Last updated: March 28, 2024
Isobe has long been a popular retreat for artists and writers, with a quiet onsen town set on the Usui River, and beautiful views of Mt. Myogi. Isobe Onsen is famous for Isobe senbei, light and crispy crackers made with mineral spring water. It is also the birthplace of the onsen mark, the symbol of Japanese onsen that is famous throughout the world. Isobe is easy to access from Tokyo by train via Takasaki.
You can reach Isobe Onsen in around 85 minutes by train from Tokyo. Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen services run from Tokyo Station to Takasaki Station. From there, you can transfer to a local train to Isobe Station.
You can board Hokuriku and Joetsu shinkansen services at Tokyo Station.
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Shinkansen trains from Tokyo Station reach Takasaki Station in under 1 hour. The shinkansen to Takasaki Station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass and JR EAST Pass, and others.
Takasaki is a stop on the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen Lines, and the gateway to Gunma: express trains and local trains from Tokyo stop at Takasaki Station. From this station you can transfer to local trains for destinations around Gunma Prefecture, including Isobe Onsen.
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At Takasaki Station, transfer to a Shin-etsu Line train to Isobe Station. The journey takes around 18 minutes.
From Isobe Station, it takes around 10 minutes on foot to reach Isobe Onsen Footbath. The free footbath is near the center of the onsen town and is an ideal place to relax and soak your feet.
You can use the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, JR East Pass, and other JR passes for trains on this route. There are many passes and travel combinations to discover, so use the links below to find your ideal travel plan.
- JR East Pass
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass
- Japan Rail Pass
- JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Save time and purchase train tickets and passes, and reserve seats online, before you travel.
