Recommended sightseeing information for Shibukawa and Ikaho. In addition to the Ikaho Hot Springs, sightseeing spots in Shibukawa and Ikaho include Mizusawa Kannon, Kawaga Bridge, Takehisa Yumeji Ikaho Memorial Museum, Ikaho Green Pasture, Ikaho Shrine, Shibukawa Skyland Park, Hara Museum ARC, Ikaho Toy, Doll, and Car Museum, and the Ikaho Ropeway.
Also recommended are local delicacies such as Mizusawa udon noodles, onsen manjyu, which are said to have originated in Ikaho, tofu sweets, and oshikirikomi.
Mizusawa Udon is a traditional handmade udon noodle dish that has been passed down for more than 400 years in the Mizusawa area of Ikaho, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Along with Inaniwa Udon from Akita Prefecture and Sanuki Udon from Kagawa Prefecture, it is widely recognized as one of the “Three Great Udon” varieties of Japan. With a history said to span more than four centuries, Mizusawa U...»
Monzen Soba is a local specialty that has long been enjoyed by visitors to Haruna Shrine in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. Handmade soba noodles are prepared using traditional buckwheat varieties grown around the foothills of Mount Haruna and clear spring water from the mountain. The noodles are known for their fragrant aroma and smooth, pleasant texture. Enjoying a bowl of soba in the traditional a...»
Haruna Foothills Pears are a seasonal specialty grown along the southern foothills of Mt. Haruna in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. In particular, pears produced around Shimosatomi in Satomi District are known as Satomi Pears and are widely recognized both within and beyond Gunma. The foothills of Mt. Haruna offer well-drained soil, abundant sunshine, and significant differences between daytime and n...»
Haruna Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Harunayamacho, Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. Nestled deep within the forests of Mount Haruna, one of the Three Mountains of Jomo alongside Mount Akagi and Mount Myogi, the shrine has been an important center of mountain worship for centuries. The grounds are surrounded by dramatic rock formations, enormous old trees, and a clear mountain stream, ...»
Lake Haruna is a crater lake located within the caldera of Mount Haruna in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. At an elevation of approximately 1,084 meters, the lake has a circumference of about 4.8 kilometers, an area of approximately 1.2 square kilometers, and a maximum depth estimated at around 12 to 15 meters. Created through the volcanic activity of Mount Haruna, the lake is surrounded by a series ...»
Ikaho Onsen is a historic hot spring resort in Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Along with Kusatsu Onsen, it is one of Gunma's best-known hot spring destinations and has attracted visitors seeking relaxation and traditional hot spring therapy for centuries. The town stretches along the eastern slopes of Mount Haruna at elevations of approximately 650 to 800 meters. From the hillside ...»
Nama-imo Konnyaku is a traditional style of konjac made by grating fresh konjac tubers rather than using powdered konjac flour, which is the standard ingredient for most modern konjac products. Using the fresh tuber gives this traditional konjac its distinctive flavor and firm, pleasantly springy texture....»
Yunohana Manju is one of the signature sweets of Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. The onsen manju of Ikaho Onsen is known as Japan's first hot spring manju, and today it remains one of the most popular souvenirs for visitors to the hot spring town....»
Mount Haruna is a volcanic mountain complex in central Gunma Prefecture and one of the “Three Mountains of Jōmō”, together with Mount Akagi and Mount Myōgi. It is one of Gunma’s most iconic natural landmarks and has been revered as a sacred mountain since ancient times. With its magnificent scenery, abundant nature, and deep connection to local history and religious traditions, Mount Haruna conti...»
Lake Haruna is a crater lake located within the caldera of Mount Haruna in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. Situated at an elevation of approximately 1,084 meters, the lake covers about 1.2 square kilometers and has a shoreline of approximately 4.8 kilometers. Its deepest point is estimated to be around 12 to 15 meters. Surrounded by mountains, the tranquil lake has long been a place where nature, rel...»
Ikaho Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the heart of Ikaho Onsen in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture. For centuries, it has been revered as the guardian shrine of Ikaho's hot springs. The shrine is recorded in the ancient Engishiki Jinmyocho, an official 10th-century register of important Shinto shrines, where it is listed as a Myōjin Taisha, one of the highest-ranking categories of shrine...»
