KANTO · PREFECTURE GUIDE

Gunma

For travelers drawn to onsen, mountains and silk heritage.

BASETakasakiIDEAL STAY2–4 daysPRIMARY GATEWAYRail from Tokyo via Takasaki

STARTER ROUTE · 3 DAYS

DAY 01

Kusatsu Onsen

Base plan: Takasaki for connections; Kusatsu Onsen for a dedicated overnight. Explore Kusatsu Onsen on foot, then order oyaki-style yakimanju, konnyaku dishes and udon for your first regional dinner.

DAY 02

Tomioka Silk Mill

Start early for Tomioka Silk Mill. Keep the afternoon flexible for a local workshop or food stop, and look for daruma dolls and silk goods.

DAY 03

Minakami

Use the final day for Minakami. Check the last return connection before departure and send large luggage ahead when buses are involved.

HOW TO ARRIVE

Use the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Takasaki. Kusatsu and Minakami require onward local rail or bus.

EAT THIS

oyaki-style yakimanju, konnyaku dishes and udon

WHEN TO GO

May–October for outdoors; winter for snow and hot springs

WHERE TO BASE

Takasaki for connections; Kusatsu Onsen for a dedicated overnight

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Make the route
work in real life.

A simple decision layer for first-time visitors: how long to stay, whether a car helps, what to reserve and what to do when the weather changes.

TIME2–4 days

CARHelpful

NEXT STOPNagano or Saitama/Tokyo.

ROUTE LOGIC

Move in one direction

Choose one onsen—Kusatsu or Minakami—then add Takasaki or Tomioka around it.

GETTING AROUND

Know the final leg

Shinkansen reaches Takasaki; the final onsen leg is by local rail and bus.

BOOK AHEAD

Protect the hard parts

Ryokan dinners, winter buses and popular outdoor activities.

BAD-WEATHER PLAN

Keep one useful fallback

Tomioka Silk Mill, daruma painting and onsen time.

ARRIVE

Rail from Tokyo via Takasaki

Use the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Takasaki. Kusatsu and Minakami require onward local rail or bus.

MOVE

Rail + local connection

IC cards cover many urban trips; regional buses and rural lines may need cash or a separate ticket.

PACK

Travel one bag lighter

Use hotel-to-hotel luggage delivery when your route includes stairs, small trains or buses.

Find a longer itinerary ↗Set budget & booking order ↗Plan what to buy ↗Check travel basics ↗