Kobe Luxury Hotels

"We had an amazing stay at Arimasansoh Goshobessho! From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional, with a warm and friendly welcome. The hotel & rooms itself are incredibly comfy and cozy, with a warm, intimate atmosphere and a delightful wood scent that adds to its charm. The amenities were excellent, and every detail was thoughtfully prepared to ensure a relaxing experience. The breakfast was delicious and exceeded our expectations (very good French toast, and onion soup) such a great way to start the day! A special thank-you to the hotel staff for their kindness and efficiency in returning the Apple Watch we accidentally left behind—it was much appreciated! Highly recommend this hotel for a peaceful and memorable getaway."

"The hotel itself isn't up to par. The amenities provided are quite subpar; the toothbrush, for instance, was so rough it made my gums bleed. Right from check-in, they try to upsell you to a more expensive room. If you refuse, they deliberately assign you a low-floor room with a terrible view – I'm convinced it's intentional. So, if you want a decent experience, you're practically forced to upgrade. After upgrading, they cheerfully provide a hotel map and some greenhouse coupons. Otherwise, you just get a key and that's it. While I can't pinpoint any specific service issues, there was an overall 'off' and unsettling vibe. Even the renowned architecture nearby is poorly maintained. You can't truly appreciate the details; it only looks decent from a distance. This is quite rare in Japan, where I've always found people meticulous about maintenance. This place, however, completely overturned my expectations. Overall, it feels like quite a desolate and depressing place."

"We stayed at Negiya Ryofukaku in Arima Onsen during the maple leaf season, opting for the West Wing's deluxe Japanese-Western mixed room with a mountain view. The hotel staff were incredibly attentive and thoughtful, making us feel truly comfortable. Looking out the window, the mountain was ablaze with vibrant red maple leaves, like a flowing oil painting—the scenery far exceeded our expectations. Upon check-out, the hotel even thoughtfully arranged a car to take us to Arima Station, which was incredibly convenient."

"The room was quite spacious, and the massage chair was a pleasant surprise – very comfortable to use. The room introduction was quite detailed, and it was my first time experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen ryokan. The tatami mats were interesting, and I slept well. The entire hotel felt like a museum; despite its age, it had a lot of character. I felt like I got a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, which I really appreciated. The service, apart from being led to our room with traditional Japanese bows and the room introduction, was mostly self-service. However, this was my first time staying at a 'one night, two meals' ryokan, so I'm not sure if all onsens are like this. We also didn't have large luggage, just our bags, so maybe that's why we didn't notice any issues with luggage service. On a positive note, the front desk immediately knew which pair of shoes were ours when we checked out, which was good service. On the downside, the room's air conditioning unit was so well hidden that it took ages to find, and I was cold for quite a while. The phone either didn't work or I couldn't figure out how to use it. Also, we booked the private onsen from 8 PM to 9:30 PM. After relaxing for a bit, it was already close to 11 or 12. The public onsen closed from 12 AM to 1 AM, so we couldn't use it. We needed about 8 or 9 hours of sleep, and breakfast was scheduled for 9 AM. After breakfast, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM, the public onsen was closed. When we asked, the front desk informed us that check-out was strictly at 11 AM and we couldn't use the public onsen after checking out. So, we missed out on the public onsen, which was a real shame and couldn't be negotiated. In any five-star hotel in any country I've traveled to, it's usually possible to discuss using facilities after check-out. But it seems traditional onsen ryokans are all this rigid. While that might be how Japanese people are, for a hotel of this price, and for clearly inexperienced foreigners (we were even reminded we wore our kimonos the wrong way), when asking about meal times, couldn't they have kindly informed us that we needed to plan our breakfast, dinner, and onsen times accordingly? The food was light and flavorful. I don't eat seafood, and they were able to adjust the meals to my preferences. Communication two months prior was very responsive. However, for us, it was a bit too plain; Japanese people would probably love it. This was my first trip with my husband after giving birth, and I had been looking forward to the onsen part for a long time. I was very happy on the check-in day, but not being able to use the public onsen on the second day was still a big regret."

"First off, the rooms were really clean and spacious. I booked a connecting room which was perfect for a big family; one room for the elders and one for the kids. The front desk gave us a room on the 10th floor with an ocean view. Below us were the Ocean Museum and Meriken Park, offering not just a wide-open view but also super convenient access for walking around with the kids. Secondly, there are attractions nearby like the Anpanman Children's Museum and Daimaru department store, both about 900 meters away. If it's under 30 degrees Celsius, you can easily walk there. We often took a taxi to Sannomiya, which only took about 5 minutes. Lastly, I have to praise the pool. The water was crystal clear and clean, with one large pool and a jacuzzi. Floats and armbands were available for free use, and the best part was, there was hardly anyone there! 3300 JPY per person was definitely worth it. The bakery in the lobby (I think it was called Camellia) was excellent. They restocked daily, and their bread was more authentic than most bakeries in Kobe."

