Minakami(Japan) Travel 2026: Cheap Flights, Hotels & Top Attractions

In Mizukawa Town, the top ski-in/ski-out option is Mizukawa Onsen Hotel, located directly adjacent to the Mizukawa Ski Resort. This traditional Japanese-style lodge offers rooms with panoramic mountain views, heated floors, and private balconies overlooking snow-covered slopes. Guests can access the ski lifts via a covered walkway, making it ideal for winter sports enthusiasts.

Another excellent choice is Gunma Prefectural Natural Park Resort, nestled near Kusatsu Onsen. It features spacious cabins with indoor hot springs and direct trails into forested slopes. The resort also provides free ski equipment rental, guided tours, and après-ski wellness sessions—perfect for families and adventure seekers looking for convenience and comfort.

The best areas for accommodations in Mizukawa Town are the Mizukawa Station vicinity and the Kusatsu Onsen district. The former offers easy access to shopping, dining, and the Mizukawa Ski Resort, making it ideal for travelers seeking convenience and activity hubs.

The latter, centered around Kusatsu Onsen, is renowned for its natural hot springs—the famed Kusatsu Hot Spring is one of Japan’s three great hot springs, with mineral-rich waters known for healing properties. Stay at a ryokan near the main bathhouse for easy access to public baths and evening strolls along lantern-lit streets. For a quieter retreat, consider eco-friendly cottages near Ootaki River Gorge, surrounded by forests and streams.

Visitors to Mizukawa Town should experience the Kusatsu Fire Festival (Yoiyama Festival) held annually in August—a vibrant summer event featuring illuminated floats, taiko drumming, and processions through historic streets. It ranks among Japan’s three major summer festivals.

Also recommended is the Aizome Indigo Dyeing Workshop at the Mizukawa Traditional Craft Center, where guests learn to hand-dye fabric using natural indigo from local plants. Another unique opportunity is the Mountain Herbal Walk, led by elder locals through the Akagi Mountain foothills, teaching about medicinal plants like ginseng and angelica used in Edo-era folk medicine. These immersive experiences offer deep insight into regional heritage and sustainable living.

The most renowned ryokan in Mizukawa Town is Tengu-ya Ryokan, located in Kusatsu Onsen, with over a century of tradition. Its natural hot spring water, drawn from 300 meters underground, is rich in sulfur and celebrated for relieving joint pain and fatigue.

The inn preserves Edo-period architecture, with an open-air bath overlooking the riverbank. Guests can also enjoy nightly kaiseki dinners made with seasonal ingredients. Another standout is Mizukawa Onsen Bettei Sora-no-Mori, which emphasizes "forest healing"—using locally sourced wood in its design and offering morning meditation sessions in the bathhouse. Both provide private onsen baths and exceptional hospitality.

For families visiting Mizukawa Town, Mizukawa Children's Nature House is a top pick—a purpose-built eco-lodge with child-sized cabins, a farmyard where kids can feed goats, and hands-on workshops like pottery and berry picking.

Another excellent option is Gunma Prefectural Nature Education Center Resort, located within the Mizukawa Forest Reserve. It offers camping tents, guided nature walks, and nighttime firefly viewing. All rooms include safety rails and baby cots, and the center runs a "Family Kitchen" program where parents and children cook traditional treats like rice cakes and mochi together. Seasonal events such as the "Forest Fairy Festival" feature live storytelling and character performances, making it a favorite among young travelers.

The best spot for autumn foliage in Mizukawa Town is Okusanagahara Valley at the foot of Akagi Mountain, where maple and ginkgo trees blaze in gold and crimson from late October to early November. The hiking trail along Akagi Mountain Path leads to Jinmai Pond, whose still surface reflects the fiery canopy like a mirror.

Another must-visit is the Mizukawa Nature Park Scenic Overlook, offering sweeping views across the valley. The park features picnic zones and tea houses where you can sip matcha while watching the sunset paint the hills in orange hues. Some hotels even host "Foliage Night Illumination Events," with lanterns lining paths for a magical evening stroll.

Mizukawa Town’s cherry blossom season comes alive during the Mizukawa Cherry Blossom Festival (early April), when thousands of sakura trees bloom along Mizukawa Park and Ootaki Riverbanks, lit up in soft pink lights at night to create a "Sakura Tunnel."

At Kusatsu Onsen, guests can join the Hanami Tea Ceremony, held in a tranquil garden setting with traditional tea served alongside wagashi sweets and live koto music. Many ryokans offer "Cherry Blossom Special Kaiseki Meals" featuring seasonal ingredients like cherry blossoms, wild greens, and fresh seafood. Families can also enjoy "Sakura Handprint Art Workshops" and kite-flying contests—ideal for creating lasting memories.

Must-try dishes in Mizukawa Town include Akagi Matsutake Hot Pot, made with wild matsutake mushrooms harvested from the mountains and simmered in local beef broth—rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying.

Another highlight is Kusatsu Pickled Vegetable Set Meal, featuring homemade pickles like cucumber, eggplant, and radish, served with fresh rice and miso soup—perfectly balanced and full of umami. Don’t miss local honey plum wine, crafted by regional beekeepers with a delicate floral finish.

For a true taste of the region, participate in the Farm-to-Table Experience, where you dine at a local farmhouse with meals prepared from ingredients grown just steps away—including grilled rice, tempura vegetables, and home-brewed sake—offering an authentic taste of rural life.

Photographers will love Shinonome Pond at the foot of Akagi Mountain, especially at dawn when mist curls above the still water, reflecting the fiery red and gold maple leaves—an ideal scene for mirror photography.

The Ootaki River Gorge Trail offers dramatic perspectives: lush moss-covered cliffs, crystal-clear streams, and sunlight filtering through dense canopy—perfect for macro shots of dewdrops and ferns. The lantern-lined alleys of Kusatsu Onsen Street provide classic Japanese street photography, especially during twilight.

For astrophotography, visit the Mizukawa Observatory, which opens on clear nights to capture the Milky Way arching over the mountains. Some lodges even offer guided "photography tour packages" with expert local photographers to help find the perfect shot.

The easiest way to reach Mizukawa Town is by taking the JR East Takasaki Line to Mizukawa Station, then transferring to city buses or taxis. For those driving, exit at the Mizukawa Interchange on the Kosoku Expressway, offering scenic drives through mountain passes.

Within the town, the Mizukawa Town Tourist Bus runs loop routes connecting key attractions like Kusatsu Onsen, Akagi Mountain, and Mizukawa Park, with affordable fares and frequent departures. Outdoor adventurers can rent electric bikes or roller carts at the Tourism Center to explore forest trails and riverside paths. Many hotels offer complimentary shuttle services—book in advance to maximize convenience and time efficiency.