Ikaho Onsen
Family-Friendly Hotels in Ikaho Onsen (Hot Spring): Stone Steps and Baths
A characterful hot spring town of stone steps, with private-hire baths and in-room dining for unhurried family time
12 family-friendly hotels in Ikaho Onsen, verified by Kids Stay: 12 with tatami rooms, 12 with private onsen baths, 8 with in-room baths, 8 with in-room dining and 10 with toddler meals. Every listing is checked against the official hotel website or Rakuten Travel.
When choosing a family hotel in Ikaho Onsen, many parents wonder whether they can soak up the atmosphere of the stone step street and still be comfortable with a small child. Ikaho Onsen is one of Gunma's best known hot springs, with hotels and shops lining a stairway of 365 stone steps. It is famous for two waters: the iron-rich, red-brown kogane-no-yu, or golden water, and the clear shirogane-no-yu, or silver water.
What reassures families most on a hot spring trip here is how many hotels let you keep to yourselves. Of the 12 Ikaho Onsen hotels featured on this site, 12 have a private-hire bath your family can use alone (3 of them free), 12 have a Japanese-style tatami room where futons make co-sleeping easy, and 8 offer in-room dining. You can eat and bathe without worrying about other guests if your child gets fussy. 8 hotels also have a bath in the guest room, so even with a small child who is not ready for the communal bath, your family can take its time in the water.
Families with a baby are looked after as well. 1 hotels lend bottle warmers, and some lend baby bathtubs and high chairs or provide baby food. 10 hotels offer toddler meals and 9 accommodate food allergies, so mealtimes are reassuring even with a very young baby. Some hotels have an indoor play area too, which covers rainy days.
The other appeal of Ikaho is how many places nearby children enjoy. The Ikaho Toy, Doll and Car Museum, hands-on glassmaking at Haruna Glass, and meeting the animals at Ikaho Green Farm all give you something beyond the baths. Pair them with a walk up the stone step street and you have an area where a family can take things slowly.
Highlights
- checkA famous Gunma hot spring known for its stairway of 365 stone steps, where you can try both the golden and silver waters
- check12 hotels have a private-hire bath (3 free), 12 have tatami rooms that make co-sleeping easy, and 8 offer in-room dining, so you can relax with a small child
- check1 hotels lend bottle warmers, and others provide baby food, toddler meals, or allergy accommodation for families with a baby
- checkThe Toy, Doll and Car Museum, Ikaho Green Farm, and more give children plenty to do in the surrounding area
Family-friendly features in Ikaho Onsen
Recommended hotels (12)
Hotel Matsumotoro
Hotel Kogure
Nagomigokoro-no-Yado Omori
Ichikawa Bekkan Seikanso
Ryokan Sakurai
Ikaho Onsen Moriaki Ryokan
Oyado Tamaki
Yokotekan
Ikaho Onsen Kishigon Ryokan
Kokuya
See all hotels in Ikaho Onsen (12)expand_more
Kid-friendly facilities at family hotels in Ikaho Onsen
Kids Stay checked the official information of 12 family hotels in Ikaho Onsen and found 34 kid-friendly facilities on site. Here is a sample by category so you can compare facilities before choosing a room.
Baby gear you can borrow(5 hotels, 5 items)
- Ikaho Onsen Kishigon Ryokan · Amenities for families with children: Alongside yukata, toothbrushes and face towels, the ryokan provides items such as children's chairs and Bumbo seats, so families with children can stay with peace of mind. Please a
- Ryokan Sakurai · Free baby-item rentals: A Bumbo baby seat, a diaper bin, a bath chair, a baby bath and children's tableware are available to borrow free of charge. A baby bed is installed in the changing room of the wome
- Nagomigokoro-no-Yado Omori · Baby items available to borrow: Baby items such as a bed-wetting mat, a children's chair (Bumbo), a bath thermometer, a diaper bin, a toilet-training seat and a step stool are available to borrow in the rooms, ma
- Oyado Tamaki · Co-sleeping and meals for babies and toddlers: Co-sleeping is available for children aged 0 to 3, and a facility-use fee of 3,850 yen applies from age 1. For babies and toddlers, the rate is 50% of the adult rate with both meal
- Ikaho Onsen Moriaki Ryokan · Baby items available to borrow: Bath chairs, baby baths, bouncers, Bumbo seats, baby chairs and toilet-training seats are available to borrow. Children's yukata come in three sizes: S, M and L. Numbers are limite
Kids' meals and baby food(5 hotels, 12 items)
- Ikaho Onsen Kishigon Ryokan · Children's meals: Children under school age are served a kids' meal with sashimi and more, and children of elementary school age and over but under 12 are served a meal based on the adult menu. Baby
- Hotel Matsumotoro · Meals matched to a child's growth (baby food and the Nensho-san Set): Meals are matched to a child's stage of growth, with handmade baby food by age in months prepared by the chef, the Nensho-san Set for children ages 1 to 3 who have graduated from b
- Ryokan Sakurai · Kids' lunch plate (in-room dining or a private dining room): Dinner is served in your room for parties of up to 4, and groups of 5 or more are shown to a private dining room. Children aged 3 and over can have a kids' lunch plate with Hamburg
- Hotel Kogure · Baby-food warming and allergy accommodation: Staff warm baby food and bring it to your room, and food allergies can be accommodated within the range of the 8 major allergens if you let the hotel know at least 3 days before yo
- Nagomigokoro-no-Yado Omori · Children's meals: On the kaiseki plans, children's dishes are served at 70% of the adult rate, and babies and toddlers are served a lunch-style meal at 50% of the adult rate. Allergies are also hand
Baby-friendly bathhouses(5 hotels, 11 items)
