17 Onsen in Gunma worth your time

A historic hot spring town famous for its 365-step stone staircase and unique golden and silver mineral waters.

What it is

• A historic hot spring resort located in Shibukawa City within Gunma Prefecture.
• The town name appears in nine poems within the ancient Manyoshu poetry collection.
• Sanada Masayuki developed the central stone steps under orders from Takeda Katsuyori.
• This resort is considered the original birthplace of brown onsen manju buns.

What to see

• A central 365-step stone staircase that serves as the symbol of the town.
• Ikaho Shrine situated at the very top of the stone staircase.
• The Hawaii Kingdom Minister's Villa which is a designated city historic site.
• Registered national tangible cultural properties including the Yokotekan and Ikaho Kanko Hotel.
• Uenoyama Park on Mount Monokiki accessible via a local ropeway.
• Two distinct types of hot spring water known as Golden and Silver springs.

Getting there

• Direct highway buses depart from Shinjuku and Tokyo Station to the resort.
• Local buses provide access to the town from JR Shibukawa Station.

Official site

www.ikaho-kankou.com

Read more about Ikaho Onsen

A riverside hot spring resort in Gunma featuring eight water sources and serving as a gateway to Oze and Nikko.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located along the Katashina River canyon in Numata City.
• A traditional destination with thirteen active inns and eight distinct water sources.
• Legend says the god of Mount Akagi discovered these springs.
• The local ryokan association has managed the area since 1935.

What to see

• A massive display of 7,000 dolls during the Hinamatsuri event at Tone Kanko Kaikan.
• The scenic views of the surrounding Katashina River canyon.
• A local morning market featuring regional goods and produce.

When to go

• Visit in May to witness the Great Snake Festival.
• The morning market runs daily from April through November.
• The Hinamatsuri doll display is held during the spring season.

Getting there

• Take a local bus directly from Numata Station to reach the resort.
• The area is a thirty minute drive from the Numata Interchange.

Official site

www.oigami.net

Read more about Oigami Onsen

A high-altitude hot spring resort in a national park featuring Japan's most concentrated sulfur waters and year-round mountain access.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located at 1,800 meters within Joshin'etsu-kogen National Park.
• Seven hotels currently operate for guests in this high-altitude volcanic area.
• The site features acidic sulfur spring water with the highest sulfur content in Japan.
• The area includes a ski resort and has a history dating back to the Yayoi period.

What to see

• Hot springs discharging 3,750 liters of mineral-rich water every minute.
• Three volcanic crater lakes located in the immediate vicinity of the resort.
• Mountain landscapes and ski slopes surrounding the various hotel facilities.

When to go

• Winter for skiing and outdoor hot springs accessible via the year-round highway.

Getting there

• Buses run to the resort from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station and Karuizawa Station.
• The Manza Highway provides vehicle access to the village throughout the year.

Official site

www.manzaonsen.gr.jp

Read more about Manza Onsen

A public hot spring facility in Gunma featuring gender-alternating baths, a local farmers market, and an art gallery.

What it is

• A public day-trip hot spring facility established by Katashina Village in 1998.
• The site includes a restaurant and a market selling local farm produce.
• Bath areas alternate between men and women based on odd or even calendar dates.
• The facility is operated by the Katashina Village Promotion Public Corporation.

What to see

• An outdoor rock garden bath known as Kaze-no-yu.
• A gallery displaying approximately twenty prints by the artist Shinmo Kogure.
• A farmers market featuring local goods from late April to mid-November.

When to go

• The facility is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• The site closes every Friday except when it falls on a holiday.
• Visit between late April and mid-November to access the seasonal farmers market.

Getting there

• Access from Numata Station is available only by taking a taxi.

Read more about Hana-no-eki Katashina Hanasaku-no-yu Onsen

A relocated hot spring town in Gunma featuring historic communal baths and a unique winter water-throwing festival.

What it is

• A hot spring town relocated to higher ground after the original site was submerged by a dam.
• Legend says the spring was discovered by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1193.
• The resort area currently contains six inns and three restaurants for visitors.
• The spring water contains a mix of salt, gypsum, and hydrogen sulfide.

What to see

• The Ou-yu communal bathhouse which features the historic Minamoto clan crest.
• A modern town layout built to replace the submerged original village.
• Communal bathing facilities that utilize both natural springs and drilled wells.

When to go

• January 20th for the annual Yukake Festival featuring water-throwing rituals.
• Winter to see participants in loincloths perform traditional festival rites.

Getting there

• The town is a 15-minute walk from Kawarayu-Onsen Station.

Official site

www.kawarayu.jp

Read more about Kawarayu Onsen

A high-temperature alkaline hot spring area in Numata featuring public baths and facilities located within a golf country club.

