-
-
Haruna Shrine
-
Onioshidashi Park
-
Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa
-
Tanigawadake Ropeway
-
Karuizawa Omocha Okoku
-
Akagi-jinja Shrine
-
Otaki no Yu
-
Mizusawa Kanzeon
-
Roadside Station Laran Fujioka
-
Doai Station: Deepest Mole Station in Japan
-
2020 Top 30 Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan
-
31 of the Best Things to Do in Karuizawa
Travel Plans
-
- This Ikaho Onsen day out includes power spots, a secret hot spring, art, and feasting on noodles
- 1days
- With its long flight of stone steps, Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture has all the charm of a typical hot spring town. However, its photogenic Western style architecture and numerous outdoor sculptures makes it something of a secret art spot as well. After your long drive, spend a few hours soaking in an outdoor rotenburo.
-
- A driving plan through nature, from Karuizawa to Kusatsu
- 1days
- After enjoying a day in the stylish resort area of Karuizawa, head to Kusatsu on a mountain road. If you pass near Mount Asama, you should be able to feel the power of nature at such places as Onioshidashi Park, created by a volcanic eruption, and Sainokawara Park, with its hot spring water bubbling to the surface.
- Create your own Travel Plan
Travel Guide
View more-
- Doai Station: Deepest Mole Station in Japan
- 2021.04.16
-
- 2020 Top 30 Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan
- 2020.11.22
-
- 31 of the Best Things to Do in Karuizawa
- 2020.09.18
-
- Hiking Day Trip near Tokyo! The best mountain hiking spots in the Kanto region
- 2020.09.18
-
- Kusatsu Onsen: A Historic and Therapeutic Hot Spring Town
- 2020.03.31
Best Events
Top Things to do
View more-
- Haruna Shrine
-
-
4.5355 Reviews
- Gunma Pref. Takasakishi Harunasanmachi 849
- This shrine is located in Harunasan-machi, Takasaki City, Gunma prefecture. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Emperor Youmei over 1,400 years ago, and provides divine favors for successful businesses and crops. The inner shrine and various buildings have been a designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and the shrine’s Yatate-sugi (cedar trees) are designated a Natural Monument of Japan.
-
- Kusatsu Onsen
-
- Gunma Agatsuma-gun Kusatsumachi Kusatsu
- A hot spring area counted as one of Japan’s three most famous. With over 100 source springs, the area generates some 32 thousand liters of natural hot spring water every minute, the greatest production volume in Japan. Since ancient times, the area has flourished as a therapeutic spa, and unique, long-standing traditions remain deeply rooted here, such as the custom of “yumomi,” the cooling of extremely hot spring waters by agitating them with thick wooden planks; and “jikan-yu” timed bathing, a practice distinct to Kusatsu which emerged in the late Edo period. The area’s primarily acidic springs are known for their powerful antibacterial properties, and it is even said they will “treat any disease other than love sickness.” The area is dotted with art museums and is also known as an art town.
-
- Onioshidashi Park
-
-
4.0348 Reviews
- Gunma Pref. Agatsumaguntsumagoimura Kambara 1053
- This beautiful scenery was created from the lava that flowed out and spread when Mt. Asama had its giant eruption in 1783. The sight of the giant lava boulders scattered around makes for an impressive sight. In spring the lovely alpine plants bloom in profusion, while visitors can enjoy the changing leaves in the fall. The contrast with the deep black earth is indeed a sight to behold.
-
- Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa
-
-
3.5413 Reviews
- Gunma Agatsuma-gun Tsumagoimura O-mae Hoso Hara 2277
- A hotel resort in Omae Hosohara, Tsumagoi Village, Agatsuma County. The resort centers around four main buildings equipped with various types of guest rooms including dedicated rooms for those with babies, and also features the Akatsuki-no-Yu natural hot spring bathhouse. With an arrangement of various leisure facilities throughout the vast resort including a golf course, tennis courts, dog hotel, church, cafe, and a number of different shops you can thoroughly enjoy your stay surrounded by the nature of the highlands. Located just a one-minute drive away from the resort is the Karuizawa Toy Kingdom amusement park.
