Mt. Tanigawa is located on the border between Minakami Town, Tone County, Gunma Prefecture and Yuzawa Town, Minamiuonuma County, Niigata Prefecture, and is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan. The summit is a twin-ear peak divided into two peaks, “Toma no Mimi” (1963 m above sea level) and “Oki no Mimi” (1977 m above sea level).
There are a variety of mountain climbing courses that can be enjoyed by beginners and experts alike, and many people visit the mountain throughout the year. Even if you do not climb the mountain, you can take the ropeway and lift to an altitude of 1,500 m and enjoy the view.
The monolithic “Ichinosawakura,” one of the three major rock formations in Japan, attracts alpinists from all over the world.
Even if you do not climb the mountain, it is possible to get up close to see its majestic appearance, and even in summer, you can feel the overwhelming power of the rock up close in the cool air with lingering snow.
This is a place you should definitely visit when you come to Minakami Town, along with a visit to the Onsens.
This forest is located at an elevation of 1,400 meters and has been selected as one of the “100 best water source forests” by the Forestry Agency.
It is a mysterious forest where one can reach a spring by going upstream on the Tone River and further into the forest.
The reason for the continuous cool water is the dense forests that absorb the rainfall, slowly filtering it and allowing it to flow out.
Visitors can stroll through such pristine nature while listening to the chirps of wild birds and the rustle of trees.
You can feel the beauty of the forest throughout the year, from the time of fresh green leaves, to the dense foliage of summer, to the changing leaves of autumn. The area is relatively close to the “Takaragawa Onsens,” so it can be enjoyed in combination with the Onsens.
These Jomon ruins were excavated on the river terrace of the Tone River, about a 10-minute walk from Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train. Excavations began in 1992 and lasted three years.
As a result of the excavation, a group of 22 pit buildings, including the first excavated building in Japan with a four-cornered furnace with sleeves, a row of huge wooden pillars, the first excavated in the Kanto region, ritual remains, and facilities such as a community workshop with a waterhole and waterway were all excavated within a small area.
The remains that show the characteristics of a Jomon-era village site were excavated in an easily recognizable form from a small area, and many nuts were found near the waterhole, and clay figures were also discovered.
The area including the ruins is maintained as a water park, where reconstructed houses and other structures can be seen. The excavated artifacts are displayed at the Minakami Town Tsukiyono Local History Museum and can be viewed. The roadside station is also adjacent to the museum, so you can enjoy a relaxing time together with “Tsukuya/Kamimoku Onsen” located in the area.
Lake Akaya is a dammed lake created by the construction of the Aimata Dam.
Although it is an artificial lake for irrigation and power generation, it is so popular for its beautiful scenery that it was selected as one of the “100 Dam Lakes” in 2005.
The area is only a 30-minute bus ride from Joetsu Shinkansen's Jomo Kogen Station, and offers lakeside activities together with the Mikuni and Sarugakyo Onsens located in this area.
You can take a walk around the lake, go jogging, or enjoy canoeing and boating on the lake.
In summer, there is a fireworks display, and the fireworks reflected on the surface of the lake are very beautiful and spectacular.
There are many beautiful lakes in Minakami that are man-made but have been incorporated into the magnificent nature. Okutone Lake, Lake Naramata, Lake Dogen, and Lake Fujiwara are all attractive lakes with clean and pure water and beautiful scenery.
Located in the northernmost part of Gunma Prefecture, Minakami Town borders Niigata Prefecture. It is a town rich in nature where the first drop of the Tone River, the largest first-class river in Japan, originates.
The town is dotted with Onsen resorts called “Minakami 18 Onsens,” of which the most popular are Mizukami Onsen and Takaragawa Onsen.
Tanigawa, the world-famous Mt. Tanigawa, as well as Mt. Asahidake and Mt.Hotaka so climbers from Japan and abroad have long visited this area. Even today, the area remains popular as an outdoor recreation area for rafting and canoeing in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
Because of its mountainous location, the elevation is high (500m~700m), making it one of the snowiest areas in the country in winter.
There are many ski resorts, and because of the good snow conditions near where Takaragawa Onsen is located, many people visit the Onsen even in winter, and the Onsen is a popular place for people to warm their bodies in the Onsen after being chilled by winter sports.
In recent years, many campgrounds and outdoor sports facilities have been developed to make the most of the city's natural beauty.
The town is also known for its clean water as it is a town of water sources, and there are many virgin forests, so eco-tourism is also popular. In 2017, it was registered as a UNESCO eco-park because of the ecosystem it has maintained.
Get to Know Minakami / Takaragawa Onsen
Area Guide
Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture is located in the northernmost part of the prefecture, on the border with Niigata Prefecture, and was formed in 2005 through the merger of the three villages of Tsukiyono, Minakami, and Niiharu. The elevation varies from 200 to 2,000 meters. The climate and temperatures vary within the town, and the landscape is rich in variety.
