Enjoy a Relaxing Retreat in Ikaho

You can reach Ikaho in under 2 and a half hours by train and bus from Tokyo. Buses from Shibukawa Station take you to Ishidangaiguchi Bus Stop near the famous stone steps in the heart of the onsen town. To travel without transfers, take a highway bus from Tokyo Station. The Kan-etsu Transportation Ikaho Shima Onsen Go Haneda Line departs from Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu to Ishidangaiguchi Bus Stop. The journey takes around 3 hours, with rest stops along the way. You can leave your luggage at Kaichoro, your accommodation for the evening. Alternatively, use the convenient coin lockers near the bus stop to store your luggage while you explore the area.

Catch a Takasaki-Ikaho Line Bus from Ishidangaiguchi Bus Stop to Mizusawa Kannon Temple (the journey takes around 10 minutes). Founded over 1,300 years ago, this ancient temple is surrounded by forests. The beautiful two-story hexagonal pagoda known as the Rokkakudo enshrines six statues of Jizo Bodhisattva, protecting the six realms. Turning the statues on their circular pedestal three times to the left is said to make sincere wishes come true. If you arrive around lunchtime, try delicious Mizusawa udon at one of the many noodle shops that line the temple approach. The noodles are made with local spring water, and have been made in the area for around 400 years.

Head back to Ikaho and explore the famous stone steps in the center of the town, lined on both sides by fascinating shops, inns and restaurants. Take a break around halfway up to visit Usaburo Kokeshi Ikaho Cafe & Gallery before you check in to your accomodation. This unique cafe-gallery displays and sells an astonishing range of traditional wooden kokeshi dolls. The dolls have been made in Gunma since the early twentieth century. At Usaburo Kokeshi, they are made using mature wood to promote sustainability through the regeneration of forests. The cafe is the perfect place to enjoy coffee and some kokeshi-shaped sponge cakes. If you want to try making your own doll, you can partake in a kokeshi doll-painting workshop at Usaburo Kokeshi’s main location. It takes around 30 minutes from Ishidangaiguchi Bus Stop to the main store by the Takasaki-Ikaho Line Bus and by foot.

Leaving the cafe, it is a short walk to Kaichoro to check in. The traditional inn with a focus on wellness and relaxation has been renovated with luxurious materials and is run by the seventeenth generation of the Fukuda family. Enjoy an elegant dinner of seasonal local ingredients with the option of expertly-paired wines from around the world. Relax after your meal in the private onsen bath in your room or try the baths at Kaichoro’s sister hotel, Fukuichi.

Start the day with a nature walk through Ikaho Forest Park. The park is known for its wild azaleas, which bloom in late May, as well as for the colorful autumn foliage of its maple trees between late October and mid-November. A network of walking and hiking trails makes it easy to explore Ikaho Forest Park at your own pace. Of particular interest are several ancient wind tunnels formed by volcanic activity long ago that were once used to store silkworm eggs.

The easiest way to get there is to walk from Kaichoro to the base of the Ikaho Ropeway. This 499-meter long ropeway whisks visitors up to Uenoyama Park in approximately 4 minutes, with departures every 10-15 minutes. Enjoy sweeping views of the nearby mountains including Mt. Akagi and Mt. Tanigawa from the Tokimeki Deck observation platform in Uenoyama Park.

After a refreshing walk, take the Ikaho Ropeway back down to the onsen town, and take a bus to the majestic Housuiji Temple, the Japanese head temple of Fo Guang Shan Buddhism from Taiwan. Visitors can participate in zazen meditation or sutra copying experiences designed to help you clear your mind and focus on the present moment. For lunch, try the delicious options at the onsite vegetarian cafe, which also serves bubble tea.

After returning to Ikaho in the afternoon, stroll to Ikaho Open-Air Bath, a small public bath that draws its iron-rich waters directly from the Kogane no Yu hot spring. Relax in the open-air baths, gazing up at the maple trees as they sway gently in the breeze. Just a short walk down the road is the picturesque Kajika Bridge, a traditional arched bridge that crosses a small stream. For much of the year, the red bridge provides a striking contrast with the surrounding snow or green foliage and it is the perfect complement to the fiery red of the maple trees in autumn.

For a truly indulgent experience, treat yourself to a facial or full-body massage at Yawaragi, the in-house spa at Kaichoro, open from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Afterward, savor a quiet dinner of seasonal dishes in a private room. Feeling refreshed, take a leisurely stroll to Kajika Bridge to admire its picturesque beauty under the glow of evening illumination.

After a leisurely breakfast and a morning walk around Ikaho Onsen, you can head back to Tokyo, or extend your stay in the area a little longer with a short local bus ride to Ikaho Green Bokujo. This farm-themed park has pony rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, live sheepdog-herding demonstrations, and a petting zoo. You can feed the sheep and goats, and even learn to make fresh butter. Ikaho Green Bokujo also offers mini-golf and archery, as well as large grassy areas perfect for picnics. At the gift shop, you can purchase food and souvenirs that were produced at the farm.

Take some time to visit Hara Museum ARC, a contemporary art museum adjacent to Ikaho Green Bokujo, that showcases art by Japanese and international artists.

How to get to Ikaho