36, Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa City, Gunma Pref.
A good location just off the entrance to Stone Steps Street. It is quick and easy to enjoy the "Koganenoyu" hot spring flowing.




"Koganenoyu", that has been in Ikaho since ancient times, is Flowing without circulation. At a reasonable charge, you can easily enjoy the greenish-brown hot water typical of Ikaho Onsen.
It's a communal bath with a Japanese traditional exterior that goes well with the atmosphere of Ikaho Onsen. You can go out to the veranda from the bathing room and enjoy the view of mountains. The terrace outside the break room has a wood deck, which is good for cooling off after the bath.
Located right at the entrance of Ishidangai (Stone Steps Street), it is convenient to stop in between Ikaho Onsen sightseeing.
Location
Area / Railway
Kanto Region
Gunma Pref.
JR Joetsu / Agatsuma Line



a station or bus stop to see timetable or detailed information
Bus timetables etc.
- Route bus Shibukawa → Ikaho [PDF]
- Route bus Ikaho → Shibukawa [PDF]
- Kan-etsu Kotsu Bus Unlimited ride ticket [html]
- Route bus Shibukawa ↔ Ikaho [PDF]
- Route bus Takasaki ↔ Ikaho [PDF]
- Direct route bus Takasaki ↔ Ikaho [PDF]
- JR Bus Kanto Joshu / Tokyo Yumeguri-go [html]
- Ikaho Shima Onsen-go Haneda Line [html]
- Nishi Tokyo Bus Yumeguri Hachioji-go [html]
- Ikaho Town Bus route map[PDF]
- Ikaho Town Bus guidance [html→PDF]
- To / From Ikaho local buses[PDF]
- 2-days Unlimited ride bus ticket [html]
- Shibukawa-ekimae Plaza bicycle rental [html]
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta.JR: 2 hrs 20 min Takasaki Line etc. - Joetsu Line ¥2,310
- Shibukawa Sta.Walk: 2 hrs 20 min 9.3 km (5.8 mi) Difference in elevation: 555 m (1821 ft)
- Ishidannoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. JR express: 1 hr 45 min Kusatsu Non-reserved seat ※¥3,670
- Shibukawa Sta. ※Kan-etsu Kotsu bus: 22 min ¥580
- Ishidangaiguchi Bus StopWalk: 3 min 0.15 km (0.1 mi)
- Ishidannoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. JR Shinkansen: 50 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat ※¥4,610
- (Transfer at Takasaki Sta.) JR: 30 min Joetsu Line etc. ¥ -
- Shibukawa Sta. ※Gunma Bus: 34 min ¥620
- Ishidangaiguchi Bus StopWalk: 3 min 0.15 km (0.1 mi)
- Ishidannoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
- Ueno Sta. JR Shinkansen: 50 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat ※¥4,280
- Takasaki Sta. (West exit) ※Gunma Bus: 1 hr 10 min ¥1,170
- Ishidangaiguchi Bus StopWalk: 3 min 0.15 km (0.1 mi)
- Ishidannoyu
Route from Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
- Ikebukuro Sta. Tobu: 1 hr 35 min Tojo Line ¥910
- Yorii Sta.JR: 45 min Hachiko Line ¥990
- (Transfer at Takasaki Sta.) JR: 30 min Joetsu Line etc. ¥ -
- Shibukawa Sta.Walk: 0 min
- Shibukawa-ekimae Plaza
※Bicycle rental: 1 hr
¥ free of charge
9.3 km (5.8 mi) Difference in elevation: 555 m (1821 ft) - Ishidannoyu
Route from Tokyo (Shinjuku)
- Shinjuku Sta. (New South Gate) Walk: 2 min
- Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
(4th floor) ※JR Expressway bus: 2 hrs 37 min Joshu Yumeguri-go ¥2,270 - ¥2,850 - Ishidangaiguchi Bus StopWalk: 3 min 0.15 km (0.1 mi)
- Ishidannoyu
Routes from Tokyo
- Ueno
- JR
- Shibukawa
- Walk
4 hrs 40 min ¥2,310
- Ueno
- JR express
- Shibukawa
- Bus
2 hrs 10 min ¥4,250
- Ueno
- Shinkansen
- Takasaki
- JR
- Shibukawa
- Bus
1 hr 57 min ¥5,230
- Ueno
- Shinkansen
- Takasaki
- Bus
2 hrs 03 min ¥5,450
- Ikebukuro
- Tobu
- Yorii
- JR
- Shibukawa
- Bicycle rental
3 hrs 50 min ¥1,900
- Shinjuku
- Expressway bus
2 hrs 42 min ¥2,270 - ¥2,850
- 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 (busiest season), ¥730 (busy season), ¥530 (normal season) or ¥330 (off season) to Non-reserved seat charge. (For details, please refer to JR East_Ticketing and Busiest / Busy / Normal / Off season calendar.)
- With Kan-etsu Kotsu's "Ikaho Line Unlimited ride ticket", you can get on and off the route buses between Shibukawa and Ikaho any number of times. In addition, you can get a discount on Ishidannoyu, Ikaho Rotenburo and so on.
- Gunma Bus route buses depart from Shibukawa Station and Takasaki Station. Both are via Mizusawa, so they are convenient if you stop by Mizusawa Udon Street. And Gunma Bus also runs from Ikaho to Lake Haruna.
- Shibukawa City has "Shibukawa Ikaho Area Pass" for foreign tourists visiting Japan. It is an unlimited ride ticket for Shibukawa Ikaho area route buses etc. for two days. (Passport required)
- "Shibukawa-ekimae Plaza" is in front of JR Shibukawa Station. They provide electric assisted bicycle rental for free of charge. (9:00-19:00, photo ID required, you can make reservations, Tel.0279-24-0022)
- The expressway buses from Tokyo area to Ikaho Onsen are as follows.
Name Main departure points Operator Joshu Yumeguri-go / Tokyo Yumeguri-go Tokyo, Shinjuku, Nerima JR Bus Kanto Ikaho Shima Onsen-go Haneda Line Haneda Airport, Tokyo Kan-etsu Kotsu Bus and others Yumeguri Hachioji-go Hachioji Nishi Tokyo Bus and others - 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.
Informations about Hot spring travel
- JR East (East Japan Railway) website
- JAPAN RAIL PASS guidance(JR GROUP)
- Route Search (Japan Transit Planner)
- Japan Route Finder & Planner (NAVITIME)
- Japan Train Timetable Searcher (NAVITIME)
- Expressway bus Search & Book(kosokubus.com)
- Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
- Route busShibukawa Ikaho(Kan-etsu Kotsu)
- Route busto / from Ikaho (Gunma Bus)
- Taxi phone listShibukawa City(Mapion)
- Taxi fare calculatorShibukawa Sta.(taxisite)
- Rent-a-carReservation(TABIRAI)
- Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association
- Hotel / RyokanIkaho Onsen(Booking.com)
- Weather forecast Ikaho(WeatherNews)
- Weather forecastIkaho(AccuWeather)
Travel journal of dropping in at the 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 an open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.
Today, Nishi-san and Kita-san came to Ikaho Onsen on a day trip. From Shibukawa Station to Ikaho Onsen by bus, they started going up the stone steps, aiming for "Ishidannoyu". A hot spring flows in the center of the stone steps, and the stones are dyed vermilion.

