New two-night hot spring wellness package at Goshobessho in Arima Onsen

Goshobessho, an iconic ryokan in Arima Onsen, one of Japan's oldest hot spring towns, is offering guests a unique program combining a holistic wellness retreat with a cultural immersion.

20 minutes by car from Shin-Kobe, Arima Onsen is known for its medicinal Gold (iron-rich, reddish) and Silver (carbonated, clear) hot springs. The hot spring town has a quaint atmosphere with historic ryokan and the occasional presence of “Geiko” (Arima Geisha), offering visitors a glimpse into traditional onsen culture. It is also arguably the most accessible hot spring town in Japan due to its proximity to Osaka (35 mins by car) and Kyoto (1 hour by car).

Goshobessho Ryokan

This flagship accommodation of Arima Onsen is about as storied as it gets with a history dating back over 800 years, making it the town’s oldest Inn. It is now in the 15th generation of ownership by the Kanai family, who have carefully stewarded this Arima Onsen icon into a cutting-edge wellness orientated sui generis ryokan.

A Luxury Wellness Retreat

At Goshobessho, they create a luxury wellness retreat experience by equipping rooms with private medicinal “Kinsen (Gold)” onsen and thermal (low heat sauna) rooms. They also offer onsite spa treatments including their own unique style of aromatherapy and a treehouse bath, inspired by the origin legend of Arima Onsen in ancient Japanese text.

The Goshobessho Aesthetic

The Art direction came from the late visionary painter Hirosuke Watanuki, who spent much of his time in the area. His idea was to create a place where one can deeply immerse in his own unique aesthetic concept of Muhuan, “a world which does not conform”. This includes an organic dualistic blend of east and west, poetry and philosophy, drawing and writing, practicality and spirituality.

Cultural Wellness - Curated by Lamyaa

Originally from Morocco, Lamyaa has been in Japan since 1999 where she began her studies and then pursued a rich career with wellness & beauty brands. While studying, she met and later married the son of the owner of the historic ryokan Goshoboh. And so began her immersion into the culture of Arima Onsen. Lamyaa uses her insider access together with her knowledge of wellness to deliver premium tours for Goshobessho guests. If this wasn’t cool enough, she also has been a “Cool Japan” Ambassador since 2017.

Arima Onsen Bliss

Lamyaa special program offers a wellness journey that soothes body and mind in Arima Onsen. They can meditate and do yoga in the mountains of Rokko, try Zen meditation at the historic Onsen-ji Temple, and discover the restorative benefits of “Fucha (vegetarian, vegan)” cuisine. This is the ultimate cultural wellness retreat where hot springs, culture, and nature come together in harmony.

Lamyaa also presents the chance to enjoy a variety of special experiences highlighting the culture of Arima Onsen. They include:

- Arima Geisha (Geiko) experience: a stroll through the historic streets of Arima, dinner and entertainment including a shamisen performance

- Calligraphy at Nembutsu-ji Temple

A two-night wellness stay at luxury Goshobessho ryokan in Arima Onsen costs from 450,000 Yen per person, half-board, based on two sharing. The package includes private transfers to and from Goshobessho from Shin-Kobe station, a guided walking tour, yoga and meditation on Mt. Rokko, as well as calligraphy and zazen (meditation). This custom private package can be tailored to suit personal interests and length of stay.

To tailor or book this stay, please contact us via our contact form.