Three days in Gunma: exhibitions or indoor-bath rest?
From Takasaki, give Byakue Dai-Kannon, history and modern art a day each. Both museums share Gunma-no-Mori park; after visiting the modern art museum on the final day, return to Takasaki for a Tokyo train. In Kusatsu, watch yumomi, bathe and rest at Gozanoyu, and visit the large outdoor bath on separate days.
Choose a 2 nights, 3 days itinerary
Give Kannonyama, history and modern art a day each
Stay two nights in Takasaki for Byakue Dai-Kannon, Gunma’s history displays and art. Give the statue, history museum and modern art museum a day each, and check both museums’ opening calendars.
Give Kannonyama, history and modern art a day each →2 nights, 3 days BGive yumomi, indoor bathing and outdoor bathing separate days in Kusatsu
Stay two Kusatsu nights to watch yumomi and enjoy indoor and large outdoor baths on different days. Bathe and rest at Gozanoyu on day two; visit Sainokawara on the final day before returning to Shinjuku.
Give yumomi, indoor bathing and outdoor bathing separate days in Kusatsu →Give Kannonyama, history and modern art a day each
Stay two nights in Takasaki for Byakue Dai-Kannon, Gunma’s history displays and art. Give the statue, history museum and modern art museum a day each, and check both museums’ opening calendars.
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 · Explore local history displays
Focus on history at one of Gunma-no-Mori park’s two cultural facilities.
- Takasaki Station east exit → Gunma-no-Mori and Gunma Prefectural Museum of History
Take Gururin Gunma-no-Mori route 9 via Gendai and Motoshimana to Gunma-no-Mori. Stay on the same bus when its course name changes at Watanukimachi; no transfer is needed. Follow park-map signs to Gunma Prefectural Museum of History, about five minutes from the stop.
Current Gunma-no-Mori route 9 timetable2025 revised Gunma-no-Mori timetableModern art museum access and return bus timetablesHistory museum’s 2026 special exhibition and feesHistory museum access and facilities
- Gunma Prefectural Museum of History → Displays on your visiting date
Choose the history displays open on your date and check ticket inclusions. Special and permanent exhibitions may have different fees and ticket conditions. Open 09:30–17:00, last admission 16:30. Check the date calendar, with Mondays normally closed.
History museum: current exhibition period and visiting conditionsHistory museum access and facilitiesHistory museum’s 2026 opening calendar
- Gunma Prefectural Museum of History → Takasaki Station
Rest in the park after visiting, then return to Gunma-no-Mori stop for route 9 towards Takasaki Station’s east exit. Check outward and return services separately in the official timetable. Eat and rest near the station.
Current Gunma-no-Mori route 9 timetable2025 revised Gunma-no-Mori timetableModern art museum access and return bus timetables
Day 3 · Explore the modern art collection
Focus on Japanese and Western modern art at the other facility in Gunma-no-Mori park.
- Takasaki Station east exit → Gunma-no-Mori and The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma
Take Gururin Gunma-no-Mori route 9 via Gendai and Motoshimana to Gunma-no-Mori. Stay on the same bus when its course name changes at Watanukimachi; no transfer is needed. Follow park-map signs to The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma.
Current Gunma-no-Mori route 9 timetable2025 revised Gunma-no-Mori timetableModern art museum access and return bus timetablesModern art museum’s 2026 collection and fees
- The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma → Displays on your visiting date
Check the collection exhibition and galleries open on your date, then explore the artworks. Compare special-exhibition fees and ticket coverage separately. Open 09:30–17:00, last admission 16:30. Confirm Mondays and public holidays on the official calendar.
Modern art museum: current exhibition period and visiting conditionsModern art museum access and return bus timetables
- The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma → Takasaki Station and Tokyo Station
Rest in the park, then return to Gunma-no-Mori stop for route 9 towards Takasaki Station’s east exit. Check outward and return services separately. From Takasaki, take an ordinary JR Takasaki Line service towards Tokyo; confirm the terminus and direct Tokyo service for your date.
