A Mountain Town Shaped by Rivers and Forests
Much of Nakanojo’s territory is mountainous, with numerous peaks rising above 1,000 meters. The landscape is characterized by forests, valleys, rivers, and highland plateaus.
The Shima River flows from north to south through the eastern part of the town, while the Agatsuma River flows from west to east through the southern area. The central Nakanojo settlement developed on a river terrace north of the Agatsuma River and has long served as an important center for transportation and daily life.
Other important waterways include the Shirasuna River, whose clear waters have carved scenic valleys and rocky landscapes.
The town is also home to several reservoirs and lakes, including Lake Shima, Lake Okushimako, and Lake Nozoriko. The Shima River, Nakanojo, and Nozori dams have created distinctive waterscapes that have become attractions in their own right.
Relax in Famous Hot Springs
Shima Onsen — Japan’s First National Recreational Hot Spring Resort
Located in a quiet mountain valley along the upper reaches of the Shima River, Shima Onsen is one of Gunma’s most famous hot spring destinations.
The name Shima means “forty thousand,” and local tradition holds that the spring is powerful enough to cure forty thousand ailments. The hot spring has been known since at least the medieval period, and in 1954 it became Japan’s first National Recreational Hot Spring Resort, a designation recognizing hot spring areas considered suitable for rest and health-oriented stays.
The spring water is generally classified as a chloride-sulfate spring, and the area is blessed with abundant hot spring water. Traditional hot spring culture includes bathing as well as drinking spring water at designated drinking springs.
Shima’s streets combine traditional wooden inns with modern accommodations, creating an atmosphere where historic hot spring culture and contemporary travel can coexist.
Sawatari Onsen — A Traditional “Finishing Bath” for Kusatsu
Sawatari Onsen is a historic hot spring village surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery, including views toward Mount Akihayama and Mount Arakasa.
The area has long been used as a therapeutic bathing destination. In the past, travelers crossing the Kuresaka Pass between the mountain communities also used Sawatari as a stopping point. Like Kawarayu Onsen, Sawatari became known as a “finishing bath for Kusatsu”, traditionally visited after bathing in Kusatsu’s strongly acidic springs.
The clear spring water has long been associated with traditional bathing and beauty culture, giving rise to the expression “one bath gives you jewel-like skin.” The late-Edo-period scholar Takano Chōei is also said to have visited the area, adding another connection to Japanese history.
The Kuni Hot Spring Area and Shiyaki Onsen
The Kuni area in northern Nakanojo is home to several distinctive hot springs, including Shiyaki Onsen and Hanashiki Onsen.
Shiyaki Onsen is particularly unusual because hot spring water emerges directly from the riverbed. The river itself becomes a natural bathing area, creating an open-air experience unlike an ordinary bathhouse.
Surrounded by deep mountain forests, the area offers a sense of adventure and a chance to experience one of Japan’s more unusual forms of hot spring culture.
Otsuka Onsen
Otsuka Onsen is a quiet hot spring destination where visitors can enjoy a more peaceful bathing experience away from busy tourist areas.
Its gentle atmosphere and traditional setting make it suitable for travelers looking to experience the quieter side of rural Japanese hot spring culture.
Scenic Lakes and Highland Landscapes
Lake Nozoriko — A Highland Lake Surrounded by Alpine Flowers
Located at an elevation of approximately 1,513 meters, Lake Nozoriko is a reservoir surrounded by mountains reaching around 2,000 meters.
More than 300 species of alpine plants grow around the lake. In early summer, yellow daylilies and azaleas add vibrant color to the landscape, while autumn brings brilliant foliage reflected in the water.
The combination of the high-altitude environment, mountain scenery, and seasonal flowers gives Lake Nozoriko a distinctly alpine character.
Yoshigadaira Wetlands — A Ramsar-Designated Highland Environment
The Yoshigadaira Wetlands extend across a high-altitude volcanic landscape at around 1,830 meters. The wetlands are internationally recognized under the Ramsar Convention for their ecological importance.
