When visiting Arima Onsen, of course you can't miss the experience of bathing at one of Japan's three oldest hot springs! Arima Onsen has a long history and is said to have been beloved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Its most distinctive features are the reddish-brown Kinsen, or Gold Spring, and the clear, colorless Ginsen, or Silver Spring, each with its own unique qualities.
This time, we specifically planned to bathe in the Silver Spring during the day and experience the Gold Spring at night, enjoying both types of hot springs in a single day! We visited Gin no Yu during the day. From the outside, it had the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese bathhouse, with a blue noren curtain hanging at the entrance. Even before going in, it already put us in the mood for a hot spring bath.
The interior was a little smaller than expected, without any luxurious or elaborate decor. It felt more like a public bathhouse that locals would visit in their daily lives. The changing room and baths weren't very large either, so it can feel a little crowded when there are a lot of people.
The Silver Spring water is clear and colorless, completely different from the reddish-brown Gold Spring. After entering the bathing area, I first let my body slowly adjust to the water temperature, then soaked comfortably in the bath. It felt like the fatigue built up from walking all day gradually faded away.
Since I wasn't in any particular hurry, I let myself fully enjoy those 20 minutes. After getting out, my whole body felt much more relaxed, and both my body and mind got a brief rest. Although Gin no Yu isn't very large, it's very convenient for travelers taking a day trip to Arima Onsen. With the Silver Spring during the day and the Gold Spring at night, we were able to experience two different types of hot springs, making this a memorable part of our trip to Arima Onsen!