"This landmark hotel is a must-stay in Kobe! Choosing a sea-view room was such a pleasant surprise, offering direct views of the ocean and the Ferris wheel. Both day and night, the scenery is stunning; the hotel itself is a beautiful sight. There's a regular shuttle bus service to and from Sannomiya, with a timetable conveniently located at the entrance, making it very easy to go shopping and dining in the city center. Just outside, you'll find Meriken Park, and other port attractions are within walking distance. The harbor atmosphere is absolutely incredible, perfect for watching both sunsets and night views. It's ideal for a relaxing getaway and highly recommended for anyone visiting Kobe."

"Excellent stay! I was in town for Ayumi Hamasaki's concert, and the venue was right across the street, just one block away. The hotel is also conveniently located near Citizen's Plaza Station, which is why I chose it. The hotel itself is grand and impressive, with a spacious and comfortable lobby. I arrived in the morning before check-in, so I relaxed in the lobby. There's even a convenience store inside the hotel, making it easy to grab anything you need. The room was very spacious, and the window offered a great view. While it's an older hotel, what truly matters is the comfort and overall feeling for guests, not just having the newest gadgets or facilities."

"We had great time spending at the hotel, amazing service by the hotel team. The Hotel has free shuttle to pick up from the station, or when you need drop off to the Arima town area. We had a wonderful time with the gold and silver onsen at the hotel, all private onsen require booking at the hotel ( with App or directly at the frontdesk) they will be happily to help. We booked a room with private hot spring with fireplace, the room is amazing with whole complimentary mini bar, so convenient that we can always relax in room. We always go to lobby to grab some refreshment after our onsen session to “cool-down” get some juice , or coffee and ice cream. We feel so relaxing the whole time staying at the hotel. We will definitely go back again ."

"This was our top choice hotel for summer school in Kobe, and the school bus stopped right downstairs, making daily commutes incredibly convenient. The hotel's location is excellent, about a 15-minute walk from Sannomiya. Getting to Shin-Kobe Station for the Shinkansen, Sannomiya Station for the JR lines, or simply taking the subway from downstairs is all very easy. There are also bus stops right outside for trips to Rokko or Sannomiya. You can also catch a bus from Shin-Kobe Station, accessible via a connected walkway, to areas like Umie, Kobe Harborland, and Meriken Park. Even trips to the outlet mall and Kobe Airport are easily manageable. So, transportation truly is a breeze. The hotel itself has a good number of rooms, and the front desk area is grand, spacious, and open. There was a minor hiccup during check-in, but the staff resolved it immediately. We stayed on the 29th floor, the highest non-executive floor, which was relatively quiet and offered fantastic views. We could see the Nunobiki cable car station right next door and the ocean in the distance. At night, enjoying the city lights from our room was truly delightful. The room was a good size, offering plenty of space to move around, and even had a sofa and a desk, which was perfect for my daughter to do her writing. The two complimentary bottles of mineral water each day tasted great, and the aluminum cans were very light to carry out. The shower had excellent water pressure, making both showering and bathing very comfortable. The hairdryer was a little weak, though, taking a bit of time to dry hair. Hotel breakfast was an absolute highlight! First, I want to commend every single dining staff member for their meticulous and thoughtful service. We dined in the restaurant every day during our half-month stay, and after just a few days, the staff recognized us. They would always smile and greet us proactively when we entered and exited the restaurant, which felt very welcoming. The breakfast itself was incredibly rich, with a full selection of vegetables and fruits, both in quantity and quality, making the breakfast-included option highly recommended. During this time, we did cause a little trouble once or twice 🙏 and we are truly sorry for that. However, the staff were incredibly friendly and responded very promptly, which deeply touched my daughter and me. Thank you again for your hard work; your service was truly exceptional! The housekeeping staff were also very thorough and attentive. Every day, as soon as I hung the 'do not disturb' sign and left, they would immediately spring into action. By the time I returned, the room was already spotlessly clean. We hope to have the opportunity to stay here again for a while next year."

"This is one of the best hotel we have stayed. The hotel is in an upscale district with a number of high ends shopping destination. The view is very nice. Dinner and breakfast are good. Staff can speak very good English. I really like the hotel. We drove there with free parking."