Ikaho Onsen: The 365 Stone Steps, Ikaho Shrine and the Kajika Bridge Light-up in Gunma

This guide covers the stone steps street of Ikaho Onsen, Ikaho Shrine, the Kajika Bridge autumn-leaf light-up, the ropeway and the baths, and the practical details for reaching them from Tokyo and Shibukawa.

Channels that branch spring water from the source run along the stone steps street of Ikaho Onsen. This guide follows the stone steps street, then turns to the light-up at Kajika Bridge and the practical details of getting to Ikaho Onsen from Shibukawa.

Quick Facts

Item	Detail
Number of steps on the stone steps street	365 steps
Bus from JR Shibukawa Station to Ikaho Onsen	About 25 minutes
Ropeway ride from the hot spring town	About 4 minutes
Kajika Bridge autumn-leaf light-up	Scheduled from 27 October to 15 November 2026

The Stone Steps Street

Steps were added on the north side of the stone steps street, lengthening the climb. The steps you climb are paved with granite.

As you climb, look for the poems by Yosano Akiko carved into the stone steps.

Item	Detail
Year the stone steps street was renovated and extended	2010
Spring-water channels along the stone steps street	4

Browse tours around Ikaho Onsen before you set out.

Ikaho Shrine

Ikaho Shrine is the sannomiya of Kozuke province and enshrines Onamuchi no Mikoto and Sukunahikona no Mikoto, the deities of hot springs and medicine.

The Kajika Bridge Autumn-Leaf Light-up

Kajika Bridge is a vermilion-lacquered arched bridge near the source of the Kogane-no-Yu hot spring. Around the bridge grow large numbers of maple, kaede, kunugi and urushi trees. From late October their leaves begin to change color together, and the color peaks in early November. The autumn-leaf light-up at Kajika Bridge is scheduled from late October to mid-November. The lighting is scheduled to run from late afternoon into the night. A free shuttle bus runs on set days during the light-up.

The parking lot beside Kajika Bridge is a small free lot. During the light-up period it is very congested, and a line of cars waiting for a space forms, so there are times when you cannot park there at all. On the days when the free shuttle bus runs, ride it from the stone steps street instead of driving to the bridge.

Item	Detail
Light-up period	Scheduled from 27 October to 15 November 2026
Lighting time	Scheduled from 16:30 to 22:00
Free shuttle bus days, late October and early November	Saturday 31 October, Sunday 1 November and 3 November (public holiday)
Free shuttle bus days, later weekends in November	Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November
Free shuttle bus operating time	As needed between 15:00 and 20:30
Last shuttle bus departing from the stone steps street	20:00
Last shuttle bus departing from Kajika Bridge	20:30
Parking next to Kajika Bridge	About 17 cars, free of charge

The Ikaho Ropeway

The ropeway carries you from Hototogisu in the hot spring town up to Miharashi at a higher elevation.

Item	Detail
Ropeway adult round-trip fare	830 yen
Ropeway operating hours	9:00 to 17:00, last ascent 16:45
Elevation of Miharashi	955 m

Baths on the Steps and Nearby

The tables below list the bath details.

Item	Detail
Ishidan-no-Yu business hours	10:00 to 20:00, last admission 19:30
Ishidan-no-Yu closed days	Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month (the next day if it is a public holiday)

Item	Detail
Admission to the Ikaho Open-air Bath	600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children
Ikaho Open-air Bath hours, April to September	9:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30
Ikaho Open-air Bath hours, October to March	10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30
Ikaho Open-air Bath closed days	1st and 3rd Thursdays; open if a public holiday, and no closed days in August

Getting to Ikaho Onsen from Shibukawa

The route to Ikaho Onsen runs through Takasaki and Shibukawa.

1. Take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Takasaki Station, which takes about 50 minutes.
2. Change at Takasaki Station to the Joetsu Line for Shibukawa Station, which takes about 25 minutes.
3. At JR Shibukawa Station, board the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus bound for Ikaho Onsen, which takes about 25 minutes.
4. Fares on the Shibukawa Station to Ikaho Onsen bus line can be paid in cash or with a transportation IC card.

Item	Detail
Drive from the Kan-etsu Expressway Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange to Ikaho Onsen	About 20 minutes
Ikaho Town Bus routes 1 to 3, adult fare	200 yen
Phone number of the Shibukawa Ikaho Onsen Tourism Association	0279-72-3151