This place was the highlight of our Japan trip. We LOVED the tatami room (traditional room), the whole onsen experience with the provided yukata etc. The staff was absolutely amazing. The Kaiseki dinner was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience and the breakfast was really good too. We got a free minivan transport from the bus station too! It turns out Arima Onsen counts as a special one even within Japan as it has thermal water with very unique qualities - we were very happy we found the place by chance.

We really can't think of anything that could have been better. Yes it wasn't cheap (ryokans are usually not), but the quality of service and experience absolutely made up for that.

Overall the stay exceeded our expectations and was enjoyable and relaxing. Kotori is very charming and cosy with the decorations throughout the building. The private onsen is great and you can book it for 45 minutes use. The staff are very helpful and attentive, and the rooms are well equipped. Dinner is in the sister hotel Hanamusubi which is a 2 minute walk from Kotori, and the staff were able to accommodate for my dietary needs, although they noted they cannot prepare food without fish so it may not be suitable for vegan or vegetarian dietary requirements. Breakfast is served in the Kotori building and is excellent too.

The only downside is the shared toilet and no shower in the building except where the private onsen area is, unless you have the room with the private bath. However the toilets are kept very clean and there were no issues with it being shared.

We were warmly welcomed by the incredibly accommodating staff, which made our stay all the more delightful. One staff member was especially engaging—we even got her to listen to Treasure with us! I also appreciated that they allowed me to use the public bath despite having tattoos. However, I was advised to cover them with tattoo stickers. A heads-up for tattooed individuals: be prepared to do this if you plan to visit an onsen. As for the food, it was absolutely superb! One standout dish was the baked pear with cheese and Kobe beef—an unforgettable combination that tasted amazing!

Good communication before booking and organised a bus shuttle to pick us up. We travelled in a group of 5 and one member of our family has a tattoo but they helped us organise a reserved area to enjoy the hot springs and it was very easy to organise. The Ryokan is on the smaller side however it makes the establishment feel more homey and more comfortable with lots of little wooden birds in cages and doll houses around to decorate the lobby. A great view of the arima mountains and a comfortable traditional tatami room was amazing. Also had a regular hotel room which was spacious and cosy. You can also experience Japanese television or link up YouTube to the flat screen tv. The onsen and kaiseki dinner is in their sister ryokan Hanamutsubi (1 minute away) so you also get to experience the fancy hotel dinner and two different spring waters onsen. the 7 course meal uses different ingredients from all of the prefecture including Kobe beef and every meal was amazing, something new or something traditional everything was exceptional. I also had an accident in the Ryokan where I had a smaller epileptic attack however the staff were quick to inform my other family members and make sure I was okay. They also called me an ambulance just in case and wheeled me in a wheelchair back from Hanamutsubi to Kotori Ryokan. All the staff will also welcome and say good bye to you when you leave and enter and are very polite and truly make you feel special.

The mini fridge turn on switch was hard to find but if there was a sign above it would be easier to find. But other than that small nick pick everything was perfect and allowed my girlfriend's family to experience real Japanese culture.

10/10 isn't enough to describe this ryokan. they deserve more!! They were very personal and knew we were returners. We celebrated our wedding anniversary here, and they made it very special. We want to come back to this ryokan anytime we travel Japan. They sure keep the pride of hosting guests in traditional way. Which, becoming hard to find in Japan lately. Beautiful, tasty dinner which is also celebrating the season, and breakfast was also beautifully presented. Private onsen time (45 mins) at the Kotori (sister building), Excellent onsen at the main ryokan. Great thanks for the shuttle services and personal welcomes.

Absolutely beautiful Ryokan, my room was western style but very comfortable, the included private onsen time was wonderful. We had half board which was a Japanese style dinner, at a hotel a few steps from the Ryokan, this was amazing, food was prepared at the table. Breakfast the next morning was Japanese style as well. Shuttle collected our luggage on arrival and we were shuttled to train station on departure.

My room was not ensuite and the toilet was on the other side of the first floor, not a problem for one night. That cash was the only form of payment.

Our stay was fantastic. We were overjoyed and surprised by the quality of the meals. The breakfast on site or at the adjacent hotel were totally delicious and traditional Japanese style. The dinner felt gourmet and was a five course meticulously selected local vegetable beef or seafood mix it was just fantastic. The room was clean and spacious and the staff were so friendly. The Onsen was private and very relaxing too.

The shared bathroom was not overly inconvenient.

The outdoor onsen in the sister Ryokan was wonderful. Breakfast and dinner were fantastic. Clean and comfortable room. The futons were very comfortable. Pick up of luggage from the station when we arrived was very convenient, as was the drop off in the morning. Staff were uniformly excellent.

Minor points, but would have been nice to have an outdoor onsen at the accommodation rather than having to go to the other Ryokan, and also the option of a child meal.

Friendly hospitality from the reception hosts & hostesses, while offering a nice free shuttle service to & from the Ryokan. A spacious room with a comfortable bed and lounge chair so you can fully relax and unwind while also having excellent wifi. And last but not least, great food and hot springs bath.

Unfortunately, no private bathroom. Also the more luxurious onsens, as well as dinner that is served, is at their main Ryokan location, Hanamusubi, which is about a 1-2 minute walk away. However, they do offer their guests some warm & fluffy ponchos to ward off the cooler night air; so it actually ends up feeling rather pleasant to travel between both hotels, especially after having taken a onsen bath.

Small little room with all the basic needed. Free coffee and tea outside of the room. Come with dinner and breakfast

The public bathroom is basically in next building. Short walk. Together with bigger onsen as well. If you like to take shower privately, book the room with private bathroom instead.