Hot spring flowing the stone steps
Hey! The stone steps are reddish-brown. It feels like we've come to Ikaho Onsen.
Wow! you can also take a footbath here.
The stone steps are still new, but have been so red. In short, it has a lot of iron.
Soon after they started going up the stone steps, they arrived at Ishidannoyu. The exterior is a Japanese traditional style with white walls and tiled roof.
♨ Ikaho Onsen is a historical hot spring that is mentioned in "Manyoshu". ("Manyoshu" is Japan's oldest collection of poems compiled in 783 AD.)
♨ The extension of the lower part of the stone steps was completed in 2010.

Exterior
Oh, it's already over. The building is Japanese-style, but it's pretty neat.
It's like new.

Bathtub
Ishidannoyu can be crowded with tourists during the busy season. This day was just after the summer vacation, so it was relatively uncrowded.
Bathing room isn't purely Japanese. It's a bit retro-like.
The hot water is also good. It's nice to feel like simple overall.

Hot water spout
The hot water spout of raccoon dog is also getting reddish, you know.
It's a lion.
Huh? Really? It looks like a raccoon dog.
A lion! It's a lion, of course!
Is that so? I think it's a raccoon dog ...
Nishi-san and Kita-san enjoyed the hot spring water of Ishidannoyu slowly and came out to the break room.
♨ Ishidannoyu was reopened in 2003.

View from break room
It's a pretty good view. Is that Mt. Akagi?
Oh, there's a wood deck. The weather is nice and let's break with some tea here.

Wood deck
Nishi-san and Kita-san rested on the wood deck for a while. After leaving Ishidannoyu, they started to go up the stone steps. Next is "Ikaho Open-air Bath", which is even further ahead of the top of the stone steps. (→ Continue to Ikaho Rotenburo)
(August 2012)
♨ Actually, Mt. Akagi is not visible from Ishidannoyu. That seems to be Mt. Komochi.
♨ Ishidannoyu had a free tea service at this time.
Impression & rating
The quality of the hot water is reasonable. It's convenient to enjoy the hot spring water of Ikaho.
2.0 pt
Impression & rating
It's nice to cool off after the bath on the wood deck. And, that is definitely a raccoon dog.
1.5 pt
The Onsen facility
- Address
- 36, Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa City, Gunma Pref.
- Phone
-
domestic: 0279-72-4526
international: +81-279-72-4526 - Website
- Shibukawa City _ Ishidannoyu
- Bathing hours
- 10:00 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:30)
- Closed day
-
2nd and 4th Tuesdays
(If it's a public holiday, closed the next day. Public holidays and during summer vacation is opened.)
Closed for inspection. - Charge
- Adults: ¥800 / Elementary school students, Elderly persons and Disabled persons: ¥400
- Baths
- Gender-separated indoor bath
- Facilities
-
There are shoes boxes. (100 yen coin required, return type)
There are lockers at undressing room. (100 yen coin required / paid)
The hot spring data
(According to the hot spring analysis report etc.)(Analysis date: Jun. 8, 2007)
- Spring quality
- Calcium / Sodium - Sulfate / Hydrogen carbonate / Chloride spring (Hypotonic Neutral Hot spring)
- Source
- Ikaho Onsen (comprehensive hot water)
- Temperature
-
41.6 ℃ (106.9 ℉)
[At the facility: 41.5 - 42.0 ℃ (106.7 - 107.6 ℉)] - pH value
- 6.3
- Total ingredients
- 1.39 g / kg
Today's Detour



Gotoku-san Mizusawa Temple (Mizusawa Kanzeon)
(Photo above and below left: Main hall, below right: Hexagon hall)
Mizusawa Kanzeon is a vivid colored temple in "Mizusawa Udon Street". These days, this temple is sometimes taken up as the place with spiritual energy. Rokkakudo (Hexagon hall) is an unusual building that can be rotated the whole it. It is said that if you rotate it left three times, something good will happen to you. I thought there shouldn't be such a sweet deal, but I rotated it three times, just in case. ( Gotoku-san Mizusawa Kanzeon)
- 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.