Each season creates a different landscape. Spring brings fresh greenery, summer brings cotton grass and marsh plants, autumn colors the surrounding mountains, and winter covers the highlands in snow.
The wetlands provide valuable habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals and are an important area for nature conservation and ecological research.
Shima No Ōketsu — Natural Stone Potholes
Shima No Ōketsu is a series of remarkable potholes formed in the bedrock of the Shima River over thousands of years.
There are approximately eight potholes of different sizes, with some exceeding 3 meters in diameter. Created by the erosion caused by swirling stones and flowing water, these natural formations are designated as a Gunma Prefectural Natural Monument.
Gama Gorge
Gama Gorge follows the Shirasuna River and features clear water, unusual rock formations, and steep mountain scenery.
The landscape changes dramatically with the seasons. Fresh green foliage in spring and early summer and colorful autumn leaves make the gorge particularly attractive for nature walks and photography.
Lake Shima and Lake Okushimako
Lake Shima and Lake Okushimako are two reservoirs known for their striking blue-green water.
Lake Shima is formed by Nakanojo Dam, while Lake Okushimako was created by Shima River Dam. Their clear water reflects the surrounding mountains, creating beautiful scenery that changes according to the season, weather, and sunlight.
The vivid blue color is particularly associated with the area’s famous “Shima Blue” phenomenon, making the two lakes popular destinations for scenic drives, walks, and photography.
Chatsubomi-goke Park
Chatsubomi-goke Park in the Kuni area is home to an unusual landscape covered by a large colony of Chatsubomi-goke moss.
The vivid green moss thrives in the acidic, mineral-rich environment of a former mining area. The combination of volcanic terrain, mineral water, and moss creates a landscape that feels almost otherworldly.
The area is also connected to the wider Yoshigadaira wetland ecosystem and is valued for its distinctive natural environment.
Nakanojo Gardens
Nakanojo Gardens is a large garden complex where visitors can enjoy flowers and plants throughout the seasons.
Roses in spring, perennial flowers in early summer, and autumn plants create constantly changing scenery. Well-maintained paths make the gardens easy to explore, while the many carefully designed areas provide attractive settings for photography.
Nakanojo Yama-no-Ue Garden
Nakanojo Yama-no-Ue Garden is situated on elevated ground and offers open views together with seasonal flowers and trees.
On clear days, visitors can see distant mountain ranges while enjoying the fresh mountain air. It is a peaceful place for a relaxed walk surrounded by nature.
Mount Takeyama
Mount Takeyama is one of Nakanojo’s best-known landmarks. Rising approximately 789 meters, this rocky peak has long been regarded as a sacred mountain.
Its steep rock faces create a dramatic landscape, while hiking trails lead to viewpoints overlooking the mountains of the Agatsuma region.
Fresh greenery in spring and colorful foliage in autumn make the mountain particularly attractive for hikers and photographers.
Shirasuna Gorge
Shirasuna Gorge follows the clear waters of the Shirasuna River. Rocky formations and the sound of flowing water create a refreshing natural environment.
Summer is especially pleasant for enjoying the cool atmosphere beside the river, while spring greenery and autumn foliage add seasonal beauty to the landscape.
Historic Buildings and Cultural Heritage
Nakanojo has preserved numerous historic buildings and cultural sites that reveal the area’s long history.
Hinata-mi Yakushidō is an important Buddhist hall dating from the late Muromachi period and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The traditional architecture provides a glimpse into the religious culture of medieval Japan.
The town is also home to Tomizawa Family Residence, a large sericultural farmhouse dating from the late Edo period, and Higashitani Wind Cave, which was once used to preserve silkworm eggs.
Akaiwa Traditional Buildings Preservation District
The Akaiwa district of Kuni was selected as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, reflecting the importance of its historic mountain settlement.
