4 recommended onsen inns by the "Japan Secret Hot Springs Protection Association" known only to those in the know [Gunma Edition]
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Gunma is known as one of the best onsen spots in the Japan. Highly well-known onsen spots such as Kusatsu and Ikaho are popular, but for those who want to enjoy a quiet onsen trip, we recommend ryokan registered with the "Japan Secret Hot Spring Protection Association"! Although access is not good, the reliable quality of the spring attracts onsen fans. We would like to introduce you to the inn of the Association for the Protection of Japan Secret Hot Springs, which is full of charm where you can experience the blessings of nature that Gunma is proud of!
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![[onsen Prefecture, Gunma springs] Many popular onsen spots in Kanto! 3331905](https://resize2-icotto.k-img.com/hWLlWFEXzJgnSaCVazbLyTG1DsDLoRjYIdl3crvChYg/rs:fill:700:466/q:84/plain/https://icotto.k-img.com/uploads/press_image/000/11b/4bb/image/95b128a0835786fc8625419eb98ff3b6.jpeg@webp)
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Kusatsu is popular for its hot spring baths, and Ikaho is a place where you can enjoy strolling through the stone steps. Gunma is one of the best hot onsen paradises in Japan. Easy access from the Kanto area is also attractive. However, this time, instead of visiting such onsen resorts that are crowded with tourists, we have selected quiet onsen ryokan that are registered with the ``Japan Secret Hot Springs Preservation Association''.
1. onsen Chojukan (Minakami Town)
Founded in 1873 A detached inn nestled in the valley of Mikuni Pass
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First of all, I would like to introduce the Gunma Minami Town, which is dotted with 18 onsen. It is a popular spot that is well known to onsen fans. Among them, this "Hōshi onsenChojukan" is known as a famous hot spring that has been loved for more than 140 years since its establishment. Nestled along the Hoshi River, this quiet inn is one of the most well-known in Gunma.
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This bathtub can be said to be synonymous with Hoshi onsen. You can feel the dignity of being carefully used for more than a century. It is said to have been discovered by Kobo Daishi, hence the name of onsen.
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Please pay attention to the shape of the window in the daytime when the bright light comes in. You can get a glimpse of the romantic atmosphere that has not changed since its founding in a Western-style structure reminiscent of Rokumeikan. Each of the four baths has a slightly different temperature, so please take your time and enjoy the hot onsen time.
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Inside the hotel, the old-fashioned mountain lifestyle with hearths and braziers is also a highlight. How about spending time at an inn that has been registered as a national tangible cultural property, as if you had slipped back in time?
Detailed information
Hoshi onsen Chojukan
Gunma /Minakami/ ryokan
- address
- Gunma 650 Nagai, Minakami-cho, Tone-gun
- access
- 50 minutes by bus bound for Hoshi Onsen, changing to Sarugakyo from Jomo-onsen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen / 25 km from the Tsukiyono IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (about 40 minutes)
2. Oze Kamata Inn onsen Water Basho no Yu Umedaya ryokan (Katashina Village)
Convenient for walking around Oze! A detached inn along Japan's Romantic Road
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“Oze Kamata onsen Onsen ryokan no Yu Umedaya Ryokan” is about 40 minutes by car from Katashina Village via Route 120 (commonly known as Japan Romantic Road) from Numata Interchange. It is a single-family inn with a cute folk-art style appearance. The location is perfect as a base for walking around Oze, which is famous for Mizubasho.
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Katashina Village is known as the only region in the Kanto region that experiences heavy snowfall, and in winter you can enjoy onsen with a view of deep snow. Let's enjoy the snow-viewing bath in the scenery full of nature.
Groundwater (onsen) in mountains contains a lot of nutrients.
Nutrients from trees, flowers, forests, and lakes are washed away by rain, and eventually the water containing these nutrients flows underground and is warmed underground, creating onsen.
Spring quality Alkaline simple hot spring
Neuralgia, muscle pain, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive diseases, hemorrhoids, sensitivity to coldSource: Bath: Umedaya ryokan
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There is also a comfortable indoor bath with a large window. "Mizubasho-no-Yu" and "Himebasho-no-Yu" alternate between men and women, so be sure to check the times and try both.
