Gunma attractions: what should you see and where should you bathe?
Choose Tomioka Silk Mill for the factory that extracted silk from cocoons, or Shorinzan to paint a daruma. Takasaki museums offer history and art displays open on your date. In Kusatsu, walk Yubatake or watch yumomi at Netsunoyu. Choose Gozanoyu for indoor baths from two sources and a lounge, Otakinoyu for large indoor and outdoor baths, or Sainokawara for large outdoor bathing with park scenery.
Attraction fees, hours and access
Tomioka Silk Mill
富岡製糸場
Tomioka Silk Mill retains brick warehouses and the reeling building where silk was extracted from cocoons. Explore the long warehouses and wide, column-free reeling space to see the former factory’s scale. Take Joshin Railway from Takasaki to Joshu-Tomioka, then walk; allow both return trains and visiting time.
- AdmissionIndividual admission costs JPY 1,000 for adults, JPY 250 for senior high school and university students with student ID, or JPY 150 for primary and junior high school pupils. Ordinary adult guided tours cost JPY 200 extra.
- Hours09:00–17:00, admission until 16:30. Closed 29–31 December. Individual visits need no reservation.
- Getting thereAfter leaving Takasaki’s JR gates, turn left on the west side for Joshin Railway. Alight at Joshu-Tomioka and walk about 15 minutes. The rail section is listed at about 40 minutes. Joshu-Tomioka · 上州富岡
- Planning tipFor a guided tour, check start times on the visiting day first. Bring student ID for student discounts.
Official visiting guidanceSilk mill accessIndividual reservation guidanceTomioka Silk Mill warehouses and reeling building
Byakue Dai-Kannon
高崎白衣大観音
Distinguish a walk around the statue’s exterior from climbing its internal stairs. Arrive before the admission deadline if you want to enter.
- AdmissionInterior admission costs JPY 300 for visitors of senior-high school age and above, or JPY 100 for visitors of junior-high school age and younger.
- Hours09:00–17:00, shortened to 16:30 November–February. No regular closing day.
- Getting thereFrom Takasaki west-exit stand 8, take Gururin Kannonyama route 14 via Kataoka to Byakui Kannon-mae. Return on route 13 towards Takasaki Station. Adult fare is JPY 200 each way; confirm your date’s timetable and signs.
- Planning tipFor late arrival, see the exterior and move the interior visit to another morning. Interior access uses stairs.
Byakue Dai-Kannon interior admission and seasonal hoursOfficial Kannonyama mapCurrent Kannonyama route 14 outward timetableKannonyama walking mapGururin basic and JPY 100 section fares
Kusatsu Yubatake
Yubatake湯畑
Walk around Yubatake’s hot-spring square and surrounding streets. Exploring the square differs from bathing, which takes place at a hotel or separate bathing facility.
- AdmissionYubatake square is free to explore. Check nearby hotels, performances and bath fees separately.
- HoursYubatake square is accessible 24 hours. Check nearby hotels, performances and bath hours separately.
- Getting thereTake a JR bus towards Kusatsu Onsen from JR Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station. Yubatake is about five minutes on foot from the bus terminal. Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi · 長野原草津口
- Planning tipEnjoy walks and meals around Yubatake separately. For an evening walk, choose a nearby section; restaurant hours differ from the square’s opening.
JR East: Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, bus terminal and Yubatake accessTourism guidanceJR Bus route guidance
Netsunoyu
熱乃湯
Watch yumomi, cooling hot-spring water with wooden boards, and dancing in front of Yubatake. This differs from bathing or a separate hands-on yumomi activity.
- AdmissionAdult admission costs JPY 700; primary pupils pay JPY 350. On-site sales start 30 minutes before the performance; reservations are unavailable. Pay by cash or PayPay.
- HoursOrdinary performances: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 15:30, 16:00 and 16:30. Check your date’s calendar for changes and suspensions and match arrival to your chosen show.
- Getting thereOfficially five minutes on foot from Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal; find the performance-hall sign in front of Yubatake.
Performance and ticketing conditionsDate-specific performance calendarOfficial access
Gozanoyu
御座之湯
Gozanoyu has baths from the Yubatake and Bandai sources, with a free large lounge after bathing. Bath admission is paid; private rooms cost extra.
- AdmissionAdult admission costs JPY 900; children pay JPY 450. A paid medium locker costs JPY 100. Bring your own towel.
- HoursApril–November: 07:00–21:00; December–March: 08:00–21:00. Last admission is 20:30. Bathers can use the large lounge 09:00–20:00 without an extra fee.
