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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tsumagoi
嬬恋村
One night for the onsen and cabbage fields; skip if you only have time for Kusatsu or Karuizawa.
Tsumagoi is a highland village in Gunma known for producing more cabbages than anywhere else in Japan and for several acidic hot springs, including Manza Onsen. Summer is cool and low-humidity, a popular escape from the plains; winter is severe, comparable to Hokkaido. The village is spread out and a car makes it much easier to reach the onsen and trailheads.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 嬬恋村
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (cool, green)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (extreme cold, some roads closed)
- 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 ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥12,000–20,000 excl. bed · High ¥20,000+ 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 |
|---|---|
| Cabbage dish (local specialty) | ¥800–1,500 |
| Onsen entry (public bath) | ¥500–1,000 |
| Coffee at a café | ¥400–700 |
| Beer at a convenience store | ¥250–400 |
| Taxi from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station to Manza Onsen (about 10 km (6.2 mi))Taxi from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station to Manza Onsen (about 6.2 mi (10 km)) | ¥3,000–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NRT · Narita
- About 3.5 h by train and bus via Tokyo
- HND · Haneda
- About 3 h by train and bus via Tokyo
Typical fares
- Manza-Kazawaguchi Station → Manza Onsen, bus
- about ¥600, about 15 min (check)
- Car rental, one day
- about ¥8,000 (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
Car is strongly recommended. Buses (Seibu Kanko Bus, JR Bus Kanto) connect the main onsen areas and the station, but frequencies are low. In winter, check road closures.
See and do
Known for
- Cabbage production (largest in Japan)
- Manza Onsen (most acidic hot spring in Japan)
- Joshin'etsukogen National Park
- Highland summer resort
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kusatsu Onsen | Car via Route 292, about 30 min; or bus from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station | About 1 h |
| Karuizawa | Car via Route 146, about 40 min; or bus to Komoro then train | About 1.5 h |
| Shirakawa-go | Car via Route 406 and 158, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Manza Onsen area
- Closest to the most famous hot spring; ryokan and hotels.
- Kazawa Onsen area
- Smaller, quieter onsen village.
- Tsumagoi town centre
- Near the village office and bus stops; limited accommodation.
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 |
| Where is the onsen? | 温泉はどこですか？onsen wa doko desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
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
- Winter temperatures can drop to -15 °C; pack accordingly.
- Some onsen may be closed for renovation or have limited hours; check the official site.
- Cabbage season (summer–autumn) means heavy agricultural traffic on narrow roads.
Tsumagoi is very safe. The main risks are winter cold and icy roads. In summer, watch for agricultural vehicles on narrow roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tsumagoi yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cabbage production (largest in Japan)
- Manza Onsen (most acidic hot spring in Japan)
- Joshin'etsukogen National Park
- Highland summer resort
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tsumagoi Village official website: www.vill.tsumagoi.gunma.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Tsumagoi, revision 4548439 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4548439
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tsumagoi嬬恋村
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 have embassies in Tokyo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tsumagoi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.