About | Access | Area Map | Attractions
About
Minakami Onsen (in Japanese; 水上温泉) is a town and Onsen Area (hot springs area) about 3 hours from Tokyo and one of the four most famous hot spring resort areas in Gunma Prefecture (the four largest being Ikaho Onsen, Kusatsu Onsen, Minakami Onsen and Shima Onsen). There are a total of nine small onsen resort areas within the Minakami area each sitting along streams and rivers that come down from the Tanigawa mountain range. Some of the resort areas are small little towns with large modern hotels while other areas consist of just one lone ryokan nestled deep in the mountains. The ryokan "Takaragawa Onsen" is probably the most famous hot springs ryokan in the Minakami area with it's old and beautiful wooden ryokan and huge outdoor mixed bathing baths (check availability at Takaragawa Onsen). Having an abundance of hot springs, mountains and nature there is lots to do in Minakami including soaking in hot springs, skiing, canoing, rafting, paragliding, bungee jumping, buggy riding, trekking, canyoning, hands-free fish picking, museums and water falls... making it a year-round destination for those who love outdoor sports and or for those who love to take it easy relaxing at a ryokan or resort hotel.
The hot springs water in the Minakami area is a tasteless, odorless, colorless and transparent calcium sulfate spring. Mineral concentration is low, so it is soft on the skin and warms the body gently; known for treating bruises and cuts, wounds such as burns, and even breakouts of acne and rashes on the skin. Most all the hotels and ryokans offer "Daily Bathing" for a small fee (typically between 500 and 1,500 yen) along with a couple Public Bath houses. However, the best way to experience the soothing waters of Minakami is by staying at one of the luxurious hotels or rustic traditional Japanese ryokans.
If you have never been to a Japanese hot springs and don't exactly know what to do, please read our Japan Hot Springs - how to Japan guide. Our guide talks about Japanese hot springs etiquette and how to use a Japanese hot springs.
Access
from Tokyo
- by Train
- Shinkansen > Bus - from Tokyo or Ueno Station. Costs around 6,400 yen and takes about 1 hour 45 min. plus transfers.
Ride the Shinkansen to Jomo Kogen and the take a local bus to Minakami Station (or other destination). The Shinkansen is covered by the JR Pass but the bus is not. - Local > Local - from Ueno Station. Costs around 3,020 yen and takes about 3 hours 10 min.
Totally covered by a JR Pass and pretty cheap just paying the regular fare. The ride is only about 3 hours with one transfer.
- Shinkansen > Bus - from Tokyo or Ueno Station. Costs around 6,400 yen and takes about 1 hour 45 min. plus transfers.
Area Map
Attractions
Here is a list of some of the top Attractions in & nearby Minakami Onsen.
Takaragawa Onsen
Hours: N/A
Closed: N/A
Admission Cost: free for ryokan guests, 1,500 yen for day use (1,000 after 4:00 p.m.)
Website: Check Room Availability | Homepage
Map: Google Map
Takaragawa Onsen (宝川温泉汪泉閣) in the Minakami area has one of the largest and most famous outdoor baths (rotenburo; 露天風呂) in the country. Furthermore, this bath is "Mixed" bathing (men & women together although there is a "women's only" bath available). The Takaragawa Onsen is the only onsen in the Osenkaku Onsen area and sits along a beautiful meandering and sometimes raging river. Takaragawa Onsen can also be reached and used as a "day trip" destination although staying at the ryokan is highly recommended!
Hoshi - Chojukan Ryokan
Hours: 27/7 for Ryokan Guests. 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for day use.
Closed: Wednesday
Admission Cost: 1,000 yen
Website: Check Room Availability | Homepage
Map: Google Map
Chojukan Ryokan (法師温泉長寿館) in the Minakami area is the only ryokan onsen in the Hoshi Onsen area. It is deep in the mountains, isolated from everything and has an incredible & authentic Japanese feel. Chojukan Ryokan is famous for it's indoor wooden, mixed gender baths where bubbles bubble up from the stone floor of the bath.
Tanigawa Onsen Public Bath
Hours: July - Oct. 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Nov. - June 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Closed: 3rd Thurs. every month
Admission Cost: 570 yen
Website: Homepage
Map: Google Map
Tanigawa Onsen Public Bath (湯テルメ・谷川) in the Minakami area is a Public Bath house that everyone can enjoy. There are indoor baths and large outdoor baths that sit along side the Tone River surrounded by forest and hills.
Mantenboshi No Yu
Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Tuesdays
Admission Cost: 650 yen (for 3 hours)
Website: Homepage
Map: Google Map
Mantenboshi No Yu (まんてん星の湯) is a public bath house / spa in the Sarugakyo Onsen area that overlooks the surrounding area including Lake Akaya. There are many indoor and outdoor baths, a restaurant and massages are offered.
Takumi No Sato
Hours: in general 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed: varies depending on shop/store
Admission Cost: mostly free, some workshops have a fee
Website: N/A
Map: Google Map
Takumi No Sato (たくみの里) is an old Japanese style village just south of Lake Akaya. There are arts and crafts shops, workshops and of course a variety of restaurants. You can pay a fee (500-1,000 yen depending on the shop) to learn how to make Soba or Japanese paper or a variety of other things. Takumi No Sato is a nice place to stop by for an hour or two on a date or with your family before hitting one of the great hot springs in the Minakami area. There is a bus that runs from Jomo Kogen Station to the Takumi no Sato bus stop which takes about 20 min. and costs around 700 yen. On some days the town is virtually empty of people while on other days it can get quite packed.
Tobe House
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed: Monday & National Holidays
Admission Cost: 210 yen
Website: N/A
Map: Google Map
Tobe House (戸部家住宅) is a preserved Edo Era (1603 - 1868) farmhouse. The interior of the house has been beautifully restored to how it would have looked like hundreds of years ago.
