The Hot Spring Water — A Gentle Bath That Warms the Body
The spring water at Mizunuma-no-Yu is classified as a sodium-calcium chloride and bicarbonate cold mineral spring. The water has a gentle feel on the skin and provides a pleasantly warming bathing experience.
The spring has traditionally been associated with various bathing benefits, including relief from conditions such as neuralgia, stiff shoulders, bruises, chronic digestive problems, sensitivity to cold, and fatigue. It has also been described as beneficial for circulation and relaxation. Visitors should regard these as traditional hot-spring indications rather than medical treatment.
Surrounded by the natural landscape of the Watarase Valley, soaking in the mineral-rich water is a simple way to refresh both body and mind.
Indoor Baths, Open-Air Baths, and a Full-Scale Sauna
A Calm Indoor Bath with the Warmth of Wood
The indoor bathing area features a soothing wood-inspired design. The combination of warm lighting, wooden textures, and gentle steam creates a peaceful atmosphere.
Although the bath is located directly beside an active railway platform, the bathing area feels remarkably removed from the outside world. Visitors can relax in the warm water while listening to the quiet sounds of the surrounding mountains.
Open-Air Bath with Views of the Watarase River
The outdoor bathing area offers views of the Watarase River and surrounding mountains. Each season brings a different landscape: fresh green foliage in spring, deep greenery in summer, colorful autumn leaves, and crisp winter scenery.
Enjoying a hot bath while looking out over the changing mountain landscape is one of the special experiences available at Mizunuma-no-Yu.
Japanese Cypress Sauna and Natural Underground-Water Bath
The sauna is constructed using Japanese cypress, filling the room with a pleasant natural wood fragrance. Guests can gradually warm their bodies in the sauna before cooling down in the cold-water bath supplied entirely by natural underground water.
The combination of sauna, cold-water bath, and hot spring provides a refreshing wellness experience and is particularly appealing to visitors who enjoy Japanese sauna culture.
A Large Open-Air Bath and the “Komorebi-an” Relaxation Area
The large open-air bath is approximately four times the size of the outdoor bath in the main bathing area. With views toward the ridgeline of Mount Kojinyama, it provides a spacious setting for enjoying a leisurely soak.
The surrounding mountains create a peaceful atmosphere where visitors can listen to the sounds of nature and enjoy the changing light and breeze. The experience feels particularly relaxing after a day of sightseeing or traveling by train.
After bathing, visitors can change into the facility’s loungewear and relax in the dedicated “Komorebi-an” area. The space includes traditional tatami rooms and reclining beds, while an outdoor wooden deck provides a pleasant place to feel the breeze and listen to birdsong.
Light meals and drinks can also be enjoyed while relaxing, making it easy to spend several hours at the facility rather than simply taking a quick bath.
Local Cuisine at Satoyama Honjin
The on-site restaurant, Satoyama Honjin, focuses on dishes prepared with ingredients from Gunma Prefecture and the surrounding region. It is possible to enjoy a meal without using the bathing facilities, making the restaurant a convenient stop for railway travelers as well.
Japanese Black Beef Sukiyaki
The Japanese black beef sukiyaki set meal combines tender beef with fresh eggs produced in the foothills of Mount Akagi. The rich flavor of the beef and the egg create a classic Japanese dining experience.
Gunma-Style Okkirikomi
Okkirikomi is a traditional Gunma noodle dish featuring thick, chewy noodles similar to himokawa udon together with a generous selection of vegetables. Served in a warm broth, it is a comforting local specialty, particularly enjoyable during the colder months.
Variety of Kamameshi Rice Dishes
The restaurant also offers several types of kamameshi, traditional Japanese rice cooked with flavorful ingredients in an individual earthenware pot. Options include chicken and mountain vegetable kamameshi, Gunma pork kakuni kamameshi, and salmon and salmon roe kamameshi.
The rice absorbs the flavor of the ingredients as it cooks, creating a satisfying meal that pairs naturally with a relaxing hot-spring visit.
Mizunuma Village and the Sauna Forest
Mizunuma Village is a broader leisure destination centered around the hot-spring facility. The complex combines hot springs, saunas, accommodation, and food experiences in a natural mountain setting.
Facilities include an all-weather BBQ area, café terrace, and restaurant serving 100% buckwheat soba. Visitors can enjoy a variety of meals and outdoor experiences while surrounded by the forests of Kurohone.
Outdoor Sauna Experiences in “Sauna no Mori”
Sauna no Mori focuses on outdoor sauna experiences surrounded by the region’s mountains and forests. The setting allows visitors to enjoy the sauna while experiencing the natural environment of the Watarase Valley.
The area also reflects the local connection with the Watarase Keikoku Railway and its long history. Railway heritage, outdoor recreation, hot-spring culture, and the natural landscape of Kurohone come together to create a distinctive destination.
A Unique Experience Combined with a Railway Journey
Mizunuma Station is an important gateway for sightseeing along the Watarase Keikoku Line. Travelers holding a valid ordinary train ticket can make a stopover, making it possible to get off the train, enjoy the hot spring, have a meal, and continue the journey later.
The entrance to the hot spring is located immediately beside the platform, making the experience exceptionally convenient. Few places offer such a direct combination of train travel, natural hot springs, local cuisine, and mountain scenery.
A Hot Spring That Has Been Reborn
The hot-spring facility at Mizunuma Station originally opened in 1989 as Seseragi-no-Yu. It became familiar to local residents and visitors, but closed temporarily in 2008.
Thanks to efforts by people connected with the local community, the facility reopened in 2009 and continued welcoming visitors for many years. In 2023, however, it once again closed, creating uncertainty about its future.
A subsidiary of Hotland Holdings Co., Ltd., a company originating in Kiryu and known for businesses including the Gindaco takoyaki chain, subsequently became involved in the redevelopment project. Following extensive renovations and a new concept, the facility reopened in 2025 as “Eki no Tennen Onsen Mizunuma-no-Yu.”
The reopening was more than simply the revival of a hot spring. Mizunuma-no-Yu became a central facility within Mizunuma Village, contributing to a broader effort to showcase the area’s nature, food, railway heritage, and attractions.
A Relaxing Mountain Resort Surrounded by Nature
The atmosphere around Mizunuma-no-Yu is shaped by the sounds and scenery of the valley: trains traveling through the mountains, the gentle flow of the river, birdsong, and the breeze moving through the forest.
Whether visiting for a short bath between trains or spending several hours enjoying the hot spring, sauna, food, and relaxation areas, travelers can choose a pace that suits their journey.
Mizunuma-no-Yu offers a memorable way to experience rural Gunma. Step off the train, breathe in the fresh mountain air, soak in a natural hot spring, and enjoy local cuisine while surrounded by the scenery of the Watarase Valley. It is a distinctive destination where railway travel, hot-spring culture, nature, sauna relaxation, and the flavors of Gunma come together.