Ikaho Onsen: Getting there and around

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 (670 yen one way, every 20-30 minutes). All of the trains below are covered under the Japan Rail Pass, but the buses between Shibukawa and Ikaho are not.

Option 1: The fastest route is via shinkansen. Take the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Takasaki Station (one hour, frequent departures) and transfer to a local train along the JR Joetsu or Agatsuma Line to Shibukawa (25 minutes, 2-3 departures per hour). 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), but note that limited express trains are fairly infrequent.

Option 3: Take a local or rapid train along the JR Takasaki Line from Tokyo's Ueno Station to Takasaki and transfer to the JR Joetsu or Agatsuma Line to Shibukawa. This is the slowest and least expensive option (2.5 hours, 2310 yen).

JR Kanto Bus runs direct highway buses between JR Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal and Ikaho about ten times per day. Some of these buses continue on to Kusatsu Onsen. The trip to Ikaho takes about 2.5 hours and costs 2600-3000 yen one way. Japan Rail Pass holders should note that highway buses are not covered by their pass.