Takehisa Yumeji Ikaho Memorial Museum is a private museum located in Ikaho, Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture. The museum is dedicated primarily to the works and personal materials of Takehisa Yumeji, a celebrated Japanese artist and poet who became one of the defining figures of the romantic culture of the Taisho era (1912–1926). Set amid the natural beauty of the Ikaho Onsen area, the museum introduc...»
Akagi Nature Park is a large nature observation park located in Akagi, Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture. It is currently operated by Credit Saison. Covering an extensive area of woodland, the park provides visitors with opportunities to enjoy the changing beauty of the four seasons and encounter a wide variety of plants, insects, birds, and other forms of wildlife. Rather than being a conventional lan...»
Haruna Mountain Ropeway is a popular sightseeing attraction in Haruna-kocho, Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. The ropeway connects Haruna Kogen Station on the shores of Lake Haruna with Haruna Fuji Summit Station, climbing approximately 269 meters in elevation in just about three minutes. As the gondola rises above the mountain slopes, passengers can enjoy spectacular views of Mount Haruna, Lake Harun...»
Shibukawa City is located near the center of Gunma Prefecture, at the northwestern edge of the Kanto Plain, approximately 120 kilometers from central Tokyo. Historically, its location made it an important transportation hub, and the city developed as a post town during the Edo period. Today, Shibukawa is a popular tourist destination known for its hot springs, beautiful natural scenery, historica...»
Yoshioka Town is located near the center of Gunma Prefecture and belongs to Kitagunma District. It borders Shibukawa City to the north and Maebashi City to the east, while the majestic mountains of Mount Haruna stretch across the western horizon. The town extends from the eastern foothills of Mount Haruna toward the Tone River. With beautiful natural surroundings alongside convenient urban facili...»
Shinto Village is a peaceful rural community located on the eastern foothills of Mount Haruna, near the center of Gunma Prefecture. Although it is close to major cities such as Maebashi, Takasaki, and Shibukawa, the village retains a tranquil landscape of rice fields, forests, and traditional countryside. Ancient historical sites, seasonal natural scenery, hands-on activities, and locally produce...»
Roadside Station Yoshioka Onsen is a roadside station located along National Route 17, the Maebashi-Shibukawa Bypass, in Yoshioka Town, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture. Set in a scenic natural environment overlooking the clear waters of the Tone River and the majestic Mount Akagi, the facility combines hot springs, sports facilities, local products, restaurants, and other attractions in one c...»
Sannomiya Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Okubo, Yoshioka Town, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture. Traditionally said to have been founded during the Nara period (710–794), the shrine has long served as the guardian shrine of the Okubo area and has been an important center of local faith. The shrine remains deeply connected to the local community. During its spring festival, trad...»
Funao Falls is a spectacular waterfall in Yoshioka Town, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture, and is one of the town's most representative natural attractions. Surrounded by the forests and mountains of the Mount Haruna range, the waterfall is fed by abundant spring water that plunges dramatically over a steep cliff. With a drop of approximately 72 meters, Funao Falls creates an impressive sight...»
The Life and Sexuality Museum is a unique educational attraction in Yoshioka Town, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture. Located near Ikaho Onsen, it is an unusual and memorable place to visit while exploring the surrounding area. Since opening in 2002, the museum has explored the important human themes of life and sexuality through a wide range of exhibits and educational materials. Rather than ...»
Chinpo-kan Treasure Museum is a unique museum in Yoshioka Town, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture. Located along the route to Ikaho Onsen, it is known as one of the unusual sightseeing attractions in the area and is part of Japan's distinctive hihokan museum culture, which presents materials related to human sexuality, customs, and folk culture. The museum is particularly famous for the entert...»
Shibukawa City Akagi Historical Museum is a local history museum in Akagi Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, where visitors can explore the long history and cultural heritage of the region. The museum stands on part of the former Katsuhosawa Castle Site, allowing visitors to learn about local history while surrounded by a peaceful natural environment and the atmosphere of a historic site. Th...»
The Former Hawaiian Kingdom Minister's Villa is a historic building in Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. It is part of a former summer villa once used by Robert W. Alwyn, the Hawaiian Kingdom's Minister to Japan, at a time when Hawaii was still an independent kingdom. Locally, the building has long been known as “Alwyn-san's Villa.” Today, it is preserved and open to the public as a S...»
