 Most viewed - Ikaho Onsen Hot Spring Spa |
Map of Mt. Uenoyama.70 views
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Mt. Uenoyama also has recreational facilities.68 views
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View of Ikaho from Mt. Uenoyama.68 views
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View of Ikaho from Mt. Uenoyama.68 views
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68 views
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Lookout deck on Mt. Uenoyama.67 views
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Ropeway to Mt. Uenoyama, a mountain on whose slopes Ikaho sits.66 views
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66 views
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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.65 views
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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.65 views
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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.65 views
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63 views
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Inside Machi-no-Eki are displays of art work by local students.63 views
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61 views
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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.60 views
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Ikaho Checkpoint gate and Irwin summer home in the background.58 views
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57 views
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Ikaho Checkpoint gate.57 views
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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.56 views
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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.56 views
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Rubber duckies won at the shooting arcade game.56 views
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Engraved on the steps here is a poem titled “Ikaho no Machi” (Town of Ikaho) by Akiko Yosano (1878-1942).56 views
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Gunma-chan horse mascot56 views
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Ikaho souvenir shop56 views
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About Toyo Matsugane.55 views
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55 views
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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 ¥2400.54 views
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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.54 views
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Ikaho Onsen Stone Steps54 views
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Monument for Toyo Matsugane (1878–1964), a poet. 松根 東洋城54 views
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You can see the hot spring water gushing down under the Stone Steps. Not really a shrine.54 views
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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.54 views
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View from the Ishidan-no-Yu public bath.54 views
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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.54 views
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54 views
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54 views
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54 views
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Bus stop at Ikaho Stone Steps.54 views
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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.53 views
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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.53 viewsHe 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.
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Irwin Garden53 views
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Lookout point at the garden.53 views
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Ikaho Checkpoint (Ikaho Onsekisho) is right above the Irwin summer home.53 views
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53 views
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Ikaho foot bath courtesy of a local inn.53 views
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53 views
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Ikaho Shrine53 views
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Poetry monuments53 views
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53 views
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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.52 viewsThis is the Ikaho Stone Steps bus stop.
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Hot spring cascade at the bottom of the Stone Steps. The flowing water is hot.52 views
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52 views
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Looking at the bottom of the Ikaho Stone Steps.52 views
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52 views
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94th step of 300+ steps.52 views
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52 views
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On the right is where you can see the hot spring water gushing down under the Stone Steps.52 views
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Lounge inside Ishidan-no-Yu public bath.52 views
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Free foot bath courtesy of a local inn.52 views
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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.52 viewsSome 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.
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Approaching Ikaho Shrine at the top of the Stone Steps.52 views
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52 views
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Ikaho Shrine52 views
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Ikaho Jinja Shrine's main building52 views
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Ikaho Shrine52 views
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Lots of stone lanterns at Ikaho Shrine.52 views
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About Ikaho Shrine52 views
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Behind Ikaho Shrine, you can walk further to an outdoor bath near the spring water's origin.52 views
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Waiting room near the bus stop.52 views
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Hot spring cascade at the bottom of the Stone Steps.51 views
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51 views
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View from Irwin Garden51 views
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Tanabata wishes around July 7 along the Stone Steps.51 views
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Hot spring bath in a large hotel in Ikaho.51 views
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Kirie cut-out picture of Ikaho Stone Steps.51 views
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Seems to contain a mikoshi portable shrine.51 views
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51 views
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51 views
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Secondary shrines51 views
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51 views
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Bus stop at Ikaho Stone Steps to go back to Shinjuku, Tokyo.51 views
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Inside waiting room51 views
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At the bottom of the Stone Steps is a waiting room and luggage lockers.50 views
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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.50 views
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Slightly up the Stone Steps is this outdoor stage where they hold hula performances in summer.50 views
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Tanabata50 views
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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.50 views
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Map of Ikaho in the old days.50 views
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Ikaho Shrine is dedicated to the god of the hot spring and medical treatment.50 views
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Ikaho mascot50 views
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Ikaho Shrine's ema tablets to write your wishes.49 views
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