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Minakami Onsen & Adventure — Hot Springs & Rafting

Published: Jun 3, 2026

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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Minakami Onsen & Adventure — Hot Springs & Rafting

Minakami (みなかみ) is a mountain town in northern Gunma, famous for 18 distinct onsen areas and outdoor adventure sports. The town sits in the Tone River gorge, surrounded by 2,000m peaks, creating dramatic scenery and year-round activities — white-water rafting (spring snowmelt, April-June), canyoning (summer, July-September), skiing (winter, December-March), and hiking (autumn foliage, October-November). The combination of hot springs and adventure makes Minakami unique among Japan's onsen resorts.

The town's Takaragawa Onsen (宝川温泉) has Japan's largest outdoor mixed-gender bath (露天風呂, rotemburo) — four riverside pools totaling 470㎡ where bathers soak while watching the mountain river. The setting is wild, rustic, and Instagram-famous — wooden bathhouses, autumn leaves reflected in steaming water, and mountains rising on all sides. Minakami is less polished than Kusatsu but more adventurous.

Opening Hours

Takaragawa Onsen day-use: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Rafting tours: depart 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM | Ski resort: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (December–March)

Closed: Takaragawa: open year-round | Rafting: April–October only | Ski resort: December–April season

Entrance Fee

Takaragawa Onsen day-use: ¥1,500 | Rafting half-day: ¥6,000–9,000 | Tanigawadake Ropeway: ¥2,100 round-trip | Ski lift: ¥5,000/day

Best Season

April–June (rafting peak, snowmelt rapids) | October–November (autumn foliage + outdoor baths) | December–March (skiing + onsen combination)

Visit Duration

Rafting half-day: 3 hours | Takaragawa Onsen: 2–3 hours | Full adventure day (rafting + onsen): 8 hours | Overnight recommended for multi-activity

Getting There

Access Information

Minakami: Minakami-machi, Tone District. 70 minutes by JR Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Jomokogen Station (¥5,000), then 20-min bus (¥700). Takaragawa Onsen day-use: ¥1,500, open 9:00-17:00. Rafting tours: ¥6,000-9,000 (half-day). Skiing: Tanigawadake Ski Resort, lift pass ¥5,000/day.

Insider Guide

Premium

**Takaragawa Onsen bathing:** The four riverside outdoor baths include three mixed-gender baths (男女混浴, danjo kon'yoku) and one women-only bath. Mixed bathing requires towel/yukata coverage (not naked)