Hokkitsu Historical Museum is a local history museum in Hokkitsu Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. The museum introduces the history and culture of the Hokkitsu area from the Paleolithic period to the present day. Through archaeological artifacts, folk materials, and cultural properties, visitors can discover how local communities developed and how people lived throughout the region's long h...»
Mizusawa-dera Temple is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Mizusawa, Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. The temple's mountain name is Gotokuzan, and its formal name is Muryojui-in. Its principal object of worship is the Eleven-Headed, Thousand-Armed Kannon, and the temple is widely known as the 16th temple of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, one of the major Buddhist pilgrimage routes in the Ka...»
The Ikaho Ropeway is a sightseeing cableway in Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, connecting the center of Ikaho Onsen with a scenic area near the summit of Mount Monomi. The ropeway is operated by Shibukawa City and is a popular way to enjoy the mountains and panoramic scenery surrounding the famous hot spring resort. From Hototogisu Station in the heart of the hot spring town, the ro...»
Ikaho Green Ranch is a popular tourist farm in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, located in a beautiful natural setting at the foot of Mount Haruna. Opened in October 1970, the ranch has become one of the best-known attractions in the area around Ikaho Onsen. More than 300 animals, including sheep, horses, ponies, goats, rabbits, and sheepdogs, live across the ranch's spacious green pastures. Vis...»
Michi-no-Eki Komochi is a roadside station in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, located along National Route 17. It was registered as a roadside station by the former Komochi Village on August 18, 2000, and has since become a popular local destination for both residents and visitors. The facility includes a market selling fresh locally grown vegetables, fruits, and regional specialties, as well a...»
Shibukawa Skyland Park is an amusement park located in Kanai, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Situated at an elevation of approximately 460 meters, the park enjoys an open setting surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. From the park, visitors can enjoy views across the Kanto Plain as well as magnificent mountains in the Joetsu region and surrounding areas, including Mount Tanigawa, Mount Akag...»
Hara Museum ARC is a contemporary art museum located at the foot of Mount Haruna in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Situated close to Ikaho Onsen and surrounded by abundant nature, the museum is set within spacious grounds where art and the natural environment come together. Together with the adjacent Ikaho Green Bokujo, it is one of Shibukawa's notable cultural and tourist attractions. The mus...»
Saku Power Station is a hydroelectric power station located in Bungo Hachizaki, Hokkitacho, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. It generates electricity using the abundant water resources of the Tone River basin and is currently operated by TEPCO Renewable Power. While the power station has supported local industry and everyday life for many years, the surrounding area is also known as a popular ch...»
Shirai Castle was a castle that once stood in Shirai, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. From the Muromachi period through the early Edo period, it served as an important strategic base in the region. Today, the site is preserved as the Shirai Castle Ruins and is designated as a Shibukawa City Historic Site. The castle was built on a river terrace near the confluence of the Tone and Agatsuma river...»
The Tokutomi Roka Memorial Museum of Literature is a literary museum located in Ikaho, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. The museum introduces the life and works of Tokutomi Roka, one of the leading writers of the Meiji era. Set on a hillside in Ikaho Onsen along the Joshusan Panoramic Highway, it offers a peaceful place to discover Japanese literature and history. Roka is best known as the autho...»
Michi-no-Eki Onoko is a roadside station located along National Route 353 in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. The station lies on a route leading to the Agatsuma Hot-Spring Area, including Shima Onsen, Sawatari Onsen, Kawarayu Onsen, and Kusatsu Onsen, making it a popular rest stop for travelers heading to these famous hot-spring destinations. Located near the center of Gunma Prefecture and surr...»
The Kamimiharada Kabuki Stage is a historic rural kabuki theater preserved in Kamimiharada, Akagi Town, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. It is believed to have been built around 1819, during the late Edo period, and is an important cultural heritage site that has supported local traditional performing arts for generations. In 1960, the stage was designated as a National Important Tangible Folk C...»
The Japan Chanson Museum is a music museum in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, dedicated to chanson, the traditional French genre of song. Founded on July 14, 1995, by renowned Japanese chanson singer Hiroshi Ashino, the museum was established to introduce the history and appeal of chanson to audiences in Japan. The museum displays a valuable collection of stage costumes, records, musical instru...»
Fo Guang Shan Housuiji Temple is a Taiwanese Buddhist temple located in Ikaho, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Set on the slopes of Mount Mizusawa near Ikaho Onsen, the temple was established as the headquarters of Fo Guang Shan Buddhism in Japan. The spacious grounds stretch across the mountainside, featuring magnificent architecture quite different from that of traditional Japanese temples. T...»
