Onsen activities in Asia
-
Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen is a quintessential old-time onsen town. Take the Agatsuma Line from Takasaki to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station ( futsū ¥1110, 87 minutes), then a local bus to the onsen (¥670, 30 minutes). There is an express bus from Shinjuku Station New South Exit Bus Terminal (¥3200, 4¼ hours, nine daily).
reviewed
-
Ikaho Onsen
Ikaho Onsen is a great public bath with views of Mt Haruna. To get there, take the Jōetsu Line from Takasaki to Shibukawa Station ( futsū ¥400, 25 minutes), and then a local bus to the onsen (¥550, 20 minutes). There’s also a shuttle bus from the east exit of Takasaki Station to Ikaho Onsen Bus Terminal (¥1000, 55 minutes, three daily), and buses from Shinjuku (¥2300, 2½ hours, nine daily).
reviewed
-
A
Jakotsu-yu
One of the hottest onsen in town, with mineral-rich dark water at 45˚C.
reviewed
-
Chōjūkan Inn
To get to the gorgeous, wood-walled inn at Hōshi Onsen, take the Jōetsu shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Jōmō-Kōgen Station (¥5240, 1¼ hours). From there, take the bus for Sarugakyō Onsen (30 minutes). At the last stop, take another bus for Hoshi Onsen (25 minutes). Try to arrive around noon to sample the inn’s mountain-vegetable steamed rice. The highlight here is the all-wooden indoor mixed bath, a masterpiece of onsen architecture. There are also segregated open-air baths.
reviewed
-
Minakami Onsen
Minakami Onsen is a thriving onsen town that frequented by couples. If you’re not interested in a romantic rendezvous, you can white-water raft in the summer. To get there, take the Jōetsu Line from Takasaki to Minakami Station ( tokkyū/futsū ¥2360/950, 54/64 minutes). From the station, the onsen is a pleasant 15-minute walk. Or take the Jōetsu shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Jōmō-Kōgen Station (¥5240, 1¼ hours), then a 15-minute shuttle bus (¥600).
reviewed