from 9:15 am (departing from Shintetsu Arima Station) to 5:15 pm
*Lunch-time break (12:40 pm-1:50 pm)
■Route (bus stops)
Route A:
Shintetsu Arima Onsen Station→Zenpukuji Temple mae→Masuike-guchi→Ropeway Rokko Arima Station
Route B:
Ropeway Rokko Arima Station→Masuike-guchi→Kin No Yu minami→Shintetsu Arima Onsen Station

More info about the free shuttle bus service is as follows↓
https://kobe-rokko.jp/events/1970/ (Japanese)
Shintetsu (Kobe Electric Railway Arima Line) Arima Onsen Station.
The Shuttle bus departs from this station. En route, various classic temples and interesting sightseeing spots are dotted. Please disembark at your favorite bus stop and check them out.

【Zenpukuji Temple】


Zenpukuji is a Buddhist temple founded by Gyoki (Japanese Buddhist priest) in the Nara period and revitalized by the priest Ninsai. Zenpukuji is well-known for its shidare-sakura cherry blossom tree. This 270-year-old beautiful Sakura tree is called Itozakura and was designated as Kobe Shimin No Ki (the tree loved by Kobe citizens). The best Sakura viewing period is usually early April, but this year, it may come a little earlier around March 30th according to the latest weather forecast. When we visited here (in early March), we only found the buds but if the timing is right, you will see amazingly wonderful Sakura flowers in full bloom like below;

Source: https://visit.arima-onsen.com/
Also, Sakura trees along the Arima-gawa river (around the Taiko-bashi bridge and Nene-bashi bridge) will be illuminated from early April to the end of the Sakura viewing season.

【Arima Masuike pond】
Arima Masuike with Mt. Rokko and Rokko-Arima Ropeway behind

Arima Masuike is a fishing pond where you can unwind yourself and enjoy fishing trout under the sky. One of the best things about this fishing pond is that you can ask their chef to cook the trout that you catch from inside the pond at the restaurant. As the water of the pond is provided from clear streams of Mt. Rokko, their trout is very fresh. Rokko water is highly regarded as one of the highest quality water brands in Japan. Please try freshly fried trout after fishing. It’s crispy on the outside yet very soft and juicy on the inside!Opening hours: 9 am –  5 pm
Admission fee: free (fishing rod fee is required: 1,400 yen)
【Arima Masuike’s special offer】
Please present the Ropeway ticket.
You can rent a fishing rod for 1,200 yen including 3 trout and free cooking. (regular price: 1,400 yen)
More information about Arima Masuike is below↓
https://www.shintetsu.co.jp/kanko/masuike/ (Japanese)

Recommended spots for kids with family members
【Arima Toys and Automata Museum】
The entrance of the museum

Arima Toys and Automata Museum amazingly offers more than 4,000 items of their toy collections from all across the world.
The concept is “Wonderful toys’ world will pass down from generation to generation.” There is a wide range of classic, fun, and unique toys that both adults and kids can enjoy playing with together. The museum consists of 4 stories from the 3rd floor to the 6th floor of the building.
On the third floor, a famous German toy company Märklin’s best products “model railways” are running!

Also, MUSEUM SHOP ALIMALI is located on the first floor. The shop offers selectively chosen items such as wooden craftworks from rising artists, art-related books, cute picture books and more. The museum’s original toys are also lined up, of course. It would be a great idea to stop by and take a look at your favorite toys for your souvenirs.
More info about the museum and the shop is as follows↓
https://visit.arima-onsen.com/directory/see/arima-toy-museum/
https://visit.arima-onsen.com/directory/shop/museum-shop-arimali/

【SABOR (premium hamburger and sandwich restaurant)】

The entrance of SABOR

When you step onto the second floor of the Arima Toys Museum, a savory and juicy beef aroma will absolutely boost your appetite! SABOR proudly serves their premium hamburger made with very rare beef “Tajimaguro” that was officially certified as one of the world’s renowned Kobe beef brands.
Ginsen burger combo

Their bestselling Kinsen Foie gras burger (2,450 yen) and Ginsen burger (1,450 yen) are must-try items! The photo shown above is the Ginsen burger combo that comes with fries and a drink. Relish the perfect combination of super-soft buns, juicy hamburg steak, sunny-side-up egg, fresh lettuce, Arima’s specialty “Tansan Senbei” crackers from Mitsumori Honpo (one of the most famous Tansan Senbei shops in the area), and Arima sansho pepper and salt-based sauce. As a side note, the name was inspired by Ginsen (“silver hot spring” in Japanese) which has colorless carbonic spring water from Arima Onsen. Don’t forget to try their delicious French fries as well! They are made of the top-quality potato brand “Koganemaru” that is very suitable for fries.
More info about SABOR and Mitsumori Honpo is below↓
https://plus.feel-kobe.jp/en/facilities/detail/?code=0000000738
http://www.arima-onsen.com/facility_info40.html (Japanese)
http://www.arima-toys.jp/facility/restaurant-and-bar/ (Japanese)

From the end of March to early April, it would be the best period to stroll around the Arima area and explore Kobe’s spring while seeing incredibly beautiful Sakura blossoms. Let’s hit the road!
Check out the Arima Onsen’s official website↓
http://www.arima-onsen.com/