Chigira Jinsentei is a long-established traditional Japanese inn located in the heart of Ikaho Onsen in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Standing midway along the famous Ikaho Stone Steps, the inn is said to have been founded in 1502, giving it a history of more than 500 years. The inn combines the warm atmosphere of traditional wooden architecture with the opportunity to enjoy Ikaho's famous Ko...»
Ikaho Onsen is one of Gunma Prefecture's best-known hot-spring destinations. At the heart of the town is the famous Ikaho Stone Steps Street, a symbol of the resort and one of its most popular places for a stroll. The Stone Steps form the main street of Ikaho Onsen, lined with traditional ryokan inns, restaurants, souvenir shops, cafés, and nostalgic game arcades. Alongside the steam rising from ...»
The Shibukawa Heso Festival is one of the representative summer festivals of Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, held every July. The festival is famous for its unique Hara Odori, or "belly dance", in which participants paint large, humorous faces on their stomachs and dance through the streets to a lively rhythm. The festival was created around the idea that Shibukawa is known as the "belly button...»
Higashiagatsuma Town is a nature-rich town in Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. Located in northwestern Gunma and nestled at the northern foot of Mount Haruna, one of the famous Jōmō Sanzan, the town is known for its beautiful seasonal landscapes and its rich history and cultural heritage. Higashiagatsuma is also known throughout Japan for the discovery of the distinctive “Heart-Shaped Dogū”, ...»
Roadside Station Agatsuma Gorge is a tourism and community hub in Higashiagatsuma, Gunma Prefecture, developed as a gateway to the nationally designated Agatsuma Gorge. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, the facility offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy the area's spectacular landscape together with local food, culture, and hot springs. Located along Municipal Road 5284, the roadside st...»
The Heart-Shaped Clay Figurine, unearthed at the Gohara Archaeological Site in Higashiagatsuma, Gunma Prefecture, is one of the town’s most important cultural treasures. Believed to have been created during the Late Jōmon period, this remarkable figurine is highly regarded for its distinctive artistic form and archaeological significance. Because of its exceptional cultural and artistic value, th...»
Along the scenic Agatsuma Gorge in Higashiagatsuma, Gunma Prefecture, there was once a remarkable railway tunnel known as Tarusawa Tunnel. Measuring only about 7.2 meters in length, it was once widely known as the shortest railway tunnel in Japan. The tunnel was located on the former section of the JR East Agatsuma Line between Iwashima Station and Kawarayu-Onsen Station. Carved through a small p...»
Rising above Higashiagatsuma Town in Gunma Prefecture, Mount Iwabitsu is home to the historic ruins of Iwabitsu Castle. Built on the mountainside overlooking the northern bank of the Agatsuma River, this formidable mountain fortress played an important role during Japan’s turbulent Sengoku period. The castle became a strategic battleground between the Saitō clan, who were associated with Uesugi K...»
Conifer Iwabitsu is a nature-rich resort facility located in Higashiagatsuma Town, Gunma Prefecture. Situated halfway up Mount Iwabitsu, one of the region’s most distinctive mountains, the resort occupies a spacious site of approximately 5,600 tsubo (about 18,500 square meters). Surrounded by forests, the resort provides a peaceful setting where visitors can slow down and enjoy the changing scene...»
Agatsuma Gorge is a spectacular gorge extending along the middle reaches of the Agatsuma River between Higashiagatsuma Town and Naganohara Town in Gunma Prefecture. Designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1935, the gorge is known as the “Yabakei of Kanto”, a reference to the famous Yabakei Gorge in Oita Prefecture. The scenery is also celebrated in Jōmō Karuta, Gunma’s traditional card ga...»
A Magnificent Ancient Tree at a Historic Intersection The Haramachi Great Zelkova Tree stands in Haramachi, Higashiagatsuma Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. Estimated to be around 1,000 years old, this enormous zelkova is one of the area's most remarkable natural landmarks. The tree stands in the center of the Tsukinoki three-way intersection, where Gunma Prefectural Roads 35 and 58 me...»