Tanigawa, Asahidake, and Mt. Hotaka, which are famous among mountain enthusiasts, Onsens are sprouting all over the town.
After the merger of towns and villages, the area was renamed “Minakami 18 Onsens” and has been visited by many people from Japan and abroad.
The 18 Onsens are roughly divided into the following areas: “Minakami Onsen,” which extends around JR Minakami Station; “Takaragawa Onsen,” which has many ski resorts at the headwaters of the Tone River; “Tsukiyano and Kamimoku Onsen,” which are in the former Tsukiyano area and have Jomo-Kogen Station on the Shinkansen bullet train; and “Mikuni and Sarugakyo Onsen” around Lake Akayako.
There are many untouched virgin forests, and in 2017 it was registered as a UNESCO eco-park. The town's wild nature allows for a variety of outdoor sports to be enjoyed throughout the year.
Minakami Onsen
Tanigawa at the southern foot of Mt. Tanigawa in the vicinity of JR Minakami Station. Many Onsen resorts are located upstream from the Tone River, the largest first-class river in Japan, and along the river in the mountains. It is said to have begun 500 years ago, dating back to the Warring States period. It was called “Yubara no Yu” in the old days.
After the war, the area became very crowded with group tours and developed into one of Gunma's representative Onsen resorts.
Despite its easy access from central Tokyo, it was loved by many writers and artists for its harmony between the magnificent beauty of the nearby valley and the elegant scenery of the Onsens.
Rafting, which is now widely practiced in many parts of Japan, was actually first practiced here in Minakami. This may be the reason why outdoor tours that make use of nature throughout the year are also very popular.
In summer, rafting, canyoning, canoeing, and sap, and in winter, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoe tours, and much more.
The atmosphere of a traditional Onsen, the magnificent nature, and sports and leisure activities seem to be the current attraction of Minakami Onsen.
Also, an SL train runs every week between Minakami and Takasaki Stations, and railroad fans can take a ride on it, and the SL is on display at Minakami Station. The Doai Station, which is considered the entrance to Mt. Tanigawa, is said to be the deepest mole station in Japan. It is a rare station located 70 meters down from the station building, and is also visited by many railroad fans
Takaragawa Onsen
Located about 20 minutes by car further upstream in the mountains from the Tone River that flows through Minakami Onsen town, this Onsen resort is what is known as a “hidden Onsen”. However, it is a popular Onsen both in Japan and abroad due to the splendor of its scenery and its huge open-air baths.
It has four large open-air baths along the Takara River, which flows into Lake Fujiwara, upstream from the Tone River. The fact that the open-air baths other than the indoor baths are mixed bathing is one of the factors that made this place famous.
The Takaragawa Onsen hot spring is used only at this inn, and all baths are free-flowing.
The open-air bath, said to be the largest in Japan, is also famous for being used as a filming location for the movie “Thermae Romae.
This area of Minakami Town is particularly deep in snow, so the open-air baths in the winter with their snowy scenery create a unique view that is well worth seeing.
Tsukiyano / Kamimoku Onsen
The Onsens are scattered between the Minakami and Tsukiyono interchanges on the Kanetsu Expressway, and although not on the scale of a Onsen resort, they have long been visited by people seeking to heal their bodies.
The Mikuni Kaido road to the Mikuni Pass leading to Nagano used to pass through this area, and it seems that travelers used the yuyado as a place to rest their bodies. A few old streets still remain along the old Mikuni Kaido road, showing what it was like in those days.
The elevation is slightly lower than that of Minakami Onsen Town, and the land is relatively flat, making it a beautiful place with an old Japanese satoyama landscape of apple and peach orchards and rice paddies.
Currently, the Shinkansen bullet train station, Jomo Kogen Station, is nearby, and the town is attracting attention for having the best access from the city center of all Minakami towns.
Near the station, there are Jomon ruins and a park where visitors can see a restored Jomon house. There are also several historical sites related to the Sanada family, one of the most popular warlords in the Warring States period, in this area.
This area has the same rich nature and clean water as Minakami Onsen Town, but it also has many different attractions.
Mikuni/Sarugakyo Onsens
This Onsen resort is located around Lake Akaya on the Mikuni Kaido road leading from Tsukiyono to Mikuni Pass.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), it was called “Sasanoyu/Yushima Onsen” and was popular as a healing place for therapeutic baths and people coming and going along the highway.
In particular, all of the Onsen resorts in the area known as “Yujuku Onsen” in front of Lake Akaya have free-flowing hot-spring water, and the steam rising from the waterways along the road makes for a charming view along with the traditional townscape.
