⭐ HIGHLIGHTS
Gunma highlights
Experiences the Wherebest team recommends — don't miss these on a first trip
Kusatsu, one of Japan's top hot-spring towns, with its steaming Yubatake water field in the center; Ikaho Onsen's 365-step stone stairway; Fukiware Falls, nicknamed the Niagara of the East; and the UNESCO Tomioka Silk Mill — Gunma is the mountainous Kanto prefecture packed with onsen and nature, landlocked but full of hot springs to soak in.
Honestly, Gunma may not be the first name Thai travelers think of, but if you love soaking in onsen, this is the prefecture to visit. Kusatsu is one of Japan's most famous hot-spring towns, with the Yubatake steaming in the center and the yumomi hot-water-stirring show; Ikaho Onsen has a 365-step stone stairway climbing the hillside lined with ryokan. Nature lovers get Fukiware Falls (the Niagara of the East), Lake Haruna in a volcanic caldera, and Mt Tanigawa with a ropeway to the views — plus the UNESCO Tomioka Silk Mill for a dose of history.
Experiences the Wherebest team recommends — don't miss these on a first trip
One of Japan's most famous hot-spring towns, with the Yubatake spewing steaming sulfuric water in the center — beautifully lit at night; the mildly acidic water is said to be good for the skin, and there are several free public baths and the yumomi water-stirring show with wooden paddles.
🆓 Free to walk the YubatakeA hillside onsen town with a 365-step stone stairway lined with ryokan, sweet shops and retro game parlors; the water comes in two kinds — iron-rich golden water and clear water — and strolling in a yukata makes for lovely photos.
🆓 Free to walk the stairwayA lake in the caldera of Mt Haruna, ringed by mountains and cool year-round; row boats and cycle around it in summer, ice-fish in winter, and ride the Haruna ropeway for summit views.
🆓 Free around the lakeA wide falls where the river pours into a rocky cleft mid-stream, earning the nickname Niagara of the East; follow the gorge-side path to see it up close — best when the water is high and the autumn leaves turn.
🆓 Free to walkA Meiji-era silk-reeling mill on the World Heritage list, built in 1872 as the start of Japan's modern silk industry; the red-brick buildings and original machinery survive intact, with guides to explain the history.
🎫 Entry feeA high mountain in the north of the prefecture near Minakami; ride the Tenjindaira ropeway for easy mountain-range views, with brilliant autumn foliage across the slopes and onsen and rafting nearby.
🚠 Ropeway feeMain areas and cities that cover a trip — pick the base that fits your plan
Three sample stays · Luxury · Mid · Budget · compare 3 sites instantly
Gunma (群馬) is a Kanto prefecture northwest of Tokyo — a landlocked, mountainous region with Maebashi as its capital and Takasaki as the main rail hub. It is famous for top-tier hot springs such as Kusatsu and Ikaho, as well as the UNESCO Tomioka Silk Mill, Fukiware Falls, Lake Haruna and Mt Tanigawa.
It is easy to reach from Tokyo — about 50 minutes by Shinkansen to Takasaki, then a train or bus up into the onsen towns. Most sights are in the mountains and fairly spread out, so a rental car makes a multi-stop trip much smoother.
This page gathers stays by onsen area, standout food such as Mizusawa udon, yaki-manju and konnyaku, the main sights and a 3-day Gunma plan, with one-click hotel price comparisons across Agoda, Booking and Trip.com. Information is current for 2026, but please re-check prices, opening hours and transport schedules before you travel.
Find Gunma hotels in the right area · compare 3 sites instantly
Other prefectures in Kanto · every prefecture in Japan with a full prep guide
See Kanto → Japan overview →
