Minakami Onsen - Relax at Fabulous Hot Springs Near Tokyo!

Minakami Onsen - Gunma's Famous Hot Springs

Minakami Onsen is a hot spring resort town in Minakami, the northernmost point of Gunma prefecture. Along with Kusatsu Onsen and Ikaho Onsen, Minakami Onsen is known for being one of the prominent hot spring areas in the Kanto region.

In recent years, there has been a growing number of activities that take advantage of the natural spots found in this region. Tone River, a river that runs along the side of Minakami where the hot springs are clustered, is a river where you can take part in rafting and canoeing. Along with the nine ski resorts here where you can ski and snowboard in winter, this is a town that has the perfect environment for everybody from kids to adults to be able to enjoy the outdoors.

The Health Benefits and Distinguishing Features of Minakami Onsen

The quality of water in the hot springs is different in every bath. The most notable quality of water at Minakami Onsen is the calcium sulfate spring. A calcium spring is said to be good for treating bruises and cuts, wounds such as burns, and even breakouts of acne and rashes on the skin. These waters are clear and colorless.

How to Get to Minakami Onsen from Tokyo

For those coming from Tokyo, it’s best to take the JR Joetsu shinkansen. From Tokyo Station, get on the Joetsu Toki shinkansen headed for Niigata and get off at Jomokogen Station. It takes about an hour and 10 minutes, and costs 5390 yen.

Upon arriving at Jomokogen Station, get on the Kanetsu Transport regular route bus and get off at the closest stop to Minakami Onsen, Minakami Station bus stop. It takes about 25 minutes, and (as of March 2017) costs 620 yen.

By Highway Bus from Shinjuku Station

From December 1st 2017 to May 6th 2018, from Shinjuku's highway bus terminal, Busta Shinjuku fourth floor to Minakami Station, Kan'etsu Highway Bus, the Joshu Yukemura Liner for Minakami Onsen, is available.

One-way tickets are 3300 yen, round trip are 5500 yen. It takes just four hours to travel from Shinjuku Station to Minakami Station on this bus.

Day Trips at Minakami Onsen

Now we’d like to introduce you to the spots at the Minakami Onsen where day visitors can enjoy a hot spring bath. No matter where in the country you look, hot springs are often close to rivers, lakes, and mountains, which means that the views from open-air baths are simply magnificent.

Takaragawa Onsen Takaragawa Mountain Villa

Photo provided by Minamikawa City Tourism Association

As one of the locations in the 2014 Japanese movie "Thermae Romae II", Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku is a hot spring and Japanese-style inn that’s not only well-known in Japan, but is also now well-known around the world. The hot spring here that is also available to one-day visitors to enjoy is the Takaragawa Onsen Takaragawa Mountain Villa.

Photo provided by Minamikawa City Tourism Association

The centerpiece here is the large open-air bath that was built to run along the mountain stream. Here there is also mixed bathing, where both men and women enter the same bath, with the bath measuring roughly 200 square meters. Gazing at the river that flows right beside this open-air bath makes it very welcoming.

Day visitors are allowed to enter the baths from 9:00-17:00, but those who are staying at the Japanese-style inn here are allowed to bathe whenever they’d like. For those that would like to soak in the baths here at their leisure, then it’s probably best to book a room.

Fee: Adult 1500 yen (bathing after 15:00 1200 yen), children 1000 yen (bathing after 15:00 800 yen) *consumption and bathing tax included
Hours: 9:00-17:00
Address: Gunma, Tonegun, Minakami, Fujiwara, 1899
Website: http://www.takaragawa.com/english.html

Mantenboshi no Yu

Photos provided by: Minamikawa City Tourism Association

In Japanese, mantenboshi means ‘a perfect score for the stars’, and yu means ‘hot water’ and ‘hot spring’. At night, from this open-air bath, you can see a sky full of perfect stars, which is where this hot spring got its name from. From here you can also enjoy amazing views of Lake Akaya too.

Within the Japanese style ‘Sato no Yu’ and Western-style ‘Tanabata no Yu’ springs, there are an open-air bath and an indoor bath. There is also a restaurant on-site and a free rest area, so visitors can relax both in and out of the springs here.

Fee (for 3 hours): Those older than middle school students 670 yen, children (over the age of 3) 420 yen *consumption and bathing tax included
Address: Gunma, Tonegun, Minakami, Sarugakyo onsen, 1150-1
Hours: 10:00-21:00 (last entrance 20:00)
Closed: Tuesday (open on holidays)
Website: http://www.mantenboshinoyu.com/ (Japanese)

Suzumori no Yu

Photos provided by: Minamikawa City Tourism Association

The source of the water in this onsen comes from an ancient spring bubbling up through the earth since about 20,000,000 years ago. The open-air bath here is in a spot that faces the Ano river, so you can enjoy a stream and seasonal views while soaking in this bath. In particular, the winter scenery is said to be superb.