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It also has a good reputation for its warm kaiseki cuisine, which is mainly made with locally-sourced ingredients. The mountain delicacies raised by the spring water of Oze are not flashy, but they have a gentle taste that seems to soothe the fatigue from the inside out.
Official details
Umedaya Ryokan
Gunma /Oze/ ryokan
- hotel fee
- JPY from 12,100
- address
- Gunma 4073 Kamada, Katashina Village, Tone-gun
- access
- Get off at Numata Station on the JR Joetsu Line, take a bus bound for Togura or Kamata, get off at Kamata, and walk for 1 minute. Kanetsu Expressway Numata IC → 50 minutes by R120.
- Staying time
- 14:00（IN）〜 10:00（OUT）など
3. Shimonita onsen Seiryuso (Shimonita Town)
The land area is 20,000 square meters! A secluded hot spring where you can admire the nature of flowers and birds in the garden
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“Shimonita onsen Seiryuso” is a onsen inn located in Shimonita Town, called West Joshu. Shimonita is also famous for producing green onions. Surrounded by nature on all sides, rivers and mountains, the sky and the earth, the inn's grounds are a whopping 20,000 square meters!
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The spacious grounds include a ranch and a farm, making it a walking spot where you can experience a truly rich experience. In the beautifully laid out garden, you can meet seasonal flowers, a perfect night sky, and the animals of Satoyama that come to play.
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It is said that this Shimonita onsen was first discovered when wild boars were found healing in the hot springs. It is located next to a mountain stream, so please enjoy the murmuring of the trees, the sound of the flowing river, and the singing of birds while soaking in the water.
The "carbon dioxide-containing hydrogen carbonate spring", which is rare in Japan, has the effect of expanding capillaries and lowering blood pressure, and it is good for the stomach and intestines and makes the skin smooth. Soaking in a rustic bath will heal your body and mind.
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Spending time in a Japanese-style room is unique to a onsen inn. There are 6 guest rooms in the main building and 7 guest rooms in the annex, all of which are full of the warmth of wood. This is a onsen ryokan that is perfect for those who want to enjoy a higher-grade adult trip.
Official details
Shimonita onsen Seiryuso
Gunma / Shimonita/ ryokan
- address
- Gunma 769 Yoshizaki, Shimonita-cho, Amaraku-gun
- access
- About 6 km from Joshin Dentetsu Shimonita Station/Joshinetsu Expressway Shimonita IC, 15 minutes
4. onsen Onsen Shinsuikan (Fujioka City)
We are proud of our riverside open-air bath "Iwakutsuburo"!
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Kanna River is located in Gunma, Saitama. ``Yashio onsen Shinsuikan'', which is located right next to it, is also attractive for its proximity to the city center. The inn was founded in 1930, and its dignified appearance gives you a sense of calm.
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Our pride is the riverside open-air rock bath. This bathtub exudes a unique atmosphere, as it was made from local specialty Sanbasite and natural rock. As the name Yashio onsen suggests, the onsen spring that gushes out from this hot onsen is characterized by its extremely high salt concentration, although there is no sea in Gunma.
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The retro hall has a nostalgic atmosphere that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Shinsuikan, which can be used casually, is about two hours by car from the city center. This inn is perfect for a short weekend trip when you want to experience something extraordinary.
Official details
onsen Onsen Shinsuikan
Gunma /Fujioka/ ryokan
- address
- 6 Joboji, Fujioka City, Gunma
- access
- From Honjo Station, take a bus bound for Kamikawa-cho Shinsen General Branch, get off at Yashio Onsen onsen, and walk for 5 minutes.
A hidden hot spring in Gunma, rich in nature
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The faraway Oze is a spectacular view that moves the hearts of people who visit in any era.
Although it is located in the Kanto region, it is a Gunma full of deep mountains, rich clear streams, and natural attractions where you can experience the snow country. The quiet secret hot spring that springs up nearby is highly recommended as a base for travel. There are plenty of inns perfect for a quiet adult trip. Next weekend, why don't you go to a secret hot spring inn in Gunma?