GUMMA

Gunma

Gunma is a prefecture blessed with nature north of Tokyo and easily accessible from the capital. It is most famous for its hot springs, especially the Kusatsu Onsen area but there are many more that are less known, including Ikaho Onsen, Shima Onsen and many others. Because many foreign travelers tend to head south from Tokyo towards Osaka and Kyoto instead of traveling north, Gunma has been somewhat overlooked. It is one of the few prefectures in Japan that doesn't have access to the sea, and so has created its own distinct local culture, including local food and fresh agricultural products. However, its main appeal to many is its nature, and its opportunities for hiking and skiing.

Spots in this area(14)

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Beautiful SceneryArt & ArchitectureOutdoor ActivitiesInsta-worthyHistoryOnsen(Hot Springs)Culture ExperienceUnesco World HeritageTrendy Places
Yanba Dam

Gunma

Yanba Dam

68 years in the making — now you can bungee off its bridge.

Art & ArchitectureBeautiful SceneryTrendy Places
Sarugakyo Bungee

Gunma

5.0(1)

Sarugakyo Bungee

Plunge 62m over the Tone River from Japan's third-highest jump.

Outdoor ActivitiesBeautiful Scenery
Okushimako Lake

Gunma

Okushimako Lake

Acid-blue water too hostile for fish, too striking to ignore.

Beautiful SceneryInsta-worthy
Mt. Kusatsu Shirane

Gunma

Mt. Kusatsu Shirane

An active volcano hiding an emerald crater lake above the clouds.

Beautiful Scenery
Tomioka Silk Mill

Gunma

Tomioka Silk Mill

Where French bricks and Japanese silk-reeling skill met in 1872.

Art & ArchitectureUnesco World Heritage
Tambara Lavender Park

Gunma

Tambara Lavender Park

50,000 Furano-born lavender stalks turn Kanto purple each July.

Beautiful SceneryOutdoor Activities
Fujido Cave

Gunma

Fujido Cave

Kanto's longest cave hides 400 years of explorer-named stalactites.

Beautiful SceneryOutdoor Activities
Darumaji Temple

Gunma

Darumaji Temple

Red Daruma dolls glow against autumn maples—birthplace of Japan's lucky charm.

Art & ArchitectureCulture ExperienceHistory
Haruna Jinja Shrine

Gunma

Haruna Jinja Shrine

A 1,400-year-old shrine wedged into raw volcanic rock faces.

Art & ArchitectureHistory
Shimagawa Dam

Gunma

Shimagawa Dam

A cobalt reservoir so blue it looks Photoshopped into the mountains.

Beautiful SceneryInsta-worthy
Sainokawara Park

Gunma

Sainokawara Park

Hot springs gush 1,400 liters per minute through a glowing night park.

Beautiful SceneryOnsen(Hot Springs)
Oze National Park

Gunma

Oze National Park

A Ramsar-listed marsh where boardwalks float over fields of skunk cabbage.

Beautiful Scenery
Kusatsu Yubatake

Gunma

Kusatsu Yubatake

5,000 liters a minute surge from Japan's richest hot spring field.

Onsen(Hot Springs)
Fukiware no Taki Waterfalls

Gunma

Fukiware no Taki Waterfalls

A river swallowed by stone cracks — Japan's own Niagara since 1936.

Beautiful SceneryOutdoor Activities

Frequently asked questions

What is Gunma known for?
Gunma is a prefecture blessed with nature north of Tokyo and easily accessible from the capital. It is most famous for its hot springs, especially the Kusatsu Onsen area but there are many more that are less known, including Ikaho Onsen, Shima Onsen and many others. Because many foreign travelers tend to head south from Tokyo towards Osaka and Kyoto instead of traveling north, Gunma has been somewhat overlooked. It is one of the few prefectures in Japan that doesn't have access to the sea, and s…
Where is Gunma?
Gunma is an area in GUMMA, Japan.
What are the best places to visit in Gunma?
WOW U lists 14 spots in Gunma. Popular spots include Yanba Dam, Sarugakyo Bungee, Okushimako Lake, Mt. Kusatsu Shirane, Tomioka Silk Mill.
What is WOW U?
WOW U is a booking platform that connects travellers directly with local guides in Japan, called Locals. You book, message your Locals host and pay on WOW U, and every experience can be reviewed afterwards. More than 6,100 Locals are registered on WOW U. Reviews left by travellers average 4.7 out of 5.
Gunma | WOW U