Ikaho-onsen Hot Spring / Mt. Haruna-san伊香保温泉・榛名山

Browse through the shops lining the 360 Ishidan-gai Steps, located on a highland slope near the foot of Mt. Haruna-san.

Ikaho-onsen is a hot spring resort located on a highland rising 720-820 meters above sea level at the northeastern foot of Mt. Haruna-san in the central part of Gunma. The hot spring is said to have been founded in the 7th century. The spring is of sulfate and carbonic acid, and its concentration is so high that it sometimes dyes towels red. The source of the spring is situated somewhat away from the town, at a spot 850 meters above sea level, and from which each inn draws.

Ishidan-gai is a street of stone steps consisting of 360 steps that stretch 300 meters between Ikaho On-sekisho Checkpoint and Ikaho-jinja Shrine. The checkpoint is said to have a history of about 430 years. Souvenir shops and inns stand along both sides of the stone steps, and four observation points 'komaguchi' are situated along the way, from which you can watch through pieces of glass the hot spring flowing to each inn. Among the other popular attractions are the Hara Museum ARC (modern art museum) and Ikaho Sistina SANEI & Monkey Theater, where you can enjoy a Trick Art Museum and monkey acrobats.

Mt. Haruna-san, a dual volcano with a flat caldera, makes up part of the Jomo Three Mountains along with Mt. Myogi-san and Mt. Akagi-yama. Other points of interest are the Haruna Fuji at the central volcanic cone and Lake Haruna-ko, a crater lake. On the lake, tourists can enjoy boating, skating, and ice fishing for pond smelt, and you can also enjoy cycling around the lake.