basic information

How to get from Tokyo to Ikaho

By train and bus via Shibukawa:

Ikaho is about two hours from Tokyo and there are three different options for travelers going by rail. Trains go as far as Shibukawa Station and buses complete the final 20 minute journey to Ikaho Town. All of the trains below are covered under the Japan Rail Pass, but the bus between Shibukawa and Ikaho is not.

Option 1: The fastest route is via shinkansen. Take the Joetsu or the Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Takasaki Station (one hour). From Takasaki, a local train on the JR Joetsu or Agatsuma Line continues on to Shibukawa (25 minutes). The total cost is about 5000 yen one way.

Option 2: A more direct route is the limited express train from Tokyo's Ueno Station to Shibukawa (100 minutes, about 4000 yen one way). Limited express trains are fairly infrequent.

Option 3: The final option uses local trains. Take the JR Takasaki Line from Tokyo's Ueno Station and transfer to the JR Joetsu or Agatsuma Line at Takasaki Station. It is the slowest and least expensive option (2 hours, 2210 yen).

Once in Shibukawa, a bus departs from the station approximately every 20 minutes in the direction of Ikaho bus terminal (20 minutes, 550 yen). These buses run between about 5:30 and 21:00 in both directions.

By direct highway bus:

JR Kanto Bus runs a direct highway bus service between JR Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal and Ikaho about ten times per day. Some of these buses continue onto Kusatsu Onsen. The trip to Ikaho takes two hours and costs 2300 yen one way, or 4100 yen round trip. Japan Rail Pass holders should note that JR highway buses are not covered by their pass.

Orientation

Ikaho is a small town with all of its main tourist attractions in walking distance of one another. The town centers around the 300 meter long stone stairway and many ryokan, restaurants and old style game shops face the steps. At the bottom of the steps is the former checkpoint, and at the top is Ikaho Shrine, Ikaho Rotenburo, and Kajika Bridge.

Mizusawa Temple is serviced by a bus from Ikaho Onsen that departs about once per hour (10 minutes, 300 yen). Some of these buses continue on to Takasaki Station.

Another bus runs between Ikaho and Mount Haruna. There are about seven buses per day in the summer, and four in the winter. The bus makes stops at the Haruna Ropeway, lake and onsen.

Ikaho Sistina, Green Bokujo and the Hara Museum ARC are all located on the bus route between Shibukawa Station and Ikaho.

Map of central Ikaho:

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