 Last additions - Ikaho Onsen Hot Spring Spa |
Ikaho mascotJul 16, 2016
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Inside waiting roomJul 16, 2016
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Waiting room near the bus stop.Jul 16, 2016
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Bus stop at Ikaho Stone Steps to go back to Shinjuku, Tokyo.Jul 16, 2016
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Bus stop at Ikaho Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Behind Ikaho Shrine, you can walk further to an outdoor bath near the spring water's origin.Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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About Ikaho ShrineJul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Secondary shrinesJul 16, 2016
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Poetry monumentsJul 16, 2016
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Lots of stone lanterns at Ikaho Shrine.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho ShrineJul 16, 2016
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Ikaho ShrineJul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Shrine's ema tablets to write your wishes.Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Seems to contain a mikoshi portable shrine.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Shrine is dedicated to the god of the hot spring and medical treatment.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Jinja Shrine's main buildingJul 16, 2016
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Ikaho ShrineJul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Approaching Ikaho Shrine at the top of the Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Map of Ikaho in the old days.Jul 16, 2016
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Oriental zodiac creatures along the steps. Each of the 12 zodiac creatures indicate the location of the original 12 inns built in the 16th century to heal Takeda Katsuyori's soldiers.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho souvenir shopJul 16, 2016
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Kirie cut-out picture of Ikaho Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Gunma-chan horse mascotJul 16, 2016
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In Aug. 2004, along with other major onsen hot springs, Ikaho got caught in a major onsen scandal which started in Shirahone Onsen in Nagano. Onsen managers mixed in tap water and/or bath salts into the water and billed it as natural hot spring waters.Some of Ikaho's major hot spring inns were also found to be adding bath salts or tap water to the hot spring water. Today, all onsen inns must display a certificate indicating the content of their water.Jul 16, 2016
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Hot spring bath in a large hotel in Ikaho.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho foot bath courtesy of a local inn.Jul 16, 2016
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Free foot bath courtesy of a local inn.Jul 16, 2016
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Engraved on the steps here is a poem titled “Ikaho no Machi” (Town of Ikaho) by Akiko Yosano (1878-1942).Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Tanabata wishes around July 7 along the Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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TanabataJul 16, 2016
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Ishidan-no-Yu public bath sign. Open 9:00-21:00 (April to October), 9:00-20:30 (November to March), Closed on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.Jul 16, 2016
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Lounge inside Ishidan-no-Yu public bath.Jul 16, 2016
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View from the Ishidan-no-Yu public bath.Jul 16, 2016
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Along the way is this hot spring public bath called Ishidan-no-Yu. For people who are not staying in any of the inns, they can still dip into Ikaho's hot spring waters for cheap.Jul 16, 2016
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On the right is where you can see the hot spring water gushing down under the Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Rubber duckies won at the shooting arcade game.Jul 16, 2016
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You can see the hot spring water gushing down under the Stone Steps. Not really a shrine.Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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94th step of 300+ steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Checkpoint. In the old days, travelers could not travel around freely, they had to show travel permits at these checkpoints along the road.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Checkpoint was at the bottom of the Stone Steps. The bottom of the Stone Steps has since been extended more downward.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Checkpoint gate.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Checkpoint gate and Irwin summer home in the background.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Checkpoint (Ikaho Onsekisho) is right above the Irwin summer home.Jul 16, 2016
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About Toyo Matsugane.Jul 16, 2016
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Monument for Toyo Matsugane (1878–1964), a poet. 松根 東洋城Jul 16, 2016
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View from Irwin GardenJul 16, 2016
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Lookout point at the garden.Jul 16, 2016
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Irwin GardenJul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 16, 2016
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Slightly up the Stone Steps is this outdoor stage where they hold hula performances in summer.Jul 16, 2016
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History of the Ikaho Stone Steps. The Stone Steps were first built in 1576 by daimyo Takeda Katsuyori after he lost to Nobunaga and Ieyasu at the Battle of Nagashino.He ordered the Sanada Clan to build the Stone Steps and have Ikaho's hot spring water flow down to feed 12 inns where Takeda's wounded soldiers could heal their wounds.Jul 16, 2016
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Looking at the bottom of the Ikaho Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Onsen Stone StepsJul 16, 2016
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Hot spring cascade at the bottom of the Stone Steps. The flowing water is hot.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho's spring water runs right below these Stone Steps and you can see it at a few places such as this cascade.Jul 16, 2016
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Hot spring cascade at the bottom of the Stone Steps.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho's Stone Steps (Ishidan) go through the middle of the main part of Ikaho. Go up 365 steps to the top with a few breaks along the way. About 300 meters lined with shops and inns.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho is famous for these Stone Steps (Ishidan) which is the town's main drag. This is at the foot of the steps.Jul 16, 2016
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At the bottom of the Stone Steps is a waiting room and luggage lockers.Jul 16, 2016
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The Ikaho Stone Steps bus stop is at the bottom of the Stone Steps. The Ikaho Onsen bus stop is near other inns.Jul 16, 2016
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From Tokyo's Buster Shinjuku bus terminal at Shinjuku Station, it takes about 2 hr. 40 min. to Ikaho, costing about ¥2400.Jul 16, 2016
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From Tokyo, going by bus is more convenient than by train. By train from Tokyo, you need to take the shinkansen to Takasaki, transfer trains to Shibukawa, then take a bus to Ikaho.This is the Ikaho Stone Steps bus stop.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho Onsen is a well-known hot spring resort in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture. It is on hilly terrain, near mountains, making it cooler than Tokyo in summer.Jul 16, 2016
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Ikaho was a favored summer retreat for the Imperial family and political figures in the late 19th century. Ukiyoe print of Ikaho.Jul 16, 2016
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Jul 06, 2009
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Inside Machi-no-Eki are displays of art work by local students.Jul 06, 2009
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Jul 06, 2009
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View of Ikaho from Mt. Uenoyama.Jul 06, 2009
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View of Ikaho from Mt. Uenoyama.Jul 06, 2009
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Lookout deck on Mt. Uenoyama.Jul 06, 2009
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Jul 06, 2009
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Jul 06, 2009
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Mt. Uenoyama also has recreational facilities.Jul 06, 2009
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Map of Mt. Uenoyama.Jul 06, 2009
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View of Ikaho from Machi-no-Eki, an exhibition room and ropeway station. Ikaho's first Hawaiian Festival was held here.Jul 06, 2009
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Ropeway to Mt. Uenoyama, a mountain on whose slopes Ikaho sits.Jul 06, 2009
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