Stone walls, storehouses, shrines, temples, and traditional homes remain throughout the village, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of an old rural community shaped by sericulture and mountain life.
Nakanojo Museum of History and Folklore “Muse”
Nakanojo Museum of History and Folklore “Muse” introduces the history and traditional culture of the region.
Its collections cover the area’s development from ancient times through the modern era and include agricultural tools, sericulture equipment, household objects, and other materials related to everyday life.
The museum provides useful background for understanding how people lived and worked in the mountains of Nakanojo.
Hanayama Haiku Monument Park
Hanayama Haiku Monument Park offers a quiet place to encounter Japanese literary culture.
Numerous monuments inscribed with haiku—the short traditional Japanese poetic form—are scattered throughout the park. Visitors can stroll through the natural surroundings while reflecting on the words and landscapes that inspired the poets.
Former Taishi Station
Former Taishi Station is a preserved railway heritage site associated with the area’s mining industry.
The station once played an important role in transporting materials from the nearby mining district. Today, its preserved structures offer a glimpse into the industrial history of this mountain region and provide an atmospheric setting for photography.
Isama Studio Park
Isama Studio Park makes use of the former Nakanojo Fourth Junior High School building.
The wooden schoolhouse retains a nostalgic atmosphere and has been used as a location for films and television productions. Exhibitions and cultural events are also held here, making the site an important part of Nakanojo’s creative community.
Daido Pass and the Historic Mountain Road
Daido Pass was once an important route for people and goods moving through the mountains. The road supported trade and the transport of agricultural and sericultural products.
Today, the quiet mountain route offers an opportunity to walk through a landscape shaped by centuries of travel and local commerce.
Chikato Shrine
Chikato Shrine stands at the foot of Mount Takeyama and has long served as a local guardian shrine.
The shrine is closely connected with the traditions surrounding Mount Takeyama and provides a peaceful place to experience the spiritual side of the mountain community.
The Rural Landscape Around Hanashiki Onsen
The area around Hanashiki Onsen preserves a traditional mountain-village landscape.
Terraced fields, vegetable plots, wooden houses, and surrounding forests create a peaceful rural setting. A walk through the area provides a chance to see a quieter side of Japan and appreciate the relationship between local communities and the surrounding mountains.
Outdoor Adventures for the Whole Family
Nakanojo offers many ways to enjoy the outdoors, including hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, cycling, and nature walks.
Popular routes include the Akazawa Hiking Course and trails leading toward Mount Inazutsumi. Fishing is also enjoyed around Lake Nozoriko.
One of the pleasures of traveling in Nakanojo is combining outdoor activities with hot spring bathing. After spending the day walking through the mountains, visitors can return to one of the area’s traditional hot springs for a relaxing soak.
Nakanojo Biennale — Where Art Meets the Countryside
The Nakanojo Biennale is a contemporary art festival held every two years across Nakanojo Town.
Rather than concentrating exhibitions in a single museum, the festival uses the entire town as a creative space. Former schools, vacant shops, traditional houses, warehouses, and other buildings become temporary exhibition venues.
Artists and local residents interact throughout the festival, creating an unusual connection between contemporary art and everyday rural life.
The result is an experience in which exploring the town itself becomes part of the art journey. Visitors can discover artworks while walking through historic villages, mountain communities, hot spring districts, and former industrial sites.
Traditional Festivals and Local Events
Nakanojo has preserved a rich calendar of traditional festivals and folk customs. Events such as the Tori-Oi Festival and Jōshū Shirakubo Ochakō provide particularly valuable opportunities to encounter local traditions.
Isecho Gion Festival
The Isecho Gion Festival takes place in the Isecho district and features decorated festival floats, traditional music, and lively processions.
When lanterns illuminate the streets at night, the festival takes on a particularly atmospheric character.
Nakanojo Gion Festival
The Nakanojo Gion Festival is a traditional summer celebration held in early August.