Photo provided by: Minamikawa City Tourism Association

The indoor bathtub is made from Japanese cypress. This was devised so that you could take in the scent of the tree while bathing. Inside the facilities at Suzumori no Yu is a fishing pond and an area set up for barbecues as well. Wouldn't it be nice to have a soak in a hot spring after enjoying the outdoors here?

Fee (2 hours): Adults 750 yen, elementary students 500 yen, infants (under the age of 3) 400 yen *consumption and bathing tax included
Address: Gunma, Tonegun, Minakami, Anokawa, 1009-2
Hours: 10:00-21:00
Closed: Second Wednesday of each month (closed the next day instead if a holiday; open every day in August)
Website: http://suzumorinoyu.com/ (Japanese)

Recommended Japanese-style Inns at Minamikawa Hot Springs

A Lodging Where the Moon Smiles - Ominekan

Photos provided by: Minamikawa City Tourism Association

Inside the grounds here are both indoor bathtubs and a free-flowing open-air bath which pumps water up from the source of the hot springs. They say that the baths here will warm up your body from the inside out. The hot springs here are available 24 hours a day, so you can enter whenever you’d like.

For dinner, you can enjoy a traditional Japanese meal where different dishes are served on individual trays. The select Japanese cuisine here features plentiful seasonal ingredients from the area, and their course featuring Japan's Joshu beef is said to be astounding.

Address: Gunma, Tonegun, Minakami, Ishikura, 229
Website: http://www.oominekan.jp/ (Japanese)

Bijin no Yu and Picked Vegetable Cuisine - ‘Sanazawa no Mori’

Photos provided by Minamikawa City Tourism Association

This inn's hot spring source is alkaline, so after bathing in the Bijin no Yu (beauty bath), you will notice a dramatic change in the texture and quality of your skin. From their open-air bath you can gaze out at a charming rice paddyas well.

Edible wild plants and vegetables that are picked locally are used in their special picked vegetable cuisine, which is an original dish produced by this accommodation. Included in this menu are tempura, along with homemade konjac. This is one menu that has a good reputation for being both delicious and healthy.

There’s also a plan for one day visitors that includes both lunch and dinner.

Address: Gunma, Tonegun, Minakami, Tsukiyono, 2537-2
Website: http://www.minakami-port.com/sanazawa/oneday/index.html (Japanese)

Minamikawa Kogen Hotel 200

Photos provided by Minamikawa City Tourism Association

This hotel is especially well-known for its Bijin no Yu spring, which has both an alkaline and simple sulfur hot spring. Their spacious bathhouse has a large window that grants bathers a panoramic view of the mountains outside.

In the evening there is an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet where you can enjoy 60 different kinds of Japanese and western dishes, all of which use a plentiful amount of local ingredients. All rooms here are Western-style.

Inside the grounds of the hotel, there is also a pool, golf course, and trekking course. In the winter months, the trekking course becomes a ski resort where guests can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.

Address: Gunma, Tonegun, Minakami, Fujiwara, 6152-1
Website: http://www.minakamikogen200.jp/en/

Tourist Spots and Regional Cuisine Near Minamikawa Hot Springs

In Minamikami, at the river head of the Tone River, there are what’s known as the four Okutone lakes: Lake Dogen, Lake Fujiwara, Lake Tone, and Lake Naramata. These are incredibly beautiful lakes.

Each of these lakes has its own dam for storing water; there’s the Sudagai dam, the Fujiwara dam, the Yagisawa dam, and the Naramata dam. These dams are all important tourist spots. The ‘Minakami Dam Curry’, which is a Japanese curry and rice dish where the rice is formed into the shape of a dam, has become one of the representative dishes of the area. You can enjoy numerous variations on this dish at restaurants throughout the town.

Along with food, there are studios throughout the town that make traditional handicrafts such as Japanese paper, bamboo ware, ceramics, masks, and so on. There are even places where you can try making these items yourself, which are experiences that are sure to make for some fantastic memories of your trip.

The city of Minamikami, a place where untouched nature still remains. With beautiful landscapes, impeccable hot springs, and gourmet cuisine, why not come to Minamikami and refresh your body and spirit?

For those who would like more detailed information on how to properly enter a hot spring, please take a look at Bath Culture In Japan: What Every Visitor Should Know Ahead Of Time’.

Minakami Town Tourism Association

1744-1 Tsukiyono, Minakami-cho, Tone-gun, Gunma 379-1313