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 hot-spring town, visitors can experience the history, culture, and lively atmosphere that have long been associated with Ikaho.
Today, the staircase consists of 365 steps. Walking slowly upward, one step at a time, is a great way to experience the character and history of Ikaho. Traditional inns, souvenir stores, Japanese sweet shops, and cafés line both sides of the street, offering something new to discover around every corner.
The Stone Steps are busy with visitors during the daytime, while from evening into the night, illumination transforms the area into a more atmospheric and almost magical scene. The nighttime view offers a different side of Ikaho from the daytime bustle.
The history of the Stone Steps dates back approximately 400 years. It is said that in 1576, during the Warring States period, the warlord Sanada Masayuki developed the hot-spring area under the orders of Takeda Katsuyori.
To make efficient use of the hot-spring water, water was channeled from the source and a system known as a yutō was constructed to carry the hot water down through the center of the town. Inns were then arranged systematically on both sides of the water channel.
This development is regarded as an early example of hot-spring town planning in Japan and became the foundation for the townscape of modern-day Ikaho Onsen. The Stone Steps are therefore more than just a tourist attraction—they are also a place where visitors can experience the history of Japanese hot-spring culture.
The current staircase underwent a major renovation over approximately five years beginning in 1980, when the steps were rebuilt using beautiful granite.
In 2010, the staircase was extended to the north, bringing the total to the present 365 steps.
The number 365 expresses the wish that the hot-spring town would remain lively throughout all 365 days of the year. True to that idea, Ikaho continues to welcome visitors throughout the year and the Stone Steps remain one of the area’s most recognizable attractions.
A popular activity on the Stone Steps is taking a photo at the step corresponding to your birthday. Visitors can look for the number associated with their birthday among the 365 steps and take a commemorative photograph while making a wish for happiness throughout the year.
Finding your birthday step is a simple but memorable way to enjoy the Stone Steps and create a personal souvenir of your visit.
Ikaho Onsen has long attracted writers, poets, and artists. Along the Stone Steps, visitors can find lines from the poem “Ikaho no Machi” by the renowned Japanese poet Yosano Akiko, carved directly into the steps.
In the poem, the town of Ikaho spreading across the slopes of Mount Haruna is compared to the beauty of an ancient Roman outdoor theater. Reading the poem while walking up the Stone Steps provides an opportunity to imagine the scenery of Ikaho as it appeared to visitors in the past.
Monuments inscribed with poems and haiku can also be found throughout the surrounding area. Walking among these literary landmarks while imagining the landscapes and feelings experienced by poets and writers of earlier generations adds another dimension to a visit to the Stone Steps.
Marks representing the twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac can be found along the Stone Steps. Their origins date back to the Edo period, when twelve inns known as ōya, which held rights to receive hot-spring water, were each associated with one of the zodiac signs.
The marks remain today as reminders of the locations where these inns once stood. While walking through the town, try finding the zodiac sign associated with your own birth year.
Another attraction of the Stone Steps is the opportunity to enjoy traditional entertainment reminiscent of old-fashioned hot-spring resorts. Game arcades, including shateki shooting galleries, can be found along the street and offer simple entertainment for both adults and children.
Many shooting galleries once lined the town, and some of that nostalgic atmosphere remains today. Trying these traditional games while exploring the hot-spring town is a fun way to experience the retro character of Ikaho.
If your legs become tired after climbing the 365 steps, you can take a break at a foot bath along the way. It offers an easy way to enjoy Ikaho’s famous Kogane no Yu, or “Golden Spring” while giving your feet a well-deserved rest.
The Stone Steps are also an excellent place to sample local food. Eating snacks and specialties sold from shops along the street while exploring the town is one of the classic ways to enjoy Ikaho.
Onsen manju are steamed Japanese sweets enjoyed at hot-spring resorts throughout Japan, and Ikaho Onsen is traditionally regarded as their birthplace.
The brown outer layer is made with brown sugar and is said to have been inspired by the color of the hot-spring water. Inside is a smooth red bean paste with a refined sweetness. An onsen manju makes an ideal snack to enjoy while walking along the Stone Steps.
Another popular street food in Ikaho is ball-shaped konnyaku simmered in a flavorful broth and soy sauce.
The hot konnyaku is served straight from a steaming pot and is often enjoyed with a small amount of Japanese mustard. Simple yet full of savory flavor, it is an easy snack to enjoy while exploring the town.
In recent years, more stylish cafés have opened along the Stone Steps, offering sweets such as soft-serve ice cream, crêpes, and pancakes.
Stopping at a café partway up the steps to enjoy a drink or dessert while looking out over the hot-spring town is a pleasant way to take a break. The combination of traditional hot-spring-town scenery and contemporary cafés has become one of the newer attractions of the Stone Steps.
After climbing all 365 steps, visitors arrive at Ikaho Shrine, a peaceful shrine surrounded by forest.
Ikaho Shrine is associated with deities connected with hot springs, healing, and prosperity in business, and has long been regarded as a guardian of Ikaho Onsen.
The shrine is also traditionally associated with blessings for good relationships, childbirth, and health, and many visitors stop to pray after climbing the Stone Steps. After reaching the top, taking a quiet moment in the shrine grounds and enjoying the fresh mountain air is a rewarding way to complete the walk.
Ikaho Stone Steps Street is much more than a sightseeing attraction. The history of the hot-spring town dating back to the Warring States period, its literary heritage, nostalgic games, local foods, and traditional hot-spring culture all come together along this historic street.
Take your time climbing the steps, stopping at shops that catch your eye, relaxing at a foot bath, and discovering stone monuments and literary works along the way. These small experiences are part of what makes a walk through Ikaho so memorable.
When visiting Ikaho Onsen, be sure to set aside time to explore the Stone Steps at a leisurely pace. As you walk through the historic streets, you can experience the atmosphere of a hot-spring town whose culture and traditions have welcomed travelers for hundreds of years.