Today was another tough day of learning. The after-class activity was a visit to Arima, the oldest onsen town in Japan. Arima is known as the birthplace of onsen culture, where hot springs were first discovered and developed. The water here has a distinct golden-brown color, setting it apart from other onsen.

We spent the afternoon walking through the small town, stopping to try some of the local sweets along the way. The streets had a nostalgic charm, with old-style buildings and narrow alleyways leading to hidden shops.

Exploring Arima’s Hot Springs

All throughout the town, you can find onsen pumps drawing up the natural hot spring water from deep underground. Many onsen sources originate from more than 1,000 meters below the surface. Near one of these pumps, we saw a small stream being routed through the streets in little stone canals. The sulfuric smell of the springs—a distinct rotten egg scent—lingered in the air, a reminder of the volcanic activity that fuels these waters.

Our tour ended at Kin no Yu, one of the oldest and most famous hot springs in Japan.

Guiding First-Timers Through Their First Onsen

The two girls from the beginner class had never been to an onsen before, so I had the pleasure of guiding them through the experience and showing them how everything works.

Once inside, we washed up before trying each of the pools. We started with the mildest bath, which had a bag of oranges floating inside as the featured seasonal addition. The scent was subtle—you could only really smell the citrus if you brought the bag close to your nose—but it was a nice touch.

After warming up, we moved on to the hotter pool, set at 42°C. It took a moment to adjust, but once we settled in, it felt great. To finish, we challenged ourselves with the hottest bath, heated to 44°C. Definitely intense, but a great way to round out the experience.

Slowing Down and Taking a Rest Day

After finishing up at the onsen, I helped the girls find their way back to their station before heading back to my hostel. Once there, I decided it was finally time to do some laundry.

The laundromat had all-in-one washer-dryers, which was super convenient. I just tossed everything in, set the cycle, and left it to do its thing for the next 50 minutes. While waiting, I went back to my hostel and took a quick nap.

When my laundry was done, I found myself debating whether or not to go climbing today. Normally, I would push myself to go because I “should”—because climbing is a priority, and I’d feel guilty skipping a session. But not today.

Something I’m trying to learn is to slow down a little more and appreciate the ebbs as much as the flows in my days and weeks. Resting is just as important as movement, and today felt like a good day to embrace that.