Ikaho hot spring town

During a nice autumn day I just used the chance to travel to the small town of Ikaho in Gunma Prefecture. Ikaho is a very popular hot spring town with a flair of the 50s, which has two different kinds of hot spring water -- the golden water (Kogane-no-yu) is rich in iron which makes the water turn brown when it is exposed to the air. It is said that Kogane-no-yu hot water will help to ease muscle pains. And then there is the silver water (Shirogane-noyu) which is transparent and clear and will help you to get new energy after an illness.

Both of Ikaho's hot spring waters are very enjoyable and if you have the chance, you should try both. Ikaho is also well known for its very long stone staircase (with 365 steps) around the hot spring area, where the hot water runs through the middle of the stairs and you can see the hot-water steam. You may have seen this place already in many famous Japanese dramas.


During the autumn season Ikaho is also a very popular destination to enjoy the autumn foliage.  Especially the town's little Kajika bridge which is an old, red Japanese wooden bridge just behind the huge stone staircase. You can reach Kajika bridge in a 10-minute walk or use a bus to go there.

Around the bridge are many little maple trees which are shining in beautiful reds and oranges during the autumn season. Also, this spot will be lit up in the evening during the fall. Unfortunately this spot is very popular so it's recommended to go there very early in the morning to avoid the crowds. 

We also found another very beautiful spot just next to the popular stone steps of Ikaho. Just in front of the old vacation house of the Hawaiian Minister is a little pond on a hill surrounded by yellow and red maple and ginkgo trees. Especially on a sunny day it looks amazingly beautiful and you can also take a look down to the rest of the city.

If you are going to Ikaho by car I also recommend to go on a short drive up the mountain to the Takane Observation Deck on Mt. Takane. From there you will have a beautiful view over the city and the surrounding mountains. Also, in spring, you can take a small walk around the nearby park which is full with hundreds of plum trees.

Besides many good hot springs in the Ikaho area you can also visit many interesting museums like the Gunma Glass Art Museum, Ikaho Toy Museum or the Takehisa Yumeji Museum.

Nearby is the beautiful Lake Haruna, which is located at the foot of the volcano Haruna high up in the mountains just a few kilometers away from Ikaho. It is a very popular camping spot because of the chilly temperatures even in summer. You can also go on a swan boat ride on the lake or just take a walk by the lakeside, which is really nice. In winter, it is even possible to skate on the lake.


How to get to Ikaho:

It takes around two hours by train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Takasaki and then you have to change to JR Joetsu line trains until Shibukawa Station from where you take the Kanetsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen.  This bus will bring you to the center of Ikaho in around 20 minutes.

It is also possible to use a direct bus from Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station to Ikaho, which runs around 10 times per day. The whole trip takes around 2.5 hours one way and costs 3,000 yen.