Arima Onsen Gekkoen Korokan

The room was quite spacious, measuring 40 square meters. We arrived late on our first day, only checking in at midnight. We hadn't booked a meal for our first night, but arranged one for the second day, curious to experience it. While the food selection wasn't extensive and wasn't particularly filling, it certainly offered a wonderful sense of ceremony and presentation.

Overall, the experience was pleasant, with the only minor drawback being the price, which was a bit steep. While I had hoped for a more traditional Japanese garden and architecture, the hotel itself leans towards a modern Japanese aesthetic. Visiting in summer, gazing at the lush green mountains through the window truly feels like a picturesque framed view, and the hot springs were wonderfully rejuvenating. However, I suspect autumn would be the most opportune time to visit, to witness the mountains ablaze with crimson foliage (assuming the trees aren't evergreen). A misunderstanding arose at check-out due to unclear communication regarding payment policies between the booking platform, the hotel, and myself. The hotel insisted they had not received the online payment and demanded offline payment for a range of services, including breakfast, dinner, taxes, accommodation, and private onsen. As a customer, I initially thought I was being double-charged, as I had already made a payment online. The total cost for the two-day stay was approximately 221,110 JPY, which converts to roughly 11,000 HKD or CNY. Upon immediately contacting Trip.com's customer service, they confirmed that our online payment covered both accommodation and meals, and advised that the hotel's demand for offline payment for these items was contentious and unnecessary. It was only later clarified that the payment made on Trip.com was merely a hold to secure the room and would be fully refunded upon check-out.

The private, semi-open-air hot spring bath in our room was incredibly convenient. We also experienced the communal 'golden spring' bath, which offered a wonderfully private and secluded setting. The food was equally delicious. For hassle-free arrival, the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service from the station – just call them when you get there. Arima Onsen is absolutely worth a dedicated visit!

Over two days, we enjoyed a Kaiseki dinner and Kobe beef hotpot, along with a private onsen. It was absolutely fantastic!