-
- Tanigawadake Ropeway
-
-
4.0191 Reviews
- Gunma prefecture Tone-gun Minakami-machi Yuzonso Yu Fukayama National Forest Tanigawa-dake ropeway
- This ropeway spanning Tanigawadake at the border of Gunma Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture connects the 746-meter altitude Doaiguchi Station with the Tenjindaira Station located at an altitude of 1,319 meters. There is also an observatory, and visitors can use a lift to reach Tenjin Toge Pass which is the start of a hiking route. The trekking course from Tenjin Toge follows the mountain ridge and takes about two and a half hours, and is a veritable treasure house for plants such as Hosobahinayukiso (a kind of Leontopodium Fairriei). The large 360-degree panoramic view from the top of the mountain affords spectacular vistas of the surrounding mountains, and is a very popular hiking course that is suitable even beginners.
-
- Karuizawa Omocha Okoku
-
-
4.0190 Reviews
- Gunma Pref. Agatsumaguntsumagoimura Omae Hosono 2277
- A theme park located in Omae-hosohara, Tsumagoi Village, you’ll find plenty of attractions here, including the “Toy Room Area,” which is filled with toys from across all eras, the “Nature Athletic Area,” which utilizes Karuizawa’s natural scenery to provide entertainment, and the “Attraction Area,” which has something for children of all ages. If you have a free pass, you can get a discount on Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa’s lunch buffet and hot spring, which makes this a great option for a day trip.
-
- Akagi-jinja Shrine
-
-
4.0108 Reviews
- Gunma Pref. Maebashishi Fujimimachiakagisan 4-2
- The Akagi-jinja Shrine is located at the top of Mt. Akagi. It has been known as a mountain where gods have resided since ancient times. Mt. Akagi is the main enshrined deity and Akagi Daimyojin is worshiped as the god of the lake. On the first Saturday of August, the Soke, or Grand Master, in charge of Ogasawara style Japanese horseback archery etiquette and his disciples hold a Japanese archery dedicatory match. At night, paper lanterns are set adrift in a ceremony called Toronagashi accompanied by a firework display and every year many tourists visit the festival. The Autumn Festival held on the national Sports day in October is also very popular.
-
- Otaki no Yu
-
-
4.5201 Reviews
- 596-13 Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma prefecture
- This is a day-trip onsen facility located in the eastern side of Kusatsu Onsen that has been loved as a well-known hot spring since long ago. The onsen draws in hot water from the nikawa source which is also known as “bijin no yu” (hot water for beautiful women). It is famous for its “awase yu” in which people soak in order at four baths which all have slightly different temperatures. In addition to enjoying the spacious large bathtub, rotemburo (outdoor bath) and utase-yu (waterfall bath), there is also a private available by reservation. The facility includes a lounge area, restaurant, souvenir shop, and café on the premises, so visitors can fully enjoy their onsen experience with relaxing strolls to take a break.
-
- Mizusawa Kanzeon
-
-
4.0200 Reviews
- Gunma Pref. Shibukawashi Ikahomachimizusawa 214
- The Mizusawa Kanzeon is a Buddhist deity in a temple of the Tendai sect in Mizusawa, Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City. The temple was founded by the order of Empress Suiko and boasts a history of more than 1,300 years. Its principal image is a bronze statue of the eleven-faced Buddha, Juichimen Senju Kanzeon Bosatsu, rarely shown to the public and said to have miraculous powers to assist all those who pray to her. The Mizusawa Temple is the 16th in the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, a pilgrimage circuit of 33 Buddhist temples in Eastern Japan.
Areas

What is Gunma?
Gunma prefecture is synonymous with onsen. Natural hot spring water sources throughout the prefecture have given rise to a series of small onsen towns, each set among luscious mountains. At Kusatsu, Ikaho, and Minakami, traditional indoor and outdoor bathing experiences are served hand in hand with irresistible onsen-themed food, including steam-cooked eggs and custard pudding.
- prev
- 1
- 2
- next
Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
-
- Warm Cloth
- Feb
-
- Warm Cloth
- Mar
-
- Warm Cloth
- Apr
-
- Jacket
- May
-
- Long
- Jun
-
- Long
- Jul
-
- Short
- Aug
-
- Short
- Sep
-
- Long
- Oct
-
- Jacket
- Nov
-
- Jacket
- Dec
-
- Warm Cloth
Getting Around
Just 100 kilometers from Tokyo, Gunma is a popular relaxing weekend getaway with plenty of transport options from all-inclusive onsen and bus deals to more flexible train journeys. Both the Hokuriku and Joetsu bullet trains stop at Takasaki in the south of Gunma prefecture, while local and express trains also run between Tokyo and Gunma with more stations across the prefecture.