【Yukashun Trip】2 Days Trip to Ikaho Onsen in Gunma!!!

Ikaho is a town in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. Ikaho is known for its hot springs, and this time we also went to Ikaho for them. Ikaho is also famous for its Ishidangai (stone steps), and there were many delicious restaurants around it.
So in this article, We would like to share about our 2 days trip to Ikaho Onsen in September. If you have a chance to travel to Japan, let’s see our article!

Day 1

1. Walking in Ikaho Ishidangai

When we arrived in Ikaho, the first thing we did was to take a walk along Ishidangai (the stone steps). We went to Ikaho in September, so it was quite hot during the day. However we were glad it was sunny.

In the middle of the stone stairway, there was a hot spring water source flowing. There are 365 stone steps in total, and each step is quite steep. Therefore, the top of the stone staircase was quite high and the view was very beautiful!

2. Lunch in Ishidangai

We had lunch at a restaurant on Ishidangai. We had delicious ramen noodles and Shogayaki.

Shogayaki is grilled pork with ginger (maybe it’s a food unique to Japan). We usually eat them with rice.

3. Riding the Cable Car

Photo taken from Miharashi Station (the last station of the cable car)

After lunch, we ride the cable car to Miharashi Station. Miharashi Station is located at an altitude of 955 meters and is the last stop on the cable car. There is an observation deck called Tokimeki Deck at Miharashi Station, from which the view is very beautiful. There is also a park rich in nature.

View from Tokimeki Deck

A Park Rich in Nature

There was a bell on the Tokimeki Deck called the Kibo no Kane (Bell of Brightness). The bell is said to be popular as a Enmusubi Bell. Enmusubi means “the union of a man and a woman” in Japanese.

A picture of Kibo no Kane

4. Relaxing at a hotel

After returning to the ground by cable car, we headed to a Ryokan and checked in. Ryokan is a traditional Japanese hotel. We recommend staying at a Ryokan because you will experience a very relaxing and Japanese atmosphere!

Rest area next to the lobby of the ryokan

the room we stayed

The ryokan where we stayed was Manyokan (万葉館) in Fukuichi (福一). Fukuichi is located at the top of a stone stairway, quite high up, so the view from there was very beautiful.

View from Fukuichi

Decoration placed in Fukuichi

We were so tired from walking through the stone steps and around the Miharashi station that We were able to relax there.
The reason we decided to stay at this ryokan was the open-air bath in the room.
There are quite a few ryokans with open-air baths, but it is quite rare to find one in a room. Fukuichi had a room with an open-air bath, so we booked it.

The open-air bath attached to our room (Sorry the picture is so hard to see)

5. Dinner at Fukuichi

When we had booked our hotel, we had booked it with dinner and breakfast included, so we ate dinner at Fukuichi.
Dinner was in a private room and was Kaiseki. Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese eating style. The meal is served one by one like a course meal.
We were able to taste many Japanese dishes such as Sashimi, Shabu-shabu, Udon, and Takikomi-gohan.

shrimp and tuna

uni (sea urchin)

Shabu-shabu

Udon and Takikomi-gohan
(Takikomi-gohan is rice seasoned and cooked with various ingredients)

We are Japanese who have lived in Japan all our lives, so we have eaten Japanese food many times, but it still feels very good to eat good Japanese food in a nice ryokan.

Day 2

1. Lunch in Ishidangai

We checked out of Fukuichi at 11:00 am and had lunch at Ishidangai. (Breakfast was a buffet at the ryokan. We forgot to take pictures.)
We had lunch at a restaurant called Hanayama Udon. Even though it was a weekday, it was quite crowded and we had to wait about 30-40 minutes.

Udon that Yuka ate (Onigama)

Udon that Shun ate

The restaurant’s popular menu is Onigama. According to the official website, Onigama won the competition to determine the best udon in Japan for three consecutive years. The noodles were quite flat. Both were so delicious. Especially the soup was very tasty.

2. Ikaho Shrine

After lunch, we went to the Ikaho Shrine. The Ikaho Shrine is located at the top of a stone staircase and, according to its website, is dedicated to the gods of hot springs, medicine, and business prosperity.

Torii (traditional entrance of a shrine)

Ikaho Shrine

3. Kajika Bridge

Kajika Bridge

We continued further into the Ikaho Shrine to the Kajika Bridge. Kajika Bridge is said to be the model for the red bridge that appeared in the famous Ghibli movie “Spirited Away”. From Ikaho Shrine to Kajika Bridge was about a 10-minute walk. The path we walked on in between was also very beautiful and rich in nature.

Here’s the pictures of the Kajika Bridge from various angles.

We went there in mid-September, so the leaves had hardly changed color yet. During the fall foliage season, the lights are illuminated at night, providing a very beautiful sight. Please try to visit in October or November when the leaves change color!

Ending Our Trip

I had been planning this trip to Ikaho Onsen for about three months and was very much looking forward to it. When I actually got there, I found it very relaxing with beautiful scenery, delicious food, and excellent accommodations.
If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Japan, I highly recommend that you consider a trip to Ikaho Onsen!