Ikaho Onsen: Strolling the Stone Steps of Gunma's Famous Hot Spring

The symbol of Ikaho Onsen is the 365-step stone stairway that runs through the heart of the hot-spring town. Lined on both sides with souvenir shops, inns, shooting galleries, and hot-spring manju stores, it is wrapped in a richly atmospheric mood that makes strolling a pleasure. Located in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, this hot spring has been cherished for ages as one of Gunma's leading spas alongside Kusatsu Onsen. Known for its iron-rich, amber-brown "Golden Water," it is a popular destination where you can enjoy the stairway stroll, a soak in the baths, and the nature of Mt. Haruna all at once.

Highlights

Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring of long history, said to have taken shape as a spa town during the Sengoku period. To distribute the water efficiently across the steep slope, a distinctive system was built in which the water flows along both sides of the steps and is drawn into the inns. The town grew around this stairway, forming the atmospheric streetscape seen today. The number of steps is said to correspond to the days of the year, and along the way is a corner inscribed with a poem by Yosano Akiko. At the top of the steps sits Ikaho Shrine, dedicated to the guardian deity of the hot spring. Further on stands the vermilion Kajika Bridge, also known as a spot for autumn foliage.

Enjoying the Seasons

Ikaho's specialty is its iron-rich, amber-brown "Golden Water" (kogane-no-yu). Turning brown on contact with air, this water warms the body to the core and has long been cherished as a spring said to benefit women. There is also a clear "Silver Water" (shirogane-no-yu), so two types of spring can be enjoyed. Along the 365-step stairway, you can savor the local manju at the birthplace of the hot-spring manju, try retro shooting galleries, and enjoy pleasures unique to a spa town. Delightful year-round, the spring is especially recommended in the fresh green and autumn foliage seasons, when the surrounding nature is beautiful and pairs with the illumination of Kajika Bridge. Winter offers the charm of a snow-viewing bath.

Access & Basic Information

• Location: Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture
• By train: About 25 minutes by bus from Shibukawa Station on the JR Joetsu Line
• By car: Close to the Shibukawa-Ikaho IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway; a day trip from central Tokyo is possible
• Water: Two types, the amber-brown "Golden Water" and the clear "Silver Water"
• Nearby: Lake Haruna and Mt. Haruna, and Mizusawa Kannon, known for Mizusawa udon, are close

Practical Travel Notes

The charm of Ikaho is the stairway town, but as its name suggests it means continuous climbing and descending, so comfortable walking shoes are advisable. Going all the way to near the top and back adds up to a fair amount of exercise, so keep a comfortable pace. The Golden Water contains iron and can stain clothing, so it is safer to avoid white towels. Some facilities and public baths accept day-trip bathing, so you can enjoy the famous waters without staying overnight. Shops along the stairway may close early in the evening, so enjoy souvenir shopping and snacking while there is still daylight. With Mizusawa udon shops nearby, it is also a fine spot for food.

A Word of Advice

Ikaho's appeal lies in its one-of-a-kind character: the stairway stroll and two kinds of water. First walk the steps from bottom to top to soak in the atmosphere of the spa town, visit Ikaho Shrine, then go a little further to Kajika Bridge, where the foliage and illumination seasons offer especially beautiful scenery. After warming up thoroughly in the iron-rich Golden Water, savoring the local hot-spring manju is the tabitabi JAPAN editorial team's recommended way to finish.

📚 Sources

The content here is organized from public information by the Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association, official tourism information from Shibukawa City, public information on the public baths and day-use facilities, and on-site guidance. The business hours of shops on the stone stairway and the reception hours for day bathing may change. Because fees, hours, and access can change, please confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: A half day for a stone-stairway stroll and a bath, or a half day to a full day with nearby dining and walks.
• What to bring: Ikaho's charm is its stone stairway, but the constant up and down means comfortable shoes are reassuring. The Kogane-no-yu (golden bath) contains iron and can color clothing, so avoid white towels.
• Suggested route: Climb the stone stairway to savor the hot-spring town atmosphere, then enjoy the famous waters at a public bath or day-use facility.
• Time-of-day guide: Shops on the stairway may close early in the evening, so enjoy souvenirs and street snacks while it is still light.
• Combining nearby: Paired with Mizusawa udon shops, the location lets you enjoy the food as well.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Ikaho Onsen Stone Step Street (Ishidan-gai): The stairway has 365 steps in total (official Shibukawa City information; the number carries the wish that the town will bustle on all 365 days of the year)
• Ikaho Open-Air Bath (Ikaho Rotenburo): Admission 450 yen for adults / 200 yen for elementary school children. Open 9:00-18:00 from April to September and 10:00-18:00 from October to March (last entry 30 minutes before closing). Closed on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month (the following day when that Thursday is a public holiday)
• Ikaho Onsen Ishidan no Yu bathhouse: Admission 800 yen for adults (junior high school age and above) / 400 yen for children (elementary school age), free of charge for preschool children. Open 10:00-20:00 (last entry 19:30). Closed on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month (the following day when that Tuesday is a public holiday)
• Ikaho Ropeway: Links Hototogisu Station and Miharashi Station in about 4 minutes. Operating hours 9:00-17:00 (departures every 15 minutes). Fares are 1,000 yen round trip and 600 yen one way for adults, 500 yen round trip and 300 yen one way for children
• Two hot spring sources: Kogane no Yu (Golden Water) is an iron-bearing spring that turns reddish brown as it meets the air, and it is the original Ikaho water known since ancient times. Shirogane no Yu (Silver Water) is a colorless, transparent spring containing metasilicic acid that was tapped in 1996
• Access (train and bus): From Shibukawa Station on the JR Joetsu Line, take the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen
• Access (by car): About 20 minutes from the Shibukawa-Ikaho IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway

Note: The bus journey time from Shibukawa Station to Ikaho Onsen is listed inconsistently even within the official Shibukawa City website, appearing as both about 25 minutes and 30 minutes. Note: The operating hours and fares of the Ikaho Ropeway are subject to revision. Please check the official information before you set out. (Sources: official Shibukawa City website, official website of the Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association)