A Famous Source of Pure Water in Higashiagatsuma Hakoshima Spring Water is a remarkably clear natural spring located in Hakoshima, Higashiagatsuma Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. Recognized by Japan's Ministry of the Environment as one of the “100 Remarkable Waters of Japan,” the spring emerges beside Hakoshima Fudōson Temple, also known as Hakoshima Fudō-dō. The water bubbles continu...»
Kawanaka Onsen is a quiet hot spring retreat tucked away in the mountains of Higashiagatsuma Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. Surrounded by a clear mountain stream, forested valleys, and abundant nature, it offers a peaceful escape from the bustle of everyday life. Unlike the large hot spring resorts found elsewhere in Japan, Kawanaka Onsen has no traditional resort town. Instead, a sin...»
The Karuta Museum in Higashiagatsuma Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, is a unique exhibition facility dedicated to Jōmō Karuta, a traditional card game that has become an important symbol of Gunma's local culture. It is the first permanent exhibition facility in Gunma devoted specifically to Jōmō Karuta. Through the cards, visitors can discover the prefecture's history, famous people, n...»
The Shinto Village Earring Museum is a municipal history museum in Shinto Village, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture. It is a rare specialized museum devoted entirely to earrings and other ear ornaments. Its collections range from earrings dating back to the Jōmon period of prehistoric Japan to examples gathered from cultures around the world, allowing visitors to explore the history and cultur...»
Ryūtakuji Temple, located in Shinto Village, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture, is a historic temple belonging to the Tendai school of Japanese Buddhism. Its formal name is Funaozan Ryūtakuji. Located on the eastern foothills of Mount Haruna, the temple is surrounded by peaceful natural scenery and has long been a place of religious devotion for the local community. Ryūtakuji is associated wit...»
The Kayano Archaeological Site is located on the foothills of Mount Haruna in Shinto Village, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture. This valuable archaeological site provides an insight into the lives of people who lived here during the Late to Final Jōmon period, several thousand years ago. Today, the site has been developed as a lush green park, allowing visitors to reflect on the distant past ...»
Chikyūya, located in Shinto Village, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture, is a popular tourist destination where visitors can discover Japanese-style goods, handmade crafts, and a wide variety of hands-on workshops. One of its main attractions is the “World’s Largest Hanging Ornament”, which is permanently displayed inside the facility and is registered with Guinness World Records. With its comb...»
The Gunma Maitake Center, located in Yoshioka Town, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture, is a facility where visitors can purchase fresh maitake mushrooms carefully cultivated at the company’s own growing facility. The center combines a maitake cultivation factory with a direct sales shop, making it a popular stop for tourists and travelers on a drive through the area. The shop sells fresh maita...»
Usaburo Kokeshi, located in Shinto Village, Gunma Prefecture, is a workshop and visitor facility where guests can discover the appeal of kokeshi, traditional Japanese wooden dolls. Visitors can observe artisans making original kokeshi dolls and also try their hand at creating a one-of-a-kind doll through a hands-on painting experience. Combining traditional craftsmanship with interactive activiti...»
Hanayu Sky Terme Resort, located in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, is a popular day-use hot spring facility designed around the concept of a relaxing resort retreat. Its distinctive spaceship-like exterior immediately catches the eye, while inside, visitors can enjoy natural hot springs, stone saunas, relaxation facilities, and a restaurant in a comfortable resort setting. The resort is conven...»
Jōmō Karuta is a traditional regional karuta card game created in Gunma Prefecture in 1947. The set consists of 44 cards, with each reading card introducing an aspect of Gunma, including its natural scenery, history, culture, famous people, industries, and local specialties. The name “Jōmō” comes from an old name for the region now known as Gunma. Jōmō Karuta was created not simply as a game, but...»
Hato-no-Yu Onsen is a historic hot spring destination in Higashiagatsuma Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. It lies quietly along the valley of the Nurukawa River, a tributary of the Agatsuma River, on the northern foothills of Mount Asama-Kakushi. Surrounded by dense forests and mountain scenery, this secluded hot spring offers a peaceful setting where visitors can enjoy traditional Japa...»
Yakushi Onsen is a historic hot spring in Higashiagatsuma Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture. Nestled in the mountains of Mount Asama-Kakushi, it lies along the valley of the Nurukawa River, a tributary of the Agatsuma River. Surrounded by peaceful mountain scenery, Yakushi Onsen is a place where visitors can enjoy a traditional Japanese hot spring experience while discovering historic arc...»