Houshi Onsen, located closest to Mikuni Kaido and at the highest elevation, boasts a history of 1,200 years, and as its name suggests, was founded by Kobo Daishi.
The building of Choujukan, located here, was constructed in the style of the 28th year of Meiji Era (1895) and is designated as a tangible cultural property.
The Onsens here are also unique, with hot spring water gushing out naturally from between the boulders laid out at the bottom of the bathtub.
This is a form of Onsen where the hot spring water that does not come into direct contact with the air seeps into the body, a form of Onsen that exists in less than 1% of all Onsens in Japan.
Access
From Tokyo
<Shinkansen / Train / Bus＞ Tokyo Station (Joetsu Shinkansen) → Jomo Kogen Station/Jomo Kogen Station bus stop (Kanetsu Kotsu) → Minakami Station (about 1 hour and 40 minutes)
<Shinkansen / Train / Bus＞ Tokyo Station (Joetsu Shinkansen) → Takasaki Station (JR Ryomo Line) → Shin Maebashi Station (JR Joetsu Line) → Minakami Station (about 2 hours)
<Shinkansen / Train / Bus＞ Niigata Station (Joetsu Shinkansen) → Nagaoka Station (JR Joetsu Line) → Minakami Station (about 2 hours 25 minutes)
From Osaka
<Shinkansen / Train / Bus＞Osaka Station (Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi) → Tokyo Station (Joetsu Shinkansen) → Jomo Kogen Station/Jomo Kogen Station bus stop (Kanetsu Kotsu) → Minakami Station (about 4 hours 10 minutes)
Water quality
The quality of the Onsens in Minakami is slightly different from each other because they are spread over a wide area.
General indications for which Onsen effects are expected include peripheral circulatory disorders, sensitivity to cold, hypertension, glucose intolerance (diabetes), hypercholesterolemia, gastrointestinal dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis, autonomic instability, insomnia, depression, chronic pain and stiffness of muscles and joints, muscle stiffness due to motor paralysis, asthma and emphysema (mild cases), hemorrhoid pain, convalescence, fatigue and health promotion. In addition to hemorrhoid pain, convalescence, recovery from fatigue, and health promotion, the efficacy of each type of spring is introduced by area.
Minakami Onsen
Calcium sulfate spring
It has long been called “hot water for wounds” and “hot water for middle winds.” It is effective for hypertension, arteriosclerosis, stroke, and chronic rheumatoid arthritis, and is also said to be good for bruises, cuts, burns, hemorrhoids, and sprains, and for skin diseases such as psoriasis, chronic eczema, acne, and itching of the skin.
When taken, it is effective for chronic gallbladder disease, cholelithiasis, gout, chronic constipation, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, hepatitis, menstrual disorders, and hives.
Takaragawa Onsen
Weak alkaline simple Onsen The above general indications.
Tsukiyano/ Kamimoku Onsen
Calcium-sodium-sulfate/chloride spring
Chloride springs promote blood circulation, have strong sterilizing power, and have a soothing effect that relieves pain.
It is effective for cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, weak children, chronic women's diseases, digestive organs, constipation, muscle and joint pain, bruises, sprains, sensitivity to cold, menstrual disorders, infertility, and recovery after illness.
The sulfate spring is effective for hypertension, arteriosclerosis, stroke, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, bruises, cuts, burns, hemorrhoids, and sprains, and for skin diseases such as psoriasis, chronic eczema, acne, and itchy skin.
When taken, it is good for chronic gallbladder disease, cholelithiasis, gout, chronic constipation, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, hepatitis, menstrual disorders, hives, and promotes the secretion and movement of digestive fluids in the stomach and intestines, and is also effective in gastrointestinal diseases and chronic constipation.
Mikuni/Sarugakyo Onsens
Calcium sodium sulfate spring
It is effective for hypertension, arteriosclerosis, stroke, and chronic rheumatoid arthritis, and is said to be good for bruises, cuts, burns, hemorrhoids, and sprains, and for skin diseases such as psoriasis, chronic eczema, acne, itchy skin, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and trauma.
When taken, it is effective for chronic gallbladder disease, cholelithiasis, gout, chronic constipation, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, hepatitis, menstrual disorders, and hives.
History
The history of Minakami Onsen varies widely, as there are springs scattered throughout the town. The oldest is Mikuni/Sarugakyo Onsen, which, as mentioned above, was founded by Kobo Daishi when he visited the area 1,200 years ago
There is also an anecdote that Kenshin Uesugi visited the area during the Warring States Period (1467-1568). The cherry tree associated with Kenshin has been designated a natural treasure by the prefecture, and many people visit the area in spring to view the cherry blossoms.
