Shima Onsen Kawaranoyu
4228-2, Shima, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Pref.
Even though it is free, its quality is great! The communal bath like a cave, that will tell you the depth of Shima Onsen.
This is a communal bath located almost in the river. It has a unique appearance like a pile of riverbed stones. And the pale lighting inside is making the atmosphere like a cave.
Kawaranoyu is near the source, so the hot water is reputed to be of high quality among Shima Onsen. The hot water has a faint rust iron smell and is being flowing constantly.
It is free but well maintained and clean.
- Chlo-ride spring
- Sulfate spring
- Neutral
- Flowing (all or many)
- High spring water volume
- Natural spring
- Click to the description page
Location
Area / Railway
Kanto Region
Gunma Pref.
JR Agatsuma Line
Click on a station/bus stop to see detailed information.
Bus timetable etc.
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta.JR: 2 hrs 50 min Takasaki Line etc. - Agatsuma Line¥ 2,640
- Nakanojo Sta.Walk: 3 hrs 30 min 16.3 km (10.1 mi) Difference in elevation: 302 m (991 ft)
- Kawaranoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. ※JR express: 2 hrs 05 min Kusatsu Non-reserved seat※ ¥ 4,000
- Nakanojo Sta. ※Kan-etsu Kotsu bus: 40 min for Shima Onsen ¥ 930
- Shima Onsen Bus StopWalk: 0 min
- Kawaranoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. JR Shinkansen: 50 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat※ ¥ 4,940
- Takasaki Sta.JR: 1 hr (Joetsu Line -) Agatsuma Line ¥ -
- Nakanojo Sta.Taxi: 30 min 16.3 km (10.1 mi) about ¥ 6,000
- Kawaranoyu
Route from Tokyo (Tokyo)
- Tokyo Sta. (Yaesu South Gate) Walk: 1 min
- JR Expressway Bus Stop (No.9 or No.5)
※Kan-etsu Kotsu
Expressway bus: 3 hrs 30 - 45 min Shima Onsen-go ¥ 3,100 - Shima Onsen Bus StopWalk: 0 min
- Kawaranoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
- Ikebukuro Sta.Tobu: 35 min Tojo Line ¥ 480
- Kawagoe Sta. (West exit) ※Kan-etsu Kotsu Expressway bus: 3 hrs Shima Onsen-go ¥ 2,800
- Shima Onsen Bus StopWalk: 0 min
- Kawaranoyu
Route from Tokyo (Shinjuku)
- Shinjuku Sta. (New South Gate) Walk: 2 min
- Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
(4th floor) ※JR Expressway bus: 3 hrs 06 min Joshu Yumeguri-go ¥ 2,380 - ¥ 2,950 - Nakanojo Eki Minami Bus StopWalk: 5 min 0.4 km (0.2 mi)
- Nakanojo Sta.(The rest is the same as above)
Routes from Tokyo
- Ueno
- JR
- Nakanojo
- Walk
6 hrs 20 min ¥ 2,640
- Ueno
- JR express
- Nakanojo
- Bus
2 hrs 45 min ¥ 4,930
- Ueno
- Shinkansen
- Takasaki
- JR
- Nakanojo
- Taxi
2 hrs 28 min ¥ 11,470
- Tokyo
- Expressway bus
3 hrs 31 - 46 min ¥ 3,100
- Ikebukuro
- Tobu
- Kawagoe
- Expressway bus
3 hrs 35 min ¥ 3,280
- Shinjuku
- Expressway bus
- Nakanojo
- (The rest is the same as above)
3 hrs 13 min+ ¥ 2,380 - ¥ 2,950+
- The price of JR Express and normal Shinkansen is "Basic fare" plus "(Super) Express charge". (These are determined according to the distance.) "(Super) Express charge" has two types: Reserved seat and Non-reserved seat. Reserved seat charge adds ¥930 (during the busiest season), ¥730 (during the busy season), ¥530 (during the normal season) or ¥330 (during the off season) to Non-reserved seat charge. (For details, please refer to JR East_Ticketing and Busiest / Busy / Normal / Off season calendar.)
- There is bicycle rental service at Shima Onsen. For details, see Shima-chari.
- The expressway buses from Tokyo area to Shima Onsen (or Nakanojo Eki Minami Bus Stop) are as follows.
- The above fares are based on cash. When using an IC card, the fares may differ slightly.
- The above times and distances are approximate. Does not include transfering or waiting times.
How to get to Kawaranoyu
(Directions from Shima Onsen Bus Stop)
- Go down the steps under the bridge in front of the bus stop
: bus stop
Click the map to open Google Map
Informations about Hot spring travel
- JR East (Japan Railway)Web Site
- JAPAN RAIL PASS info(JR GROUP)
- Route Search (Japan Transit Planner)
- Japan Route Finder & Calculater (NAVITIME)
- Train Timetable Search(EKITAN)
- Kan-etsu Kotsu route bus to Shima Onsen
- Gunma Bus route bus fares / timetables
- Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
- Expressway bus Search (Bus Hikaku-Navi)
- Taxi Tel numberNakanojo Town(Mapion)
- Rent-a-carReservation(TABIRAI)
- Shima Onsen Tourism Association
- Hotel / Ryokan Shima Onsen(Rakuten Travel)
- Hotel / Ryokan Gunma Pref.(Jalan)
- Hotel / Ryokan Shima Onsen (Yuko Yuko)
- Weather forecast Nakanojooverview
- Weather forecast Nakanojohourly
Travel journal of day trip bathing to hot spring
Characters
- Nishi-san
- He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.
