Two days in Gunma: silk mill or hot springs?
Stay one Takasaki night for Byakue Dai-Kannon and Tomioka Silk Mill. Visit the mill by Joshin on day two, then connect at Takasaki to JR towards Tokyo. For hot springs, enjoy yumomi and morning outdoor bathing in Kusatsu, returning by direct Shinjuku bus. Winter outdoor opening is 09:00; move bathing to the previous day if it conflicts with departure.
Choose a 1 night, 2 days itinerary
Visit Kannonyama, then Tomioka Silk Mill
Stay one night in Takasaki to see the large Kannon statue and former silk-reeling factory. Visit Byakue Dai-Kannon on day one and Tomioka Silk Mill on day two, then return to Takasaki for a Tokyo train.
Visit Kannonyama, then Tomioka Silk Mill →1 night, 2 days BWatch yumomi in Kusatsu, then enjoy a morning outdoor bath
Watch yumomi on day one, then enjoy an outdoor bath the following morning. This short hot-spring trip focuses on the performance and one bathing facility.
Watch yumomi in Kusatsu, then enjoy a morning outdoor bath →Visit Kannonyama, then Tomioka Silk Mill
Stay one night in Takasaki to see the large Kannon statue and former silk-reeling factory. Visit Byakue Dai-Kannon on day one and Tomioka Silk Mill on day two, then return to Takasaki for a Tokyo train.
Day 1 · Explore Byakue Dai-Kannon on Kannonyama
Arrive in Takasaki and explore the statue and surrounding grounds.
- Tokyo Station and Takasaki Station → Byakui Kannon-mae
Take an ordinary Takasaki-bound JR Takasaki Line service from Tokyo Station. At Takasaki west-exit stand 8, take Gururin Kannonyama route 14 via Kataoka to Byakui Kannon-mae. Select direct trains for your travel date and outward and return buses through official searches.
JR East station and route timetables for visiting dateCurrent Kannonyama route 14 outward timetable
- Byakui Kannon-mae → Byakue Dai-Kannon
From the stop, follow the path beside Daishido up to the statue. Choose a grounds walk if the internal stairs are difficult. Interior visiting is 09:00–17:00 March–October or 09:00–16:30 November–February.
Kannonyama walking mapByakue Dai-Kannon interior admission and seasonal hours
- Byakue Dai-Kannon → Takasaki Station
Retrace the path to Byakui Kannon-mae and take Gururin route 13 towards Takasaki Station’s west side. Distinguish outward route 14 from return route 13, then have dinner near the station.
Current Kannonyama route 13 return timetableCurrent Kannonyama route 14 outward timetable
Day 2 · Visit Tomioka Silk Mill and return to Tokyo
Explore the historic silk facilities, then return to Takasaki by Joshin Railway.
- Takasaki Station → Tomioka Silk Mill
Follow Joshin Railway signs from the JR west exit to its platform. Take a Shimonita-bound local train to Joshu-Tomioka, then walk about 15 minutes to the mill.
Joshin Takasaki weekday outbound timetableJoshu-Tomioka weekday inbound timetableSilk mill accessOfficial visiting guidanceIndividual reservation guidance
- Silk mill entrance → Explore the silk facilities
Explore the long brick warehouses and reeling building to see the scale of a factory extracting silk from cocoons. Open 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:30; individual visits need no reservation. For explanations, check the separate on-site guided-tour guidance.
Silk mill accessOfficial visiting guidanceIndividual reservation guidanceTomioka Silk Mill warehouses and reeling building
- Silk mill and Joshu-Tomioka Station → Takasaki Station and Tokyo Station
After lunch, return to Joshu-Tomioka and take a Takasaki-bound Joshin local train. Continue by ordinary JR train towards Tokyo. Check weekday versus weekend and public-holiday return timetables and whether the JR service goes directly to Tokyo.
Joshin Takasaki weekday outbound timetableJoshu-Tomioka weekday inbound timetableJR East station and route timetables for visiting dateJR 2026 revised fares
Included costs: JR ordinary-train return JPY 4,180 + Kannonyama bus return JPY 400 + statue interior JPY 300 + Joshin Railway return JPY 1,620 + silk mill JPY 1,000.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, access to the starting station, luggage storage and extra visits and activities cost extra. Shinkansen, limited expresses and Green Car are excluded.
Rates checked on 2026-10-08. Tokyo–Takasaki and Joshin Railway use ordinary tickets.
Gururin basic and JPY 100 section faresByakue Dai-Kannon interior admission and seasonal hoursJR 2026 revised faresJoshu-Tomioka faresOfficial visiting guidance
Watch yumomi in Kusatsu, then enjoy a morning outdoor bath
Watch yumomi on day one, then enjoy an outdoor bath the following morning. This short hot-spring trip focuses on the performance and one bathing facility.
