Table of Contents
- Kusatsu Onsen | The Yubatake and Japan’s Largest Natural Spring Flow
- Ikaho Onsen | 365 Stone Steps and Two Hot Spring Sources
- Haruna Shrine | An Ancient Shrine Among Giant Rocks on Mount Haruna
✔ In Short — Our Top Picks
- Kusatsu Onsen | The Yubatake and Japan’s Largest Natural Spring Flow — One of Japan’s Three Great Hot Springs, with a natural flow of about 32,300 liters per minute, said to be the largest in Japan.
- Ikaho Onsen | 365 Stone Steps and Two Hot Spring Sources — A 365-step stone stairway lined with ryokan and shops, and two sources: the brownish “Kogane no Yu” and the clear “Shirogane no Yu.”
- Haruna Shrine | An Ancient Shrine Among Giant Rocks on Mount Haruna — A shrine on the slopes of Mount Haruna, said to have been founded about 1,400 years ago, with the giant Misugata-iwa rock rising behind the main hall.
Read on for the appeal, history, and access details of each spot.
3 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Gunma Prefecture
– What Is Gunma Prefecture? –
Gunma Prefecture lies in the northwest of the Kanto region. Many ancient burial mounds are scattered across the prefecture, and in the Sengoku period warlords such as Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen contended for control of the area.
Gunma has many hot spring towns, including Kusatsu and Ikaho. This article introduces three spots: Kusatsu Onsen, Ikaho Onsen, and Haruna Shrine.
Kusatsu Onsen | The Yubatake and Japan’s Largest Natural Spring Flow
Appeal of Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen, in Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma District, is counted among Japan’s Three Great Hot Springs. Its natural spring flow is said to be the largest in Japan, at about 32,300 liters per minute.
At the Yubatake (hot water field) in the center of town, about 4,000 liters of water gush out every minute, sending up clouds of steam. The water is strongly acidic at pH 2.1 with strong bactericidal properties, and is said to help with neuralgia, muscle and joint pain, poor circulation, and chronic skin conditions.
Because the source water is very hot, it is traditionally cooled by “yumomi,” stirring it with long wooden paddles, and you can watch yumomi demonstrations.
History of Kusatsu Onsen
There are several theories about its origins: that Yamato Takeru discovered it about 1,800 years ago on his return from an eastern expedition, that the monk Gyoki discovered it in the Nara period, and a tradition that Minamoto no Yoritomo found it during a hunting expedition in the Kamakura period.
In the Edo period it was ranked Ozeki, the top rank in hot spring rankings, and records show that the eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, had its water carried to Edo. In the Meiji era, the German physician Erwin von Baelz visited Kusatsu and praised its water and environment.
The current Yubatake was laid out in 1975 to a design supervised by the artist Taro Okamoto.
Access to Kusatsu Onsen
- Location: Kusatsu, Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma
- Google Maps Link: Kusatsu Onsen
- Transportation: Take a JR Bus Kanto bus from JR East Agatsuma Line Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, or a Kusakaru Kotsu bus from Karuizawa Station. Express buses run directly via the Joshu Yumeguri-go from Tokyo Station and Busta Shinjuku, and there are also direct buses from Shibuya Station and elsewhere. By car, access is available from the Kan-Etsu Expressway Shibukawa-Ikaho IC, Joshinetsu Expressway Ueda-Sugadaira IC, or Shinshu-Nakano IC (the Shiga-Kusatsu Kogen Route from Shinshu-Nakano IC is closed in winter).
Appeal of Ikaho Onsen
Ikaho Onsen in Shibukawa City is known for its 365 stone steps, lined on both sides with ryokan, souvenir shops, and tea houses. The number of steps expresses the wish that the town “be lively 365 days a year.”
There are two types of hot spring sources: the brownish “Kogane no Yu” (Golden Spring), rich in iron, is said to warm the body well and has long been known as the “Spring of Fertility.” On the other hand, the colorless and transparent “Shirogane no Yu” (Silver Spring), with its soft water quality, is said to be good for fatigue recovery and health promotion.
Nearby are Kajika Bridge, known for autumn foliage, and the Ikaho Ropeway, which offers views over the hot spring town.
History of Ikaho Onsen
Ikaho Onsen’s origins are said to date back to the era of Emperor Suinin, the 11th emperor (about 1,900 years ago). The Man’yoshu contains nine poems about Ikaho.
After the Battle of Nagashino (1575), Takeda Katsuyori is said to have ordered Sanada Masayuki to set up a place for wounded soldiers to recuperate. In the Edo period, hot spring cures combined with pilgrimages to Haruna Shrine became popular, and in 1890 the Ikaho Imperial Villa was established, making it a summer retreat for the Imperial family.
The stone step street is said to have been formed around 1576.
Access to Ikaho Onsen
- Address: Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa City, Gunma 377-0102
- Transportation: About 25 minutes by bus from JR Shibukawa Station (get off at the Ikaho Onsen or Ishidangai-guchi stop)
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UsuGxGRdGLhSnZFAA
Haruna Shrine | An Ancient Shrine Among Giant Rocks on Mount Haruna
Appeal of Haruna Shrine
Haruna Shrine in Takasaki City stands on the slopes of Mount Haruna, its grounds surrounded by giant rocks, unusual stones, and deep forest.
The giant “Misugata-iwa” rock rises behind the main hall, and the grounds also contain giant cedars said to be several hundred years old. Festivals are held throughout the year, including the Spring Grand Festival on May 15 and the Autumn Grand Festival on October 9 (kagura performances are suspended while the kagura hall is under restoration).
History of Haruna Shrine
The shrine is said to have been founded about 1,400 years ago and has flourished alongside mountain worship of Mount Haruna. It is listed as one of the twelve shrines of Kozuke Province in the shrine register of the “Engishiki,” completed in 927, which is said to be its first appearance in historical records.
Mount Haruna, a volcano, has long been regarded as a dwelling place of the gods, and Haruna Shrine also developed as a training ground for Shugendo (mountain asceticism).
From the Kamakura to the Sengoku period, samurai came here to pray for victory, and Takeda Shingen is said to have prayed for success here before going into battle.
Access to Haruna Shrine
- Address: 849 Harunasan-machi, Takasaki City, Gunma
- Google Maps Link: Haruna Shrine
- By Car: Approximately 60 minutes from Kan-Etsu Expressway Maebashi IC or Takasaki IC, approximately 20 minutes from Ikaho Onsen
- Train/Bus: Take the Gunma Bus bound for Lake Haruna from the west exit of JR Takasaki Line “Takasaki Station” and ride about 70 minutes to the Haruna Jinja stop, then walk about 15 minutes up the approach. Buses run roughly once per hour; check the Gunma Bus website for fares.
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