Minakami Onsen, building in Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Minakami Onsen is a hot spring resort in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, made up of several natural springs spread across a valley along the Tone River. The area has a range of inns and hotels, most of which offer private and shared baths fed directly by the spring water.
The springs in this area have been used for centuries, and the area grew into a known retreat during the Edo period. In the 20th century, the construction of dams along the Tone River changed the landscape around the valley, though the bathing traditions carried on without interruption.
The ryokan inns in this area follow traditional Japanese hospitality, where guests wear yukata robes and share meals made with mountain vegetables and river fish. Bathing here is not seen as a leisure activity alone but as part of a daily routine that visitors can observe and join.
Most inns and baths are spread along the Tone River valley and are reachable from Jomo-Kogen Station by local bus or taxi. Many ryokan offer a pickup service from the station, so it is worth checking at the time of booking.
Takaragawa Onsen, one of the best-known springs in the area, has one of Japan's largest communal outdoor baths and allows mixed-gender bathing, which is now rare across the country. This practice, known as konyoku, was once common in Japan but has almost disappeared from most other onsen.
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