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Gunma Off the Grid

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Gunma Off the Grid

Avoid the crowds and relax with a unique onsen hot spring break

Gunma Prefecture

The little-known hot spring resorts of Gunma offer the perfect location to get away from the crowds and spend some time reflecting. The land-locked prefecture of Gunma is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes and is packed full of nature.

Located in Joshin’etsukogen National Park, the historic 140-year-old Hoshi Onsen inn creates a world entirely different from the city lifestyle with the babbling of its nearby river and the twittering of birds perched in the surrounding trees. Here, you can soak in 100% pure spring water that bubbles up from between the rocks set in the bottom of the baths. Choose from a wide range of baths, including mixed-gender bathing, known as konyoku onsen—Gunma is one of the prefectures that still celebrates this traditional way of bathing. However, Hoshi Onsen does offer men-only and women-only onsen, if that is what you prefer.

If you’re looking for a liberating open-air rotenburo bath, head to Manza Onsen, which pours out into an alpine region 1,800 meters up in the mountains. Soak in its milky-white waters while you enjoy the surrounding natural landscape covered in the colors of autumn or the snowfall of winter, or just gaze up at the star-filled sky.

Gunma is full of amazing hot spring resorts. Why not go onsen-hopping for a truly relaxing break?

How to get there

From Tokyo Station, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen Station (about 1 hour), then take the bus to Hoshi Onsen (about 50 minutes, with a transfer at Sarugakyo).

650 Nagai, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma-ken