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Minakami-machi, in Gunma Prefecture, is relatively large in area and is home to 18 hot springs (onsen) scattered about the town. Most of them are located in the Minakami onsen village. There are a variety of onsen along the main course and tributaries of the Tone River, including Minakami Onsen, which is the center of the village, Unose Onsen, Yubiso Onsen, Mukoyama Onsen, and Tanigawa Onsen. This article introduces several unique onsen resorts.

Minakami Onsen, the center of the hot spring village

Minakami Onsen, the center of the Minakami onsen village, has many Japanese-style hotels along gorges of the Tone River. The village is accessible by foot from JR Minakami station. Taking a leisurely walk while listening the bubbling stream that leads to beautiful gorges, which change in appearance with the season. Or why not indulge in one of the outdoor foot baths dotted around the resort area? There are also many eating places that open at night where you can enjoy a drink, such as izakaya pubs and karaoke snack bars.
If you're a day visitor, there are several onsen facilities and hotels that will allow you to bathe there. Hot spring facilities specially catering to day visitors charge reasonable admission fees, but you may need to bring your own toiletries. Hotels charge a relatively high admission fees to use their onsen and some limit visiting hours to daytime only. However, their well-equipped facilities and comprehensive selection of toiletries are appealing.
●Access to Minakami Onsen:
13 minutes by bus from Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to Minakami Onsen. 10 minutes walk from Minakami station on the JR Joetsu Line to the Minakami onsen resort area.

Unose Onsen

Along the Tone River runs National Route 291, leading upstream from Minakami Onsen to Unose Onsen. This tasteful onsen resort features three hotels along the river, with baths long popular for their therapeutic properties. Close to Unose Onsen is the Oana Ski Resort, where you'll find some stores for shopping and conveniences.
●Access to Unose Onsen:
About 20 minutes by bus from Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to Minakami station, and 4 minutes by bus from Minakami station to Unose Onsen.

Yubiso Onsen - Facing the Yubiso River

National Route 291 further extends to the Yubiso River, a tributary of the Tone River, along which you'll see several hotels as part of the Yubiso hot spring resort area. Each of those unique riverside hotels contains its own onsen facilities. Being close to the Tanigawadake Tenjindaira Ski Resort, they are convenient bases for mountain climbing in summer and skiing in winter.
●Access to Yubiso Onsen:
About 20 minutes by bus from Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to Minakami station, and 8 minutes by bus from Minakami station to the Yubiso Onsen area. Also accessible by foot from Yubiso station on the JR Joetsu Line.

Mukoyama Onsen - Where you'll feel right at home

Mukoyama Onsen is a hot spring resort area at the foot of the Okutone Snow Park. Across the Tone River you'll find a host of smaller accommodation options, such as inns and pensions. Many of them are individually run with a homely atmosphere, and are well equipped with onsen facilities such as chartered baths and guest rooms with their own private baths.
●Access to Mukoyama Onsen:
About 20 minutes by bus from Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to Minakami station, and 11 minutes by bus from Minakami station to Okutone Snow Park Iriguchi.

Tanigawa Onsen - At the Foot of Mt Tanigawa

Tanigawa Onsen rests at the foot of Mt Tanigawa, which straddles the border between Gunma and Niigata Prefectures. This onsen resort area is nestled in a deep forest. The local people are careful to blend the colors of their buildings into the natural environment to avoid spoiling the scenery. If you're a day visitor, you'll find well equipped municipal onsen facilities, plus privately owned ones that offer chartered baths.
Yuterume Tanigawa, a municipal onsen for day visitors, taps into three hot spring sources. It features an outdoor bath facing the river that flows in the valley. Relax and enjoy your soak in the outdoor bath while listening to the sound of the pure stream nearby.
●Access to Tanigawa Onsen:
About 20 minutes by bus from Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to Minakami station, and about 5 minutes by taxi from Minakami station to Tanigawa Onsen.
text : Chiho Kuriyama

Facility Information

Minakami Tourism Association
Address
1744-1 Tsukiyono, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma 379-1313
URL
http://enjoy-minakami.com/en/
Notes
0 minutes walk from Jomo-Kogen station, Joetsu Shinkansen

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