No car necessary! A two- Tomari, one-night retro sightseeing itinerary for Tomioka and Ikaho

Departing from Tokyo Station! How to get to Tomioka from Tokyo Station

Take the Toki 309 bound for Niigata , departing from Tokyo Station at 8:52, arriving at Takasaki Station at 9:47. From there, transfer to the Joshin Dentetsu line and after a leisurely 40-minute ride, you'll arrive at the quaint brick-built Tomioka Station.

Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the town while looking at the shopping street.

As you pass through the nostalgic atmosphere...

It's about a 10-minute walk from the station to the main spot of this trip, the Tomioka Silk Mill.

Travel back in time to the World Heritage Site, Tomioka Silk Mill

Tomioka Silk Mill is a model mechanized silk mill established by the Meiji government in 1872 to modernize Japan. After the Meiji Restoration, the government promoted the modernization of industry and science and technology in order to put Japan on an equal footing with Western countries. One way to raise funds for this was to focus on exporting raw silk. The government decided to create a model government-run factory equipped with Western-style reeling machines in order to improve the quality of raw silk, train production factories and technical instructors. Thus, Tomioka Silk Mill was built, and its main buildings remain almost unchanged to this day. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2014.

[Spot information]

Address: Tomioka Tomioka , Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture

Phone number: 0274-67-0075

Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30)

Closed : December 29th to 31st

Admission fee : Adults: 1,000 yen, High school and university students: 250 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 100 yen

Tomioka Silk Mill website

Okkirikomi, a local delicacy still loved by Tomioka residents

When you enter through the entrance...

A relaxing space that feels like you've known it for a long time

After your stroll, try okkirikomi, a local dish beloved by Tomioka residents. It's made with wide udon noodles simmered with local vegetables, and is sure to warm both the body and soul.

Ozawaya, a 90-year-old restaurant located just a two-minute walk from the Tomioka Silk Mill , offers a nostalgic atmosphere, reminiscent of visiting a relative's house, and the okkirikomi is exceptional. The simple flavor of the noodles, made with dried bonito stock and hand-made every day, has been preserved using the same method since the restaurant first opened.

*As the noodles are handmade, they will be sold out once they are gone.

[Spot information]

Address : 29 Tomioka, Tomioka Tomioka City

Phone number : 0274-62-0341

Business hours : 11:30am - 4:30pm (last order) *Ends when noodles run out

Closed : Thursdays and Fridays

From Tomioka to Ikaho Onsen, where you can enjoy the retro hot spring town

After enjoying a historical stroll at the Tomioka Silk Mill, head to Ikaho. First, take the Joshin Dentetsu line from Tomioka Station back to Takasaki Station, then take the Gunma Bus "Takasaki- Ikaho Line" for about an hour. The mountain scenery unfolds from the bus window, making for a relaxing journey.

Bus timetable from Takasaki Station to Ikaho

Experience a time slip at Ishidan-gai

A retro trip to Ikaho Stone Steps. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a traditional hot spring.

Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring resort that represents Gunma Prefecture. Its symbol, the 365-step Stone Steps Street, is a retro walking spot that still retains its traditional scenery. Inns and souvenir shops line the steps, and you can feel the atmosphere of the hot spring town with every step.

As you go up the stone steps, you'll find a hot spring manju shop with the scent of hot spring water in the air, and an amusement park where you can enjoy Showa games like shooting gallery and smart ball, which are popular with tourists. If you actually try shooting gallery, the feeling of holding a cork gun on a wooden platform is somehow nostalgic, and even adults can't help but get hooked. The light sound that echoes through the shop when the prize falls will also become a memory of your trip.

From evening to night, the stone steps are lit up, giving the town an even more retro atmosphere. After enjoying a stroll, stay the night at a ryokan (Japanese inn) near the stone steps and soak in Ikaho's famous Golden Hot Springs to gently warm your body and mind.

Ikaho Stone Steps Street retains the atmosphere of a good old hot spring town. It is a spot where you can spend some nostalgic time enjoying shooting galleries, eating while strolling, and touring the hot springs.

The next morning, sleep in a little and take your time on your journey home. We recommend spending some time relaxing and savoring the memories of your trip.

[Spot information]

Address: Near 94-2 Ikaho, Ikaho-cho, Shibukawa City

Shibukawa Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association

summary

Visit the historic Tomioka Silk Mill and the Ikaho Stone Steps, which are full of hot spring atmosphere. You can have a fulfilling trip even without a car, with shooting gallery experiences, gourmet food, and hot springs. Why not take a leisurely "retro trip" on your next day off?