What it is

• A collection of alkaline simple hot spring facilities located in Numata City.
• The natural source water reaches a high temperature of 57 degrees Celsius.
• Hatsuho no Yu serves as a bathing facility within the Hatsuho Country Club.
• Bokyo no Yu is a public hot spring located at the Shirasawa roadside station.

What to see

• Day-use hot spring baths available for visitors at the local country club.
• Public bathing facilities situated along National Route 120.
• The surrounding landscape of the Shirasawa highland area in Gunma Prefecture.

When to go

• Day visitors can access the Hatsuho no Yu facility during specific operating hours.

Getting there

• The hot spring area is located four kilometers from the Numata Interchange.
• Access the location via the Kan-etsu Expressway to National Route 120.

Read more about Shirasawa Kōgen Onsen

A historic hot spring inn featuring a traditional wooden bathhouse where water bubbles up naturally through pebble floors.

What it is

• A traditional hot spring inn and National Health Resort founded in 1875.
• The facility is situated at an altitude of 800 meters in Minakami Town.
• The main and annex buildings are officially designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties.
• The spring water consists of colorless calcium and sodium sulfate at 43 degrees Celsius.

What to see

• The Hoshi-no-yu bathhouse which was originally constructed in 1895.
• A mixed-gender bathing area where water rises naturally through pebbles on the floor.
• Historic wooden architecture preserved within the main building and annex.

When to go

• Day-trip bathing is available to visitors every day except for Wednesdays.

Getting there

• The facility is accessible by taking a bus from Jomo-Kogen Station.

Official site

hoshi-onsen.com

Read more about Hōshi Onsen

A riverside hot spring resort at Mount Tanigawa offering calcium-sulfate baths and year-round outdoor sports like skiing and rafting.

What it is

• A hot spring resort area originally known as Yubara Onsen at the foot of Mount Tanigawa.
• The town features calcium-sulfate springs with accommodations built along the cliffs of the Tone River.
• A popular destination for outdoor activities including skiing in winter and rafting in summer.
• Public bathing facilities such as Yu-Terme Tanigawa are available for visitors.

What to see

• Hot spring hotels and ryokan lining the steep cliffs along the upper Tone River.
• Natural scenery at the southern foot of the prominent Mount Tanigawa.
• The Tone River which serves as a hub for local water sports.

Getting there

• The hot spring area is a five-minute walk from Minakami Station.
• Accessible by car via the Minakami Interchange on the Kan-etsu Expressway.

Official site

minakamionsen.com

Read more about Minakami Onsen

A scenic lakeside hot spring resort in Gunma featuring mineral-rich waters and historical ties to the Edo period.

What it is

• A hot spring resort area located on the shore of Lake Akaya in Minakami Town.
• Part of the Minakami National Health Resort Hot Spring Area with sodium and calcium sulfate waters.
• The area was reportedly named by Uesugi Kenshin in 1560.
• The original hot spring moved in 1956 following the construction of a dam.

What to see

• Approximately forty different accommodation facilities operating throughout the resort area.
• Mantenboshi no Yu, a facility specifically designed for day-trip bathing visitors.
• The site of the Sarugakyo Checkpoint which was established during the Edo period.
• Views of Lake Akaya from the various hot spring baths and facilities.

Getting there

• Buses reach the resort area from Jomo-Kogen Station in thirty minutes.

Official site

sarugakyo-navi.jp

Read more about Sarugakyō Onsen

A quiet hot spring resort along the Tone River, designated as a National Health Resort for its therapeutic mineral waters.

What it is

• A non-volcanic thermal spring resort established in 1924 along the Tone River.
• Designated as a National Health Resort by the government in 1979.
• A collection of five hotels and ryokans sometimes grouped with Minakami Onsenkyo.
• A former retreat for the famous Japanese artist Kiyoshi Yamashita.

What to see

• The public bathhouse Fuwa no Yu which has been operating since 2002.
• Thermal waters containing calcium, sodium, sulfate, and chloride at 42 degrees Celsius.
• Traditional riverside accommodations situated directly along the banks of the Tone River.

Getting there

• A six-minute walk from Kamimoku Station to reach the hot spring area.
• A ten-minute bus or taxi ride from Jomo-Kogen Station.

Read more about Kamimoku Onsen

One of Japan's top three hot spring resorts, famous for its high water volume and traditional cooling methods.

What it is

• A historic hot spring resort located at the foot of Mount Kusatsu-Shirane.
• One of Japan's Three Famous Springs with the highest natural water discharge rate.
• A high-altitude town sitting between 1,100 and 1,200 meters above sea level.
• A destination historically ranked as a top-tier Ozeki in hot spring rankings.

What to see

• The Yubatake field, a central landmark designed by artist Taro Okamoto.
• Six major springs managed by the public administration for visitor use.
• Nineteen public baths available for free use throughout the town.
• Traditional Yumomi performances demonstrating how to cool hot water with wooden paddles.
• Acidic waters with a pH of 2.0 flowing through wooden cooling channels.