Current Gunma-no-Mori route 9 timetable2025 revised Gunma-no-Mori timetableModern art museum access and return bus timetablesJR East station and route timetables for visiting dateJR 2026 revised fares
Included costs: JR ordinary-train return JPY 4,180 + Kannonyama buses and statue interior JPY 700 + history-museum buses and special exhibition JPY 1,400 + modern-art buses and collection admission JPY 700.
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. Exhibition budgets use the history museum’s 18 September–23 November special exhibition and modern art museum’s 19 September–8 November collection. Recheck admission outside those periods.
JR 2026 revised faresByakue Dai-Kannon interior admission and seasonal hoursHistory museum’s 2026 special exhibition and feesModern art museum’s 2026 collection and feesModern art museum access and return bus timetablesGururin basic and JPY 100 section fares
Give yumomi, indoor bathing and outdoor bathing separate days in Kusatsu
Stay two Kusatsu nights to watch yumomi and enjoy indoor and large outdoor baths on different days. Bathe and rest at Gozanoyu on day two; visit Sainokawara on the final day before returning to Shinjuku.
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 · Relax at Gozanoyu’s indoor baths
Take time with the indoor baths and lounge beside Yubatake.
- Yubatake → Gozanoyu
Follow Gozanoyu signs southwest of Yubatake to the entrance. Choose it for indoor baths with washing facilities.
Current Gozanoyu fees and loungeGozanoyu lockers, towels and facilities FAQ
- Gozanoyu entrance → Indoor baths and large lounge
Rest in the large lounge after bathing. April–November hours are 07:00–21:00, last admission 20:30; the large lounge is available 09:00–20:00. Paid private rooms cost extra.
Current Gozanoyu fees and loungeGozanoyu lockers, towels and facilities FAQ
- Gozanoyu → Around Yubatake
There is no restaurant inside, so eat around Yubatake. Give yourself time for bathing and rest today instead of rushing to more baths.
Day 3 · 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 + Gozanoyu JPY 900 + paid lockers JPY 200. 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 FAQCurrent Gozanoyu fees and loungeGozanoyu lockers, towels and facilities FAQ
Distinguish current exhibition periods from route budgets
The two exhibitions below are date-limited and running as of 9 October 2026. Outside those periods, the same exhibition and fee do not apply. Check new exhibitions, closures and tickets before recalculating for a different date.
History museum: Noh-costume special exhibition
The 115th exhibition on Noh costumes revived in the present runs 18 September–23 November 2026. Adult JPY 1,000 admission includes permanent displays. This route’s history budget uses that exhibition’s conditions, differing from JPY 300 permanent-only admission when no special exhibition runs.
History museum’s 2026 special exhibition and feesHistory museum: current exhibition period and visiting conditions
Modern art museum: Japanese and Western Modern Art I
The collection exhibition runs 19 September–8 November 2026 in second-floor galleries 2 and 6. Its ordinary adult fee is JPY 300. Recheck fees and coverage if exhibitions change or you choose another special exhibition.
Modern art museum’s 2026 collection and feesModern art museum: current exhibition period and visiting conditions
Frequently asked questions
Can I wash and hire a towel at Gozanoyu?
Gozanoyu is indoors, with four washing places, shampoo and body wash in each bathing room. Towel hire is unavailable; bring one or buy one on site. Medium lockers cost JPY 100; valuables lockers are free. There is no restaurant inside, so plan meals separately around Yubatake before or after bathing.
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 ·
- JR 2026 revised 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 ·
- Current Gozanoyu fees and lounge ·
- Gozanoyu lockers, towels and facilities FAQ ·
- 2025 revised Gunma-no-Mori timetable ·
- Current Gunma-no-Mori route 9 timetable ·
- History museum’s 2026 special exhibition and fees ·
- History museum access and facilities ·
- Modern art museum’s 2026 collection and fees ·
- Modern art museum access and return bus timetables ·
- History museum’s 2026 opening calendar ·
- JR East station and route timetables for visiting date ·
- History museum: current exhibition period and visiting conditions ·
- Modern art museum: current exhibition period and visiting conditions ·