In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Shibukawa
渋川
Half a day to see Ikaho onsen town and the view from Mount Haruna; one night if you want a full onsen stay. Not a base for Gunma.
Shibukawa is a small city in Gunma, known as the 'belly button of Japan' for its central location. Most visitors come for the Ikaho hot spring area, with its stone steps and ryokan, and for the views of Mount Haruna, Mount Akagi and Mount Komochi. The city itself is a transit point: you can see the main sights in a few hours, but an overnight stay in Ikaho gives you the full onsen experience.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 渋川
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥7,000–11,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥12,000–20,000 excl. bed · High ¥25,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥300–500 |
| Sweet potato sweets (local speciality) | ¥500–1,000 |
| Beer: draught in a restaurant / can at a konbini | ¥500–700 / ¥250–350 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥2,000–2,500 |
| Bus Shibukawa Station ↔ Ikaho | ¥300 (check) |
| Onsen entry (public bath) | ¥500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NRT · Narita International Airport
- About 2.5 h by N'EX and Shinkansen to Takasaki, then local train to Shibukawa
- HND · Tokyo Haneda Airport
- About 2 h by Keikyu and Shinkansen to Takasaki, then local train
Typical fares
- Shibukawa Station → Ikaho, bus
- about ¥300, about 15 min (check)
- Taxi Shibukawa Station → Ikaho
- ¥2,000–3,000
- Local train Shibukawa → Takasaki
- about ¥400, about 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Buses run frequently between Shibukawa Station and Ikaho (about 15 min). Taxis are available but more expensive. A car gives flexibility for Mount Haruna and Green Bokujo.
See and do
Known for
- Ikaho Onsen
- Mount Haruna views
- Heso Matsuri (belly button festival)
- Green Bokujo farm
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ikaho Onsen | Bus from Shibukawa Station, about 15 min | About 20 min |
| Mount Haruna | Bus or car from Shibukawa, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Green Bokujo | Bus or car from Shibukawa, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Takasaki | Local train from Shibukawa, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Minakami | Local train from Shibukawa, about 40 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Ikaho Onsen
- Ryokan and hotels along the stone steps; best for the full onsen experience.
- Shibukawa Station area
- A few business hotels near the station; convenient for early departures.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
| To this address, please | ここまでお願いしますkoko made onegai shimasu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Ikaho's stone steps are steep; wear comfortable shoes.
- Onsen etiquette: no tattoos in many public baths (check with your ryokan).
- Last buses from Ikaho to Shibukawa run around 18:00–19:00; check the timetable.
Shibukawa is a safe small city. The main risks are steep steps in Ikaho and hot spring burns: test the water before entering.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Shibukawa yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ikaho Onsen
- Mount Haruna views
- Heso Matsuri (belly button festival)
- Green Bokujo farm
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ikaho Onsen tourism association: www.ikaho-kankou.com/en/
- Wikivoyage: Shibukawa, revision 4979260 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4979260
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Shibukawa渋川
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US has a consulate in Tokyo; most other countries: embassies in Tokyo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/shibukawa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.