Day 1 · Arrive in Kusatsu and watch yumomi
Explore central Yubatake and begin with a performance.
- Busta Shinjuku, fourth floor → Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal
Take your reserved Joshu Yumeguri direct bus. Book outward and return services for your travel date and check the departure board for the boarding point. Allow road delays rather than arranging a performance immediately after arrival.
Shinjuku fourth-floor guidanceJR Bus operator route hub and linked current timetablesOctober 2026 Joshu Yumeguri fare calendar
- Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal → Yubatake and Netsunoyu
Walk from the terminal to Yubatake for food and a village walk. Choose a Netsunoyu performance from the official date calendar, arriving for on-site ticket sales 30 minutes before it starts. Advance reservations are unavailable; if sold out, choose another show or day.
- Netsunoyu → Watch the performance and explore Yubatake
After yumomi and dancing, have dinner and rest near Yubatake. Watching the performance differs from a separate hands-on yumomi activity.
Performance and ticketing conditionsYubatake Souan check-in, luggage and breakfast FAQ
Day 2 · Enjoy a morning outdoor bath and return to Shinjuku
Relax in the large outdoor bath before leaving the village. Choose morning bathing around your hotel departure conditions.
- Yubatake → Sainokawara Open-Air Bath
Walk through Sainokawara Street and the park to the bath. It is about 12 minutes from Yubatake; allow extra time for slopes and admission.
Outdoor bath fees and hoursOutdoor bath walk, lockers and facilities FAQPark walking reference
- Outdoor bath entrance → Bathe and rest
April–November: 07:00–20:00, admission until 19:30. The outdoor bath has no washing area, hairdryers or towel hire; bring your own towel. If winter’s 09:00 opening does not fit hotel departure, bathe the previous day instead.
Outdoor bath fees and hoursOutdoor bath walk, lockers and facilities FAQPark walking reference
- Sainokawara Open-Air Bath → Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal and Busta Shinjuku
Retrace the path to the village, finish departure preparations, then go to the terminal. Take your reserved Shinjuku-bound Joshu Yumeguri bus. Allow road delays before any further booking after Shinjuku arrival.
JR Bus operator route hub and linked current timetablesOctober 2026 Joshu Yumeguri fare calendarYubatake Souan walking access from terminalYubatake Souan check-in, luggage and breakfast FAQ
Included costs: Shinjuku direct-bus return JPY 7,400 + yumomi JPY 700 + outdoor bath JPY 800 + paid locker JPY 100. Bus fares use an October 2026 category C ordinary-fare example; recalculate for your date.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, access to the starting station, luggage storage and extra visits and activities cost extra. Towels, private rooms and private baths are excluded; the three-bath-ticket discount is not applied.
Rates checked on 2026-10-08. Bathing facilities use individual tickets.
October 2026 Joshu Yumeguri fare calendarPerformance and ticketing conditionsOutdoor bath fees and hoursOutdoor bath walk, lockers and facilities FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I reach Tomioka Silk Mill without a hire car?
Take Joshin Railway from Takasaki to Joshu-Tomioka, then walk about 15 minutes. The official rail reference is about 40 minutes; train schedules and mill visiting time are separate.
Can I still use the outdoor bath on the final morning in winter?
Sainokawara opens at 07:00 April–November or 09:00 December–March. Winter can leave little time to return to the hotel and prepare to leave, so bathing the previous day may work better. Match your booked hotel’s check-out and return bus.
Outdoor bath fees and hoursYubatake Souan check-in, luggage and breakfast FAQ
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Current Kannonyama route 14 outward timetable ·
- Current Kannonyama route 13 return timetable ·
- Gururin basic and JPY 100 section fares ·
- Kannonyama walking map ·
- Byakue Dai-Kannon interior admission and seasonal hours ·
- Joshin Takasaki weekday outbound timetable ·
- Joshu-Tomioka weekday inbound timetable ·
- Silk mill access ·
- JR 2026 revised fares ·
- Joshu-Tomioka fares ·
- Yubatake Souan walking access from terminal ·
- Yubatake Souan check-in, luggage and breakfast FAQ ·
- JR Bus operator route hub and linked current timetables ·
- October 2026 Joshu Yumeguri fare calendar ·
- Shinjuku fourth-floor guidance ·
- Performance and ticketing conditions ·
- Outdoor bath fees and hours ·
- Outdoor bath walk, lockers and facilities FAQ ·
- Park walking reference ·
- Official visiting guidance ·
- Individual reservation guidance ·
- JR East station and route timetables for visiting date ·
- Tomioka Silk Mill warehouses and reeling building ·