Spring Quality and Benefits
Tsumagoi Baragi Onsen is an alkaline simple hot spring, with a source temperature of approximately 38.2°C. The water has a soft feel on the skin and is relatively gentle, making it comfortable for a wide range of bathers.
Traditional Uses of the Hot Spring
The hot spring has traditionally been used for relaxation and is said to be beneficial for conditions such as rheumatism, neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, fatigue, and chronic digestive disorders.
Because the source temperature is relatively mild, visitors can enjoy a longer, leisurely soak rather than taking a quick hot bath. Combined with the quiet highland surroundings, bathing here provides an especially relaxing experience.
Kohannoyu Day-Use Bathhouse
Tsumagoi Baragi Onsen Kohannoyu is a day-use hot spring facility standing in the forest beside Lake Baragi. Its calm atmosphere and natural surroundings make it an ideal place to stop after exploring the highlands.
The hot spring water is also supplied to nearby resort hotels, making it an important part of the area’s tourism infrastructure. A hot spring vending station is also available, allowing visitors to take the spring water home for personal use.
Bathing Area
The bathing area has a spacious design with windows that allow guests to enjoy a sense of the surrounding highland scenery while soaking in the water.
The use of natural wood creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while the views of greenery outside add a feeling of openness and tranquility.
Relaxation Area
After bathing, visitors can relax in a comfortable rest area. Large windows bring in natural light and provide views of the surrounding greenery, making it a pleasant place to slow down and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Restaurant and Souvenir Shop
The facility also has a dining area where visitors can enjoy a meal after their bath. The souvenir shop offers local products from Tsumagoi Village, including highland-grown vegetables and other regional specialties.
Discover the Baragi Highlands
The Baragi Highlands spread across the foothills of Mount Azumaya, one of Japan’s famous 100 mountains. With clean mountain air and expansive natural scenery, the area is an inviting outdoor retreat throughout the year.
In summer, visitors can enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. In winter, the landscape becomes a setting for skiing and ice fishing for smelt on the frozen lake.
Lake Baragi – A Charming Highland Lake
Lake Baragi lies at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters and has a circumference of about 2 kilometers. The small mountain lake is surrounded by forests and highland scenery.
During summer, boating and fishing are popular activities, while the lakeside campground provides an opportunity to stay close to nature.
Visitors can take a boat onto the calm water, admire the surrounding mountains, and simply enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the highlands.
Fishing and Camping
Near the lake is the MUJI Campagna Tsumagoi Campground, which provides an attractive base for outdoor stays. In designated sport-fishing areas, trout fishing is available on a catch-and-release basis.
Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy the challenge of landing trout in a natural mountain setting. During winter, when the lake freezes, ice fishing for smelt becomes one of the area’s distinctive seasonal experiences.
Mount Azumaya Gondola and Mountain Views
The nearby Mount Azumaya Gondola provides access to elevations of approximately 2,100 meters, allowing visitors to enjoy the mountain scenery without making the entire ascent on foot.
From the upper area, expansive views stretch across Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, Mount Asama, Lake Baragi, and the surrounding mountains. The wide panorama of sky, forests, lakes, and volcanic peaks offers an impressive perspective on the natural landscape of northern Gunma.
Sports and Training Facilities
The Baragi Highlands are also equipped with a Soccer Village featuring six grass pitches. Thanks to the area’s relatively cool highland climate, the fields can be comfortable for outdoor sports even during the summer months.
The facilities are used for training camps and sporting events by groups ranging from youth soccer teams to student athletes.
Several camping facilities, including Baragi Highlands Campground, are also available in the surrounding area, making the region suitable for family trips, group stays, and outdoor adventures.
Access
The area can be reached from Manza-Kazawaguchi Station on the JR Agatsuma Line.
By car, one route is from the Usui-Karuizawa Interchange via Prefectural Route 92, National Route 18, National Route 146, the Asama-Shirane Volcano Route, and National Route 144. Another route is from the Ueda-Sugadaira Interchange via National Route 144.
A Leisurely Day in the Highlands
Tsumagoi Baragi Onsen offers an opportunity to combine the pleasures of a mountain hot spring with the natural attractions of the Baragi Highlands.
Spend the day boating or fishing on Lake Baragi, explore the surrounding mountains, enjoy the expansive highland scenery, and then relax in the soothing waters of the hot spring.
For travelers looking to slow down and experience the peaceful side of Gunma’s mountains, Baragi is a place where nature, outdoor recreation, and hot spring relaxation come together.