Official site

www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp

Read more about Kusatsu Onsen

A high-altitude national health resort in Joshin'etsu-kogen National Park known as the birthplace of the song Yukiyama Sanka.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located 1500 meters above sea level in Tsumagoi Village.
• Designated as a National Health Resort by the government in 1968.
• Part of the protected landscape within Joshin'etsu-kogen National Park.
• The original site of a hot spring town destroyed by fire in 1918.

What to see

• Natural springs containing magnesium, sodium, and hydrogen carbonate minerals.
• The nearby Yunomaru Azalea Community which is a designated natural monument.
• New Kazawa Onsen where most inns relocated at a lower altitude of 1300 meters.

Getting there

• Accessible by taxi from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station.
• Located forty minutes by car from the Tobu-Yunomaru Interchange.

Official site

www.tsumagoi-kankou.jp

Read more about Kazawa Onsen

A historic hot spring resort in Gunma featuring therapeutic waters and the oldest wooden inn building in Japan.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located along the upper Shima River in Nakanojo.
• The first inn at this location was established in 1563.
• Designated as a National Health Resort in 1954 for its therapeutic waters.
• The resort is situated within the boundaries of Joshin'etsu-kogen National Park.

What to see

• Sekizenkan is the oldest existing inn, dating back to 1691.
• Hinatamiyakushi-do is a temple building designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
• Five distinct districts spread throughout the resort area.
• Chloride and sulfate springs with a total discharge of 3,500 liters per minute.

Getting there

• Direct highway buses operate from Tokyo to the resort.

Official site

nakanojo-kanko.jp

Read more about Shima Onsen

A historic hot spring town in Gunma featuring mineral-rich waters and a legacy as a hidden retreat for samurai.

What it is

• A hot spring resort located in Ota City within Gunma Prefecture.
• Known historically as the hidden bath of the warrior Nitta Yoshisada.
• Official business operations began in the 1730s by Kawachi Rokurobei.
• The area currently maintains three active inns for visitors.

What to see

• The Onsen Shrine which houses a statue of Yakushi Nyorai.
• Nearby stone quarries that served as a filming location for Kamen Rider Gaim.
• The Japan Snake Center located in the immediate vicinity.
• Three distinct water sources including Yunoiri and Takinoiri.

Getting there

• A fifteen minute walk from Yabuzuka Station.
• Ten minutes by car from the Ota Yabuzuka Interchange.

Official site

www.city.ota.gunma.jp

Read more about Yabuzuka Onsen

A high-altitude hot spring resort in Gunma known for its mineral-rich waters and historical connection to the warlord Uesugi Kenshin.

What it is

• One of the eighteen hot spring sites located within Minakami Town.
• Designated as a National Health Resort Hot Spring at an altitude of 780 meters.
• Traditionally known as the hidden bath of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin.
• The first hut was built at the source by Uesugi Tadashi during the early Meiji era.

What to see

• A single accommodation facility offering overnight stays and day-trip bathing.
• Spring water containing germanium and radium at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
• Facilities where the mineral water is used for both bathing and drinking.

Getting there

• Located four kilometers northeast of Kamimoku Station.

Read more about Namezawa Onsen

A secluded National Health Resort hot spring in Gunma known for its naturally flowing, therapeutic sulfate waters and historic literary connections.

What it is

• A historic hot spring destination discovered during the late Edo period.
• Designated as a National Health Resort Hot Spring in 1999.
• Features calcium and sodium sulfate water used for medicinal treatment.
• Home to a single inn, Hamaya Ryokan, managed since the early Showa era.

What to see

• The current concrete inn building which was rebuilt in 1966.
• Natural spring water that flows directly from the ground at 39.9 degrees Celsius.
• A location once visited by the famous poet Kotaro Takamura in 1929.

Getting there

• A 20-minute taxi ride from Minakami Station.
• A 30-minute drive from the Tsukiyono Interchange.

Official site

www.kawafuru.com

Read more about Kawafuru Onsen

A historic hot spring town founded in 852, offering traditional public bathhouses and a setting that inspired famous manga art.

What it is

• A hot spring resort discovered in 852 located within the Minakami Onsenkyo group.
• Designated as a National Health Resort by the government in 1999.
• The setting for the manga Gensenkan Shujin by artist Yoshiharu Tsuge.
• Features sodium calcium sulfate spring water with a source temperature of 63 degrees Celsius.

What to see

• Three public bathhouses that are open for use by visiting tourists.
• The Otakiya Ryokan which served as inspiration for famous manga works.

Getting there

• Take a bus from Jomo-Kogen Station directly to the hot spring area.
• The bus journey from the station takes approximately 20 minutes.

Read more about Yujuku Onsen