Colorful festival floats, energetic calls, children’s processions, and elaborate decorations bring the town center to life. The festival is traditionally associated with prayers for prosperity in business and good health.
Tori-Oi Festival — January 14
The Tori-Oi Festival is a winter folk tradition connected with prayers for protection of agricultural crops.
The deep sound of a large taiko drum echoes through the streets as the procession moves through town. Oranges and sweets are also thrown to the crowd, creating a lively atmosphere despite the winter cold.
Jōshū Shirakubo Ochakō
Jōshū Shirakubo Ochakō is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
The event preserves customs associated with medieval tōcha, a traditional tea-tasting practice in which participants attempted to identify different teas by their flavor.
When advance reservations are available, visitors may have the opportunity to experience this unusual traditional tea culture firsthand.
Takeyama Festival — May 5
The Takeyama Festival is held on May 5, coinciding with Children’s Day in Japan.
Numerous colorful koinobori, or carp-shaped streamers traditionally displayed for Children’s Day, are raised on the slopes of Mount Takeyama. Their movement against the spring sky creates one of Nakanojo’s most memorable seasonal scenes.
Kuni Furusato Festival — August 14
The Kuni Furusato Festival is a major summer event in the Kuni area.
Performances by local taiko drummers, bon odori dances, and fireworks bring residents, visitors, and people returning to their hometown together for an evening of celebration.
Bokusui Festival — October 20
The Bokusui Festival commemorates the poet Wakayama Bokusui, who once crossed Kuresaka Pass.
Held amid the autumn colors of the mountain pass, the event celebrates Bokusui’s connection with the landscape and his poetry. Visitors may also enjoy locally prepared nameko mushroom soup, adding a taste of the autumn season to the literary experience.
Nakanojo Biennale
The Nakanojo Biennale returns every two years, transforming historic buildings and unused spaces throughout the town into contemporary art venues.
Because the exhibitions are spread across different communities, attending the festival also encourages visitors to discover parts of Nakanojo they might otherwise overlook.
Local Products and Mountain Life
Much of Nakanojo is mountainous, and agriculture is carried out on a relatively small scale. Despite the challenging terrain, the region produces a variety of high-quality agricultural products.
Vegetables and apples are cultivated in different parts of the town, while the Kuni area is particularly known for flower cultivation. The local “Kuni no Hana” brand represents flowers grown in the region.
Other local specialties include maitake mushrooms, shimidōfu freeze-dried tofu, Kuni ham, and Hanaingen beans.
Traditional crafts such as Konkon zōri, woven straw sandals, and wooden bowls also reflect the practical handcraft traditions of mountain communities.
A Town Looking Toward the Future
Nakanojo continues to develop new ways of connecting its history and natural environment with contemporary tourism.
Projects to revitalize the area around the railway station and the development of the tourism and community center TSUMUJI are helping create new gathering places in the town center.
The Nakanojo Biennale also contributes to this process by giving unused buildings new roles as art spaces and encouraging interaction between artists, residents, and visitors.
A Destination of Nature, History, Hot Springs, and Art
Nakanojo Town offers an unusually broad range of experiences within one mountain region.
Visitors can soak in historic hot springs, explore highland wetlands, admire vivid blue mountain lakes, walk through traditional villages, discover industrial heritage, experience local festivals, and encounter contemporary art in unexpected places.
Spring brings mountain blossoms and fresh greenery. Summer offers cool valleys, clear streams, and lively festivals. Autumn transforms the mountains with brilliant foliage, while winter brings snow-covered scenery and the comforting warmth of hot springs.
Traveling through Nakanojo is not simply a journey through a scenic mountain landscape. It is an opportunity to discover the history, traditions, creativity, and everyday life of the people who have shaped this part of Gunma.
Whether you come for the famous hot springs, the spectacular Shima Blue lakes, the Yoshigadaira wetlands, traditional festivals, or the Nakanojo Biennale, the town offers countless ways to experience the natural and cultural character of rural Japan.