What to know
Minakami (水上) is a mountainous hot spring resort town in northern Gunma Prefecture, easily accessible from Tokyo. Nestled beneath Mount Tanigawa, it is one of Gunma's four most famous hot spring towns, alongside Kusatsu, Ikaho, and Shima. Its most renowned baths are at Takaragawa Onsen, a mixed-gender hot spring featuring some of Japan's largest outdoor baths.
With its wild rivers, mountains, and valleys, Minakami has become a top outdoor destination in Japan, offering whitewater rafting, canyoning, and bungee jumping. In winter, numerous ski resorts provide some of the closest skiing to Tokyo.
