Day trip bathing travel journals to hot springs where we visited by train and bus

Arima Ryoyo-onsen

Arima Ryoyo-onsen

3-5-31, Higashi-arima, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Pref.

Arima Onsen in Kanagawa Pref. The turbid water, rich in iron, is just like the famous Arima Onsen in Kobe.

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan bathtub
Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan exterior Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan hot water spout Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan entrance

The hot spring water is rich in iron, giving it a turbid yellow-ocher color. It is said to be effective against all illnesses, and sometimes the Yunohana (sinter) shines golden.

There are records of the spring gushing out from the 7th to the 13th century, and it is said to be the oldest therapeutic spring in Japan. It is thought that the source of that spring and the current spring are the same mineral vein.

There are many trains and buses, making it an easy location to visit.

Location

Level of ease to visit

4.5 pt(from Shibuya)

→ How to give points train

Area / Railway

Kanto Region
Kanagawa Pref.

Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line

spa
Route from Tokyo (Shibuya)
  • Shibuya Sta.Tokyu: 25 min Den-en-toshi Line ¥290
  • Saginuma Sta.Walk: 23 min 1.7 km (1.1 mi)Difference in elevation: -32 m (-105 ft)
  • Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan
Route from Tokyo (Shibuya)
  • Shibuya Sta.Tokyu: 25 min Den-en-toshi Line ¥290
  • Saginuma Sta. Kawasaki City Bus or Tokyu Bus: 5 min Sagi 01-04 ¥220 or ¥230
  • Naka-arima Bus StopWalk: 1 min
  • Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan
Route from Tokyo (Shibuya)
  • Shibuya Sta.Tokyu: 15 min Toyoko Line ¥230
  • Musashi Kosugi Sta.(Kosugi Sta. #5) Kawasaki City Bus or Tokyu Bus: 34 min Sagi 02 ¥220 or ¥230
  • Arima Daini Danchimae Bus StopWalk: 2 min
  • Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan
Route from Tokyo (Shibuya)
  • Shibuya Sta.Tokyu: 25 min Den-en-toshi Line ¥290
  • Saginuma Sta.Walk: 3 min
  • Lawson Kawasaki Saginuma 1-chome store Shared bicycle: 10 min HELLO CYCLING¥160 (up to 30 min)
  • Library & Lifelong learning support facility "Ari-no"Walk: 2 min
  • Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan
Routes from Tokyo
  • Shibuya
  • Tokyu
  • Saginuma
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 48 min ¥290

  • Shibuya
  • Tokyu
  • Saginuma
  • Bus
  • hot spring
  • 31 min ¥510 or ¥520

  • Shibuya
  • Tokyu
  • Musashi kosugi
  • Bus
  • hot spring
  • 51 min ¥450 or ¥460

  • Shibuya
  • Tokyu
  • Saginuma
  • Shared bicycle
  • hot spring
  • 40 min ¥450

  • Even for the same route, the fare varies depending on the bus company. (Kawasaki City Bus: 220 yen, Tokyu Bus: 230 yen)
  • The bicycle sharing service HELLO CYCLING allows you to return the bicycle to a station other than the one you rented it at. To use this service, you will need to first install a dedicated app on your smartphone.
  • The above fares are based on cash. When using an IC card, the fares may differ slightly.
  • The above times and distances are approximate. Does not include transfering or waiting times.
Directions from Saginuma Sta.

1.7km (1.1mi), 32m (105ft)

  1. Leave the station and head southeast. (down the hill)
  2. Follow the road. About 100m (328ft) from Nakaarima intersection.

bus stop: bus stop

the map to open Google Map

Travel journal of dropping in at the hot spring

Characters

Nishi-san
Nishi-san
He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.
Kita-san
Kita-san
He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves an open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.

One day, Nishi-san and Kita-san were talking about hot springs.

Sometime I wanna go to Arima Onsen. You know, it's famous and the top hot spring in the western Japan, right?

Oh yeah, Arima Onsen is great. It's quite moving to think when 'this is the bath that TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi soaked in.'

But I have to take the Shinkansen to get there, so it's a pretty big hurdle.

No, you don't have to take the Shinkansen. You can be to there by the Tokyu line.

...Huh? Tokyu?

Arima Onsen in Kobe is counted among Japan's three most famous hot springs and one of Japan's three oldest hot springs.

So, today they've come to Arima Onsen ...or rather, Arima Ryoyo-onsen, located in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan exterior

Exterior

Here, this is Arima Ryoyo-onsen.

Oh, with the added of Ryoyo, it's more valuable than the famous Arima Onsen ...absolutely NOT!

Well, well, the water is similar to the famous Arima Onsen, and not just the name.

Really? But this is just an apartment, and doesn't look good, you know.

They went in anyway.

"Ryoyo-onsen" means "Therapeutic hot spring".

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan entrance

Entrance

It feels kind of old.

Well, the building is quite well used.

Saying that, they turned right down the hallway and headed to the bathing room.

