G’-nowNewsletter from Gunma 伊香保温泉 July 2013, Mail to: [email protected] Hello! This is Gunma’s newsletter on tourism “G’-now” July edition. For this issue we feature Ikaho Onsen, one of the most popular onsen resorts in Gunma! Located on the mountainside of Mt. Haruna, Ikaho Onsen is surrounded by lush greenery. Here you can enjoy nice onsen and the splendid scenery of the mountains as well as the city below. If you have not visited this wonderful onsen resort yet, you should take a chance to come!

Ikaho Onsen Open-Air Bath Have a relax time with brown-colored onsen located near the source of Ikaho Onsen. The bathtub is separated into two with onsen in different temperature. Fee: 450 yen per adult, 200 yen per child, Location: 581 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma Website: http://www.city.shibukawa.lg.jp/kankou/onsen/rotemburo.html (Japanese) Take a footbath in front of Kishigon Ryokan for free! Nice warm onsen will take your Stone Steps tiredness away.

Stop by at the souvenir shop and get one or more for your memory of Ikaho Onsen!

Don’t forget to taste onsen manju Would you like to try some traditional (brown-colored steamed bun) as Ikaho is amusement like target shooting or archery? the origin of the manju!

Something at the Stone Steps

Stone steps are the landmark of Ikaho Onsen, located at the center of the resort. Visitors 1. 黄金の湯 (Kogane no Yu) can enjoy the atmosphere of Japanese traditional The main hot spring water of Ikaho is called “Kogane no Yu (golden-color onsen)”, as the onsen resort while going up and down the steps as color of the water changes into brown color when it is exposed to the open air. From the ryokans, souvenir shops, and traditional amusement source, Kogane no Yu is drawn to run through the center of the stone steps and distributed to each ryokan. You can see the “Komaguchi”, where the hot spring water is centers are lined up on the both sides of the stone distributed from the main line to the ryokan, since it is covered with glass. steps. Have a nice walk on 365 steps with stopping by the shops which you are interested in. There are 2. Plates of the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac also some cafes and shops at the back of narrow You will find the plates of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac on the stone steps. They are alley beside the steps! the signs of ryokans which were used to be the onsen inn called “O-ya” more than 200 years ago. Each plate is placed where the building of the O-ya once was located. Can you find all of them? Ikaho Hawaiian Festival Date: 1 (Thu) – 4 (Sun) August 2013 Venues: Ikaho Onsen and other places in Shibukawa City

Ikaho Festival Date: 18 (Wed) – 20 (Fri) September 2013 Venue: Stone Steps in Ikaho Onsen

Color of Ikaho – Festivals and Autumnal Foliage –

Ikaho Onsen gets more alive during summer and autumn with festivals and beautiful autumnal leaves. “Ikaho Festival” is the greatest traditional festival in Ikaho. Men, women and children carry portable shrines to Ikaho Shrine, located at the top of the stone steps. This exciting festival is a must see at Ikaho Onsen. Also, “Ikaho Hawaiian Festival” is held at various places including the stone steps. When the cool breeze of autumn come to Ikaho, maple leaves changes its color into bright red. It is a picturesque view of the maple trees and Kajika Bridge, an arched bridge lacquered in vermillion located near Kajika Bridge the source of Kogane no Yu. Stay at Ikaho Onsen and Best season: Late October – Early November get a splendid scenery of foliage and the bridge that Location: About 10 min on foot from the are lit up in nighttime. Stone Steps Other than the stone steps and Kajika Bridge, Ishidan no Yu Other Spots there are other spots which you can enjoy This is a day trip onsen facility located at the Ikaho! middle of the stone steps. Here you can enjoy Kogane no Yu. Location: 36 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa- shi, Gunma Gunma-chan , Fee: 400 yen per adult, 200 yen per child Mascot of Gunma Prefecture Website: http://www.city.shibukawa.lg.jp/kankou/onse Onsen n/ishidannoyu.html (Japanese)

Mizusawa Kannon Temple It is said that the temple is founded around 1,300 years ago. Mizusawa Udon, one of the three famous udon in can be tried at the udon restaurants lined in front of the temple. Location: 214 Mizusawa, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma Access: About 10 min by bus from Ikaho Onsen Website: Temple http://mizusawakannon.or.jp/index.php Nature (Japanese)

Ikaho Ropeway Ikaho Green Bokujo This is a tourist ranch that offers many hands- You can take a 4-minutes-trip from the on experiences such as petting animals, town of Ikaho Onsen to the peak of Mt. milking cows, making home-made butter, and Monokiki to have a grand view of the picking strawberries. onsen resort and mountains around. Location: 2844-1 Kanai, Shibukawa-shi, Fee: 800 yen per adult, 400 yen per Gunma child (fees shown are for the round Fee: 1,200 yen per adult, 600 yen per child trip) (It is a half price during winter season) Website: Website: http://www.city.shibukawa.lg.jp/kanko Family http://www.greenbokujo.co.jp/english/index. u/onsen/ikahoro-puwei.html html (Japanese) cest kh Onsento Ikaho Access By Bus

Shinjuku Express Bus (“Joshu Yumeguri Go” by JR Bus Kanto) (New South Exit) 2 hr 30 min

By Train and Bus Limited Express “Kusatsu” Bus Ueno Shibukawa 1 hr 45 min 20 min Ikaho JR Joetsu/ Nagano Bus Onsen Takasaki 50 min 55 min JR Joetsu/ Nagano JR Joetsu / Shinkansen Agatsuma Line Bus Tokyo Takasaki Shibukawa 50 min 25 min 20 min Hello! I am “ Ishidan-kun ”, a new mascot character of Ikaho Onsen! Here are some tools for you to utilize on your trip to Ikaho Onsen ☆ 1. “Ikaho-Navi”, an application to download on your cellphone (English available). http://www.ikaho-kankou.com/news/20130215/20130215.pdf ♨Minakami 2. Map of the stone steps (Japanese) http://www.ikaho-kankou.com/map-a4-2.pdf 3. Map of the area around Ikaho Onsen (Japanese) ♨Shima http://www.ikaho-kankou.com/map-a4-1.pdf ♨Kusatsu

Ikaho ♨

Tomioka Silk Mill From Ikaho to; - Kusatsu… About 1 hr 30 min - Shima… About 55 min - Minakami… About 50 min - Tomioka Silk Mill… About 1 hr Need the latest information? Then, visit our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/visitgunma.En For more information about Ikaho and other spots, visit the websites; - Shibukawa Ikaho Spa and Resort Tourism Association: http://www.ikaho-kankou.com/multilingual/en/ - Tourist Guide of Gunma Prefecture: http://visitgunma.jp/en/