- Getting thereFind facility signs southwest of Yubatake. Use the tourism association map and official access guidance together.
- FacilitiesWashing areas, shampoo, body wash and hairdryers are available; outdoor baths and towel hire are not. Private rooms and yukata hire are optional paid extras.
Current Gozanoyu fees and loungeGozanoyu lockers, towels and facilities FAQGozanoyu location and accessGozanoyu’s baths from two spring sources
Sainokawara Open-Air Bath
西の河原露天風呂
Bathe in Sainokawara’s large outdoor pools with views of the park’s natural surroundings. Distinguish the park walk from paid bath entry. The facility FAQ’s approximately 12-minute walk from Yubatake reaches the bath; the sightseeing route’s ten-minute reference reaches the park entrance instead.
- AdmissionAdult admission costs JPY 800; children from age three to primary-school age pay JPY 400. Towels cost extra.
- HoursApril–November: 07:00–20:00; December–March: 09:00–20:00. Admission until 19:30.
- Getting thereFrom Yubatake, pass through Sainokawara Street into the park, then continue following outdoor-bath signs.
- Planning tipEnjoy the outdoor bath the following morning rather than rushing after your arrival bus. Check maintenance-closure notices too.
Outdoor bath fees and hoursOutdoor bath walk, lockers and facilities FAQOfficial walking route to the parkSainokawara’s large outdoor baths and natural views
Otakinoyu
大滝乃湯
Otakinoyu combines large indoor and outdoor baths. Kusatsu’s four- and five-day B routes give it a separate day rather than combining it with other baths.
- AdmissionAdult admission costs JPY 1,200; a paid coin locker costs JPY 100. Private rooms, private baths and towels cost extra.
- Hours09:00–21:00, admission until 20:00
- Getting thereFollow signs from Yubatake. The official walk is seven to eight minutes; register for bathing at the facility entrance.
Otakinoyu fees and operationOtakinoyu walking access and lockersOtakinoyu access
Kusatsu Nettaiken
草津熱帯圏
Observe animals in Kusatsu Nettaiken’s tropical dome. Five days B gives it a separate day from bathing. Ordinary entry differs from animal-contact events.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 1,300 for adults, JPY 1,000 for senior high school pupils or JPY 800 for children aged four and above.
- Hours08:30–17:00, with no regular closing day. Ask the facility about last admission before visiting.
- Getting thereOfficially about 12 minutes on foot from Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal. Follow the tourist map and local signs to the entrance.
Tourism association Nettaiken fees, operation and walking accessOfficial Kusatsu Nettaiken facility name and events
Gunma Prefectural Museum of History
群馬県立歴史博物館
Explore the Noh-costume special exhibition and permanent displays at Gunma Prefectural Museum of History. Recheck admission when exhibitions change.
- AdmissionJPY 1,000 adult admission covers the 115th special exhibition and permanent displays on 18 September–23 November 2026. This differs from JPY 300 permanent-only admission when no special exhibition is running.
- Hours09:30–17:00, last admission 16:30. Mondays are normally closed; check the official opening calendar and special-exhibition period for your date.
- Getting thereFrom Takasaki’s east side, take Gururin route 9, 10 or 15 to Gunma-no-Mori. The adult bus fare is JPY 200; the museum is about five minutes on foot from the stop.
- Planning tipExplore the displays, rest in the park, then return to Takasaki. The history museum and modern art museum are separate facilities in the same park.
History museum’s 2026 special exhibition and feesHistory museum’s 2026 opening calendarHistory museum access and facilities
The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma
群馬県立近代美術館
Explore Japanese and Western modern art at The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma. It shares the history museum’s park but has separate buildings and displays. The collection exhibition below is date-limited; check your date’s exhibition and fees.
- AdmissionOrdinary adult collection admission is JPY 300 on 19 September–8 November 2026. Group discounts and other special exhibitions use different rates; check separately.
- Hours09:30–17:00, admission until 16:30. This exhibition closes Mondays and 24 September and 13 October, but opens on Mondays 21 September and 12 October.
- Getting thereFrom Takasaki’s east side, take Gururin route 9, 10 or 15 to Gunma-no-Mori. The adult fare is JPY 200. Follow the park map and modern art museum signs to its own building.
- Planning tipOctober park hours are 08:00–17:30. Rest in the park after the exhibition, then return to Gunma-no-Mori stop. Check facility last admission, park hours and return buses separately.
Modern art museum’s 2026 collection and feesModern art museum access and return bus timetables
Shorinzan Darumaji Temple
少林山達磨寺
Choose Shorinzan Darumaji’s painting activity to explore daruma in the grounds and paint one yourself.