- Ikaho Onsen Kishigon Ryokan · Baby beds in the communal baths: The communal baths Mataemon no Yu (1st floor) and Rokuzaemon no Yu have beds for children. Babies can bathe too, but because the onsen's spring water is stronger than a home bath,
- Hotel Matsumotoro · Two private-hire baths using the Shirogane no Yu spring: There are 2 private-hire baths, Magokoro no Yu and Kigokoro no Yu, both using the gentle Shirogane no Yu, so even young children can bathe with peace of mind. Bathing supplies are
- Ryokan Sakurai · Four private-hire open-air baths: There are four private-hire open-air baths fed by the Shirogane no Yu spring water - Tsukimi no Yu, Hanami no Yu, Hoshimi no Yu and Yumemi no Yu - each available for 50 minutes at
- Hotel Kogure · 3 private-hire baths with views: There are 3 private-hire baths with views: Ureshi no Yu, with onsen flowing directly from the source and a hip bath for half-body bathing; Iyashi no Yu, with onsen flowing directly
- Nagomigokoro-no-Yado Omori · Private-hire open-air bath Nagomi: A ceramic private-hire open-air bath on the top floor. Sized for 2 people, it is recommended for families and couples alike. It costs extra and requires a reservation, and there is
Themed and family rooms(2 hotels, 3 items)
- Nagomigokoro-no-Yado Omori · 33-tatami-mat family room: The ryokan's largest room, a 33-tatami-mat Japanese-Western room available from 4 adults. Along with 2 beds, it has 2 toilets and 2 washbasins, and it is used for family and group
- Oyado Tamaki · Family room Kashiwa: A Japanese-style tatami room that fusuma sliding doors can divide into three rooms of 12, 8 and 6 tatami mats, sleeping up to 12 guests. It is well suited to two- and three-generat
Nursing rooms and changing tables(2 hotels, 2 items)
- Hotel Matsumotoro · Nursing room: A calm nursing room is located near the women's restroom on the 2nd floor. It has one microwave that guests may use as they like, which is handy for preparing baby food or formula.
- Ikaho Onsen Moriaki Ryokan · Baby facilities in the barrier-free restrooms: The barrier-free restroom on the 5th floor is equipped with a baby seat and a baby chair, and the one on the 4th floor has a baby seat and a baby chair plus an ostomate-accessible
Seasonal collections for Ikaho Onsen
Winter Onsen With Kids
Winter onsen towns from north to south, where an in-room bath, a reservable private bath and meals in your room mean you never have to go out
Autumn Leaves With Kids
Peak color timing, plus hotels in autumn leaf areas you can manage with a baby or toddler, from Hokkaido to Kyushu
Nearby attractions
Travel tips
Ikaho Onsen is reached by bus from JR Shibukawa Station, or by car from the Shibukawa Ikaho interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. The stone step street is exactly what its name suggests, mostly stairs, so a baby carrier often moves more easily than a stroller. A car is convenient for the museums and the farm nearby. Winter is cold and roads can freeze, so if you drive, bring snow tires and warm clothing. The golden water is iron-rich and deeply colored, so keep bathing time short for small children and remember to offer drinks.
Best season
Early summer with its fresh greenery and autumn with its foliage are especially beautiful, and comfortable for walking the stone step street or around Lake Haruna. Summer is relatively cool thanks to the elevation and makes a good escape from the heat. Winter brings the pleasure of soaking while watching the snow, though the cold and icy roads call for care. With indoor museums close by, this is an area families can enjoy whatever the weather.
Getting there
About 25 minutes by bus from Shibukawa Station on the JR Joetsu Line. About 20 minutes by car from the Shibukawa Ikaho interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. A car is convenient for reaching the museums and the farm nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
From what age can children enjoy Ikaho Onsen?
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Even babies under one year old can enjoy a stay here. Some hotels lend bottle warmers and baby bathtubs or provide baby food, and several offer toddler meals or accommodate allergies. Many have a private-hire bath or a bath in the room, which makes this a good hot spring trip even with a small child who is not ready for the communal bath.
Are there hotels in Ikaho Onsen where we can relax with a small child without worrying about other guests?
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12 hotels have a private-hire bath your family can use alone (3 of them free), 12 have a Japanese-style tatami room where futons make co-sleeping easy, and 8 offer in-room dining. You can eat and bathe without concern if your child gets fussy.
Are there places in Ikaho Onsen that children will enjoy?
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There is plenty beyond the baths, including the Ikaho Toy, Doll and Car Museum, hands-on glassmaking at Haruna Glass, and meeting the animals at Ikaho Green Farm. Combine them with a walk up the stone step street and the family can take the whole trip at an easy pace.
Can children go in Ikaho's golden water?
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They can, but the golden water is iron-rich and deeply colored, and it can leave you feeling overheated, so keep bathing time short for small children and offer drinks often. Choosing a room bath, a private-hire bath, or the clear silver water makes for a calmer soak.
How do you get to Ikaho Onsen?
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About 25 minutes by bus from JR Shibukawa Station, or about 20 minutes by car from the Shibukawa Ikaho interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. The stone step street is mostly stairs, so a baby carrier is handy. We recommend a car for the museums and the farm nearby. In winter you need to be prepared for icy roads.