The next oldest Onsen is “Minakami Onsen”. About 500 years ago, during the Warring States Period, a monk named Kaiō found steam rising along the Tone River, discovered the source, and opened the Onsen.
At that time, it was quite difficult to visit this area, and it was used as a hidden Onsen cure. It was not until the tunnel was constructed in the early Showa period that many people began to visit the area. As soon as access became easier, the area developed into a Onsen resort.
The “Tsukiyano, Kamimoku Onsen” opened in 1924 and became increasingly popular as a therapeutic Onsen because of the good quality of the water. Kiyoshi Yamashita, a famous Japanese painter, liked this place so much that he stayed there for a long time, and many of the bathhouses in the area are decorated with his works.
Around the same time as “Tsukiyano, Kamimoku Onsen,” Takaragawa Onsen will also open. Because it is located in the deepest part of the mountains among the Minakami Onsens. It was used as a hidden Onsen therapeutic bath for those in the know.
The construction of many dams in this area began in 1945, which led to the opening of roads in the area, electricity, and other infrastructure, which in turn led to the creation of the Takaragawa Onsens facility.
Since then, it has been visited by many people who enjoy the beauty of the valley and Onsens as a hidden Onsen, as well as by many people who were involved in the construction of the dam in this area, and it became so popular that it ranked first in the top 10 Onsens in Japan.
Attractions
Tanigawadake ropeway and Ichinokurasawa
Mt. Tanigawa is located on the border between Minakami Town, Tone County, Gunma Prefecture and Yuzawa Town, Minamiuonuma County, Niigata Prefecture, and is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan. The summit is a twin-ear peak divided into two peaks, “Toma no Mimi” (1963 m above sea level) and “Oki no Mimi” (1977 m above sea level).
There are a variety of mountain climbing courses that can be enjoyed by beginners and experts alike, and many people visit the mountain throughout the year. Even if you do not climb the mountain, you can take the ropeway and lift to an altitude of 1,500 m and enjoy the view.
The monolithic “Ichinosawakura,” one of the three major rock formations in Japan, attracts alpinists from all over the world.
Even if you do not climb the mountain, it is possible to get up close to see its majestic appearance, and even in summer, you can feel the overwhelming power of the rock up close in the cool air with lingering snow.
This is a place you should definitely visit when you come to Minakami Town, along with a visit to the Onsens.
Okutone Suigen no Mori (forests of water sources)
This forest is located at an elevation of 1,400 meters and has been selected as one of the “100 best water source forests” by the Forestry Agency.
It is a mysterious forest where one can reach a spring by going upstream on the Tone River and further into the forest.
The reason for the continuous cool water is the dense forests that absorb the rainfall, slowly filtering it and allowing it to flow out.
Visitors can stroll through such pristine nature while listening to the chirps of wild birds and the rustle of trees.
You can feel the beauty of the forest throughout the year, from the time of fresh green leaves, to the dense foliage of summer, to the changing leaves of autumn. The area is relatively close to the “Takaragawa Onsens,” so it can be enjoyed in combination with the Onsens.
Yase Site
These Jomon ruins were excavated on the river terrace of the Tone River, about a 10-minute walk from Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train. Excavations began in 1992 and lasted three years.
As a result of the excavation, a group of 22 pit buildings, including the first excavated building in Japan with a four-cornered furnace with sleeves, a row of huge wooden pillars, the first excavated in the Kanto region, ritual remains, and facilities such as a community workshop with a waterhole and waterway were all excavated within a small area.
The remains that show the characteristics of a Jomon-era village site were excavated in an easily recognizable form from a small area, and many nuts were found near the waterhole, and clay figures were also discovered.
The area including the ruins is maintained as a water park, where reconstructed houses and other structures can be seen. The excavated artifacts are displayed at the Minakami Town Tsukiyono Local History Museum and can be viewed. The roadside station is also adjacent to the museum, so you can enjoy a relaxing time together with “Tsukuya/Kamimoku Onsen” located in the area.
Akaya Lake
Lake Akaya is a dammed lake created by the construction of the Aimata Dam.
Although it is an artificial lake for irrigation and power generation, it is so popular for its beautiful scenery that it was selected as one of the “100 Dam Lakes” in 2005.
The area is only a 30-minute bus ride from Joetsu Shinkansen's Jomo Kogen Station, and offers lakeside activities together with the Mikuni and Sarugakyo Onsens located in this area.
You can take a walk around the lake, go jogging, or enjoy canoeing and boating on the lake.
In summer, there is a fireworks display, and the fireworks reflected on the surface of the lake are very beautiful and spectacular.
There are many beautiful lakes in Minakami that are man-made but have been incorporated into the magnificent nature. Okutone Lake, Lake Naramata, Lake Dogen, and Lake Fujiwara are all attractive lakes with clean and pure water and beautiful scenery.