- AdmissionOrdinary worship is free. Daruma painting costs JPY 1,500 for 12 cm or JPY 2,000 for 15 cm; separate prayers and souvenirs are excluded.
- HoursDaruma-do: 09:00–17:00. Activity registration: 10:00–15:30; reserved start times: 10:00–15:00. The venue closes at 16:00. Snow or typhoons may suspend activities.
- Getting thereFrom Takasaki west-exit stand 4, take Gururin Shorinzan route 1 to Shorinzan Iriguchi. The official walk to the temple is about five minutes; reaching the upper activity venue adds about 200 stairs beyond Somon.
- Activity reservationsOne person can join without reservation; groups of ten or more must book. Painting takes about 30 minutes, excluding queues. Same-day cancellations or no-shows incur a 50% fee; late arrivals may lose their place.
Gunma official tourism: ordinary worship at ShorinzanDaruma painting registration, prices and reservationsShorinzan facilities, operation and accessGunma official tourism: west-side stand 4 and walking access2025 revised Shorinzan timetable and west-side stand 4
Takasaki City Museum of Art
高崎市美術館
Explore art displays and the former Inoue residence’s interior and garden at Takasaki City Museum of Art. It is near the station, making it convenient to visit on the final day before your return train. The figure exhibition runs only during the period below; residence interior hours differ from museum hours.
- AdmissionDuring Human Figure, 10 October–13 December 2026, ordinary adult admission is JPY 300, including the former Inoue residence. This ticket differs from The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma’s.
- HoursThe museum opens 10:00–18:00, with admission until 17:30; on Fridays, it opens until 20:00, with admission until 19:30. Residence interiors open 10:00–11:00 and 14:00–16:00. The garden opens 10:00–18:00 in October–November, with admission until 17:30; in December, it closes at 17:00, with admission until 16:30. October 2026 exhibition closure dates are 13, 19 and 26.
- Getting thereOfficially about three minutes’ walk from Takasaki Station’s west exit.
- Planning tipFor museum and residence together, visit the interior after lunch during 14:00–16:00. Return to Takasaki Station for your train afterwards.
Takasaki City Museum of Art Human Figure and feesTakasaki city museum and Inoue garden seasonal hours and October 2026 closure recheckTakasaki City Museum of Art access and operationMetropolitan Takasaki station-to-sixth-floor reception accessMetropolitan Takasaki check-in and luggage FAQOctober 2026 JR return-journey check record
Frequently asked questions
Is Sainokawara Open-Air Bath admission JPY 600?
The operator guidance checked on 8 October 2026 lists adult admission at JPY 800. Towels and other baths cost extra.
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Metropolitan Takasaki station-to-sixth-floor reception access ·
- Metropolitan Takasaki check-in and luggage FAQ ·
- Current Kannonyama route 14 outward timetable ·
- Gururin basic and JPY 100 section fares ·
- Kannonyama walking map ·
- Byakue Dai-Kannon interior admission and seasonal hours ·
- Silk mill access ·
- October 2026 JR return-journey check record ·
- Date-specific performance calendar ·
- Performance and ticketing conditions ·
- Outdoor bath fees and hours ·
- Outdoor bath walk, lockers and facilities FAQ ·
- Current Gozanoyu fees and lounge ·
- Gozanoyu lockers, towels and facilities FAQ ·
- Gozanoyu location and access ·
- Official visiting guidance ·
- Individual reservation guidance ·
- Official Kannonyama map ·
- Tourism guidance ·
- JR Bus route guidance ·
- Official access ·
- Official walking route to the park ·
- Otakinoyu fees and operation ·
- Otakinoyu walking access and lockers ·
- Otakinoyu access ·
- Tourism association Nettaiken fees, operation and walking access ·
- Official Kusatsu Nettaiken facility name and events ·
- 2025 revised Shorinzan timetable and west-side stand 4 ·
- 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 ·
- Takasaki City Museum of Art Human Figure and fees ·
- Takasaki City Museum of Art access and operation ·
- Shorinzan facilities, operation and access ·
- Daruma painting registration, prices and reservations ·
- History museum’s 2026 opening calendar ·
- Gunma official tourism: ordinary worship at Shorinzan ·
- Gunma official tourism: west-side stand 4 and walking access ·
- JR East: Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, bus terminal and Yubatake access ·
- Takasaki city museum and Inoue garden seasonal hours and October 2026 closure recheck ·
- Tomioka Silk Mill warehouses and reeling building ·
- Gozanoyu’s baths from two spring sources ·
- Sainokawara’s large outdoor baths and natural views ·