Minakami Onsen: Day-Use Hot Spring Baths & Prices

Located in the far north of Gunma Prefecture in the upper reaches of the Tone River, Minakami Onsen is a hot spring resort known for its gorge scenery and outdoor recreation. Inns line the riverside, and you can soak at ease embraced by the nature of the mountains. Hot spring areas large and small are scattered nearby, making it popular as a base for bath-hopping.

Highlights

The gorge formed by the clear Tone River shows beautiful scenery through all four seasons. In summer, waterside activities such as rafting and canyoning are popular, bustling with families and young travelers. The surrounding mountains, including Mount Tanigawa, have well-maintained hiking courses, making it a perfect place for those who want to enjoy nature to the fullest.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Budding greenery in spring, river play in summer, gorge foliage in autumn, and ski resorts nearby in winter mean it can be enjoyed year-round. Autumn is especially fine, when the mountains take on color and the foliage viewed from an open-air bath is exceptional. In winter, combining a snow-viewing soak with winter sports is also recommended.

Access and Basic Information

It is close to the Minakami Interchange on the Kan-etsu Expressway, making car access convenient. By public transport, the nearest station is Minakami Station on the JR Joetsu Line; the spa town is within walking distance of the station, from where you can move on to the various hot spring areas. Access is also possible by bus from Jomo-Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen. The water is a calcium-bearing sulfate spring, enjoyed amid a mountain gorge.

Practical Travel Notes

River activities such as rafting peak from spring into summer when snowmelt raises water levels, and whether they run depends on the season and weather. If you wish to take part, advance booking and a same-day confirmation are recommended. Combining the Tanigawadake Ropeway or nearby hiking lets you enjoy hot springs and nature in a single day. Many inns accept day-use bathing, with prices for a soak alone generally ranging from a few hundred to just over a thousand yen. Mountain weather changes quickly, so bring rain gear and a change of clothes to be safe.

A Word of Advice

If you plan to enjoy the outdoors, prepare easy-to-move clothing and a change of clothes. River activities vary in availability by season and weather, so check in advance. The mountains grow cold, so do not forget warm clothing for after your bath.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Spring quality: The Japan Spa Association registers the water at Minakami Onsen as a simple hot spring
• Indications for this type of water: Autonomic nervous instability, insomnia and depressive states
• Facility open to day visitors: Fureai Koryukan, Minakami Town's day-use hot spring facility. It stands in the middle of the hot spring town
• Opening hours: 11:00 to 20:30 (last reception 20:00)
• Closing day: Every Tuesday (moved to the following day when Tuesday falls on a holiday)
• Bathing fees: 700 yen for 2 hours for adults (junior high school students and above), 350 yen for 2 hours for children (aged 3 to elementary school age), free for infants (under 3, accompanied by a guardian) and 450 yen for 2 hours for holders of a disability certificate. These prices were revised on December 1, 2025
• Charged in 2-hour blocks: Since the fee is time-based, keep an eye on the clock if you plan to relax in the lounge
• The baths: A compact indoor bath. There is a rest room inside the building
• Towels: Towels can be bought for 250 yen. Bath towels are also available for a fee
• Inside the building: A tourist information center is attached, where you can get advice on the sights around Minakami on the spot
• Parking: 10 spaces, free of charge. With so few spaces, consider the town car park at busy times
• Access (by rail): About a 12-minute walk from Minakami Station on the JR Joetsu Line. It is in the middle of the hot spring town
• Access (by car): About 2 km, roughly 5 minutes, from the Minakami IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway via National Route 291
• Address and phone: 801 Yubara, Minakami Town, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture / 0278-72-8885
• How long to allow: About 1 hour for a bath alone. Half a day if you combine it with nearby sights such as Mount Tanigawa or the Suwakyo gorge
• Inquiries: Minakami Branch Office of Minakami Town 0278-72-2111 / Minakami Town Tourism Association 0278-72-2611

📚 Sources

The opening hours, closing day, bathing fees (revised December 1, 2025), towel prices, address, phone number and the tourist information center inside Fureai Koryukan were taken from the facility page on the official website of the Minakami Town Tourism Association. The number of parking spaces comes from the facility information on Nifty Onsen. The spring quality and indications of Minakami Onsen, the walking time from Minakami Station, the distance from the Minakami IC and the contact details were taken from the Japan Spa Association's hot spring resort information. The legend that the spring was opened in the Eiroku era (the monk Kaio of Kenmyoji temple, and the renaming of Ibarahara Village as Yubara Village) and the makeup of the "18 hot springs of Minakami" come from the hot spring resort introduction pages of the Minakami Town Tourism Association. Opening hours, prices and closing days are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.