Onsen-Hopping Around Gunma | Stories & Guides | Gunma Official Tourist Guide (2024)

Add some warmth to your Japan travel experience by dipping into the country’s onsen culture. Gunma’s hot spring towns are prime destinations to discover this soothing pastime, with each location offering something different—be it water properties, scenery, history, or cuisine. Visit Gunma’s four most famous onsen resorts to discover the diversity of hot spring culture.

*The easiest way to explore Gunma's varied hot spring resorts is by car. When renting a car, be sure to have a valid driving license for Japan, such as an International Driving Permit (IDP) or legal translation of your license, depending on which country issued your license.

Mizusawa Kannon Temple is a short drive from the town center. Head here to explore the temple’s beautiful, ancient grounds and to enjoy a lunch of Mizusawa udon noodles. Several noodle shops line the temple approach, where you can taste the chewy noodles that have garnered a top-class reputation nationwide. While visiting the temple, be sure to turn the pagoda’s pedestal three times—doing so is said to bring you good luck. Head back to Ikaho to check in to your ryokan inn, change into a yukata and further explore the town.

If you have more time to spend in Ikaho, read our itinerary for 36 hours in Ikaho.

How to get to Ikaho

Sainokawara Park is a 10-minute walk from Yubatake. The park has numerous free footbaths to dip your toes into. The footbaths are lit up by atmospheric purple and green lighting after dark. Wander further into the park to the outdoor bath, where bathers can relax in the waters for a small fee.

If you have more time to spend in Kusatsu, read our itinerary for 36 hours in Kusatsu.

How to get to Kusatsu

After checking in to your hotel or ryokan inn, spend the remaining daylight hours strolling along the river, relaxing in quaint cafes, and taking pictures of the ryokan thought to have been an inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s animated film “Spirited Away.”

Before settling down to a restful night in your accommodation, head to the open-air baths at Shima Seiryu no Yu. The facility has views of mountains from the women’s bath and of the Shima River from the men’s. Shima’s gentle hot spring waters contrast with the strongly acidic waters of Kusatsu.

If you have more time to spend in Shima, read our itinerary for 36 hours in Shima.

How to get to Shima

Wake up relaxed and energized for a day of outdoor adventure in Minakami—an hour’s drive from Shima. In the warmer months, head to the Tone River for a morning of whitewater rafting with Canyons Ltd.. The outdoor company provides all the equipment and expertise you need to have a safe, action-packed day. Thrill seekers should book a tour during spring when snowmelt from nearby mountains causes the fastest-flowing water.

In the winter months, don’t miss the opportunity to ski or snowboard at one of Minakami’s snow resorts. Choose Hodaigi Ski Resort for less-crowded slopes and a range of runs from nursery to steep. Experienced winter sports enthusiasts can ride slopes with a maximum angle of 40 degrees. Alternatively, try Minakami Kogen Ski Resort—an excellent spot for families with an extensive play area for snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling activities.

After an active morning outdoors, take a short drive to Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku. Japan’s largest outdoor hot spring is open to both guests and day visitors, and the riverside baths provide views of the surrounding scenery. In winter, bathing along the river’s snow-covered banks as the snow falls is a memorable experience.

If you have more time to spend in Minakami, read our itinerary for 36 hours in Minakami.

How to get to Takaragawa