- Kita-san
- He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves the open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.
Gunma Prefecture is an "Onsen country" where many hot springs are crowded. And Shima Onsen is one of the hot springs in Agatsuma area of Gunma Prefecture. It is a historical hot spring that was said to have begun at the end of the 8th century. To go to such historical onsen, Nishi-san and Kita-san switched to Agatsuma Line at Shibukawa Station. It was around 9:00 am when they arrived at Shima Onsen on a bus from Nakanojo Station.
Shima-onsen Bus Stop
We finally arrived!
Oh, the bus stop is a deer. Speaking of which, at Nakanojo Station, it was also a deer. Is there anything to do with the deer?
Hmm ... maybe there is something.
Well, for the time being, Kawaranoyu is ... Hey! Here!
♨ Kita-san said "deer", but it is actually "antelope". Antelopes inhabit the mountains around Shima Onsen.
Exterior
Wow! It's underneath ... Indeed, it's Kawara.
Boy, it's quite a presence. Doesn't it look like a fortress?
If you say that, it looks like that.
Anyway, it's a strange place! If it rains and the river rises, it is definitely going to sink.
Exterior
It may be of stone, so that it will not break for that situation.
I see.
Go down the stairs from the base of the bridge, and the men's bath is on the near side.
Okay, nobody in. It was right to come early in the morning.
It's really free. There's a donation box, but the amount is depend on you. That's very generous of Shima Onsen!
They opened the bathing room door.
Bathing room
Oh ...
What a hell ... I feel it's like getting in a cave.
It's dim, and there's a lot of atmosphere. It smells like rust iron and feels good.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting it because free. But this bath is clean and nice than I thought.
♨ Japanese word "kawara" means "riverside" or "riverbed".
The bathtub is about 3 m² (32 ft²) in size, and hot water is flowing there.
Hot water spout
The hot water is a bit hot and fresh.
Well, it's just right to wake you up. It was absolutely right to come early in the morning.
In short, it would be nice to get in and go up quickly. Not a bath like staying long.
Exactly. No shower there is.
Anyway, the outside is bright, the inside is faintly dark and calm down.
Think so? I feel of blockage, so I can't relax well, you know.
Nishi-san Kita-san were talking about their impressions. At that time, one traveler seemed to come. But, as soon as he opened the bathing room door, he turned back and left.
Bathtub
I understand. In this situation, it's hard to come in.
Three people can be in this bathtub, but most people won't come in.
Because I feel sorry to staying long, will we leave now?
OK.
For that reason, Nishi-san and Kita-san headed for the next hot spring in Shima Onsen. Even so, it's about a two minute walk from Kawaranoyu ... (→ Continue to Sekizenkan Genrokunoyu)
(April 2013)
Impression & rating
This water is fresh and powerful. It's incredible that such hot water is open with donations alone.
3.0 pt
Impression & rating
The bath is small and not open-air, but has a unique presence and is very impressive communal bath.
1.0 pt
The Onsen facility
- Address
- 4228-2, Shima, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Pref.
- Phone
-
None.
(Shima Onsen Kyokai)
domestic: 0279-64-2321
international: +81-279-64-2321 - Website
- Shima Onsen Tourism Association _ Kawaranoyu
- Bathing hours
- 9:00 - 14:00
- Business days
- Open everyday
- Charge
- Free of charge (Donation required)
- Baths
- Gender-separated indoor bath
- Equipments
- No shower, soap, shampoo etc.
- Facilities
- No lockers in the undressing room.
The hot spring data
(According to hot spring analysis report etc.)
(Survey date: Aug. 21, 2007)
- Spring quality
- Sodium / Calcium - Chloride / Sulfate spring (Hypotonic Neutral High temperature spring)
- Gushing place
- 4230 / Otsu 4231, Aza-Shinyu, Oaza-Shima, Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Pref.
- Temperature
-
63.6 ℃ (146.5 ℉)
[air temperature 26.0 ℃ (78.8 ℉)] - Water volume
-
Not measured※ (Natural spring)
According to the Ministry of the Environment's "Shima Onsen National Recreational Hot Spring Resort Plan (May 2014)", the spring volume of Kawaranoyu source is 33.2 L / min.
- pH value
- 6.5
- Total ingredients
- 2.07 g / kg
- Perception
- Colorless and transparent, slightly brown floating
Today's Ekiben
Joshu Rice Porridge for Breakfast
(Purchased at Takasaki Sta.)
"Joshu Rice Porridge for Breakfast" is sold by "Takaben" - the Bento maker in Takasaki. Shrimps and chestnuts are floating on this rice porridge. It is sold from 7:00 to 9:00, and only 100 meals a day. Therefore you can not buy it unless you get up early. The taste is quite light, but it may be just right as breakfast.
(¥ 350) ( Takaben)
※ End of sale in May 2019
- The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
- The information may have changed at present. In particular, the charge and price etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.