Ikaho Onsen

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.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.