Mizunuma no Yu Onsen

Few hot spring baths are as easy to reach as Mizunuma no Yu Onsen. Visitors need to just step off the train and go straight into the warm waters of the onsen facility located within the station building at Mizunuma Station. No further walking required.

The facility makes clever use of the station structure, creating a relaxed yet distinctive bathing experience. Within are spacious indoor and outdoor communal baths, a sauna, and cold plunge pools. The hot spring water is drawn from Sarugawa Onsen, located several kilometers away, which is colorless and transparent at the source, though it may appear slightly brownish as its iron content oxidizes upon exposure to air. One of the highlights is Komorebi-an, an outdoor bath named after komorebi, the Japanese word for the sunlight filtering through leaves. Here, bathers can enjoy views of Mt. Kojin and the surrounding landscape. Shared tatami-floored rest areas and a wooden terrace provide a space to unwind between soaks and lounge before and after a soothing dip.

An on-site Japanese restaurant, Satoyama Honjin, serves nourishing regional dishes made from Gunma ingredients. The menu includes local highlights such as: sukiyaki, a hot pot dish consisting of thinly sliced meat, tofu, and vegetables cooked in a sweet and savory broth; okkirikomi, a hearty local noodle dish from Gunma made with wide, flat wheat noodles simmered with seasonal vegetables in a soy-based broth; and kamameshi, a rice dish cooked and served in an individual iron pot, topped with seasonal ingredients. This makes a convenient stop for a meal before or after bathing—or while waiting for the next train.