Gunma

Gunma has 98 onsen areas and 459 springs (Ministry of the Environment, FY2024). With more than 5.9 million overnight stays a year it ranks fourth in Japan after Hokkaido, Shizuoka and Nagano. Kusatsu with its huge flow of strongly acidic water, Ikaho and its stone steps, Shima with inns along the river, and Minakami below the Tanigawa range all lie in the northern half of the prefecture, an easy train or bus ride from Tokyo.

Main onsen areas

The springs gather around the volcanoes and valleys of the northern half. The Agatsuma area holds Kusatsu, Manza, Shima, Kawarayu and Shiriyaki; Ikaho sits on the slopes of Mt Haruna. Up the Tone River the Minakami group spreads out with Minakami, Takaragawa, Hoshi and Sarugakyo, while Oigami lies beyond Numata and the Akagi springs on Mt Akagi.

Characteristic spring types

Chloride springs are the most common in our records, followed by sulfate and simple springs. Kusatsu's water is strongly acidic and Manza is an acidic sulfur spring. Ikaho has two waters, the iron-rich, brown 'golden water' and the clear 'silver water'. Shima is a clear chloride-sulfate spring, while Minakami and Hoshi are sulfate springs.

Reachable by public transport

For Kusatsu, take a limited express from Ueno to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi (about 2.5 hours) and a bus for about 25 minutes. Ikaho is 15 to 25 minutes by bus from Shibukawa on the JR Joetsu Line. Shima is about 40 minutes by bus from Nakanojo on the JR Agatsuma Line, and there is also an express bus from Tokyo Station. Hoshi is reached by bus from Jomo-Kogen on the Joetsu Shinkansen, and Manza is about 40 minutes by bus from Manza-Kazawaguchi on the JR Agatsuma Line.

For solo travellers

Kusatsu has many free public baths and day spas, all walkable around the Yubatake, so it suits solo travellers well. Ikaho's stone steps and day baths fill a day on your own. At Shima, the old main building of Sekizenkan offers simple room-only stays.

Food & culture

At Kusatsu, the yumomi show, in which hot water is cooled by beating it with long boards to a folk song, can be watched and even tried. Ikaho is known for onsen-manju buns on its stone steps and for Mizusawa udon nearby. Gunma's soul food, grilled miso-glazed yaki-manju buns, is another local favourite, and the main building of Sekizenkan at Shima is a wooden inn built in 1691.