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan bathtub

Bathtub

Oh I see, just like you said, the water looks amazing.

In short, it's high in iron. The water tastes of iron and is a deep ocher color.

Hmm, if you say it's a typical hot spring, then it is. Is the water in Arima Onsen in Kobe like this too?

Yeah, they're pretty similar. Though this one feels light.

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan washing area

Washing area

But there is no open-air bath, and even any windows...

There was a facility like this without windows in Arima Onsen in Kobe, too. Yes, after all, so similar to it.

No, no, it doesn't have to be that similar...

The two of them got out of the bath. Kita-san noticed a picture frame on the wall of the hallway they had just passed.

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan yunohana

Yunohana (transferred onto paper and dried)

Oh, what's this? 'Golden Yunohana.' ...Really! It's kind of sparkly!

It was my first time seeing Yunohana decorated like this. In short, this is a pretty amazing water.

It seems like it might be worth something. I should have watched this before taking a bath.

Exactly.

Nishi-san and Kita-san went outside. They started walking back to Saginuma Station, but then they looked to their side.

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan Hachiman Shrine

Hachiman Shrine

Oh? There's a torii gate. A shrine?

Exactly. It says a Hachiman Shrine. Ah, is this Buddha statue Acala?

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan History

Acala statue and history board

This board says, 'Historic site: The oldest holy hot spring in Japan'. Is it really the oldest in Japan?

What's written on it?

'It ...springs ...from ...this land...' ...Hmm, it's hard to read. For now, I'll take a picture of it and read it later.

And so Nishi-san and Kita-san had left Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan. Arima Onsen in Kanagawa actually had a surprisingly long history, so it turned out to be quite a good little trip.
...Huh? So after that, did Kita-san read the history? Of course, he saved it in his photo folder and that was it.

(March 2025)

Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan first opened for business in 1968.

Impression & rating

This hot spring is rare in the Tokyo area, with its iron-rich, turbid, ocher-colored water. Other than the amount of water gushing out is small, this is a pretty nice hot spring.

2.5 pt

Impression & rating

The building and facilities are old, so it was, to put it mildly, not neat. You can enjoy the hot spring atmosphere, but it's a shame there is no open-air bath and window.

1.5 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address
3-5-31, Higashi-arima, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Pref.
Phone
domestic: 044-877-5643
international: +81-44-877-5643
Website
Arima Ryoyo-onsen Ryokan
Bathing hours
11:00 - 22:00 (Last entry at 21:00)
Closed day
Wednesdays
Charge
[Up to 2 hours] Adults: ¥1,300 / Elementary school students: ¥600 / Infants: ¥300 [Extension charge (per hour)] Adults: ¥500 / Elementary school students and younger: ¥300 [After 20:00 (excluding holidays) (up to 1 hour)] Adults: ¥800 / Elementary school students: ¥350 / Infants: ¥300 Special discounts for health facilities, weekday specials for seniors available
Baths
Gender-separated indoor bath
Facilities
There are lockers in the undressing room (free of charge)

The hot spring data

(According to the hot spring analysis report etc.)

(Field examination date: Mar. 8, 2017)

Spring quality
Simple iron spring (Hypotonic Neutral Cold mineral spring)
Gushing place
3-5-31, Higashi-arima, Miyamae Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Pref.
Temperature
13.0℃ (55.4℉) [air temperature 10℃ (50℉)]
Water volume
0.6 L / min (Pumping after drilling)
pH value
6.8
Total ingredients
0.497 g / kg
Perception
Colorless, clear, iron-flavored, carbonated, sour, odorless
(After 6 hours) Yellowish brown precipitate, yellowish brown, cloudy, iron-flavored, almost odorless

Today's Detour

Deha 200 type in Train and Bus Museum
Inside Deha 200 type in Train and Bus Museum Inside Moha 510 type in Train and Bus Museum

Train and Bus Museum

(photo top: Deha 200 type, bottom left: Inside Deha 200 type, bottom right: Inside Moha 510 type)

This is a museum of Tokyu trains and buses located right in front of the ticket gates at Miyazakidai Station on the Den-en-toshi Line. Old Tokyu carriages are lined up and visitors can enter them. Another plus point is that there are many train driving simulators. Not only can you see small children having fun, but it's also heartwarming to see elderly men, who have probably brought their grandchildren here having fun, leaving them alone.

[Admission fee] Adults: ¥200 / Ages 3 to junior high school students: ¥100
[Opening hours] 10:00 - 16:30 (last entry at 16:00)
[Closed days] Thursdays (or the following day if a Thursday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays

(Train and Bus Museum)

  • The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
  • The information may have changed at present. In particular, the charge and price etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.

Onsen List

JR Joetsu Line

JR Agatsuma Line

JR Tohoku Line

JR Ryomo Line

JR Joban Line

JR Uchibo Line

JR Hachiko Line /
Chichibu
Railway

Tokyo metropolitan area

Odakyu Odawara Line

JR Minobu Line

JR Kagoshima Line

  • Fukuoka Pref.