Hot springs in Ikaho

Ikaho Onsen sits on a hillside in Gunma Prefecture, its layout defined by 365 stone steps that rise through a narrow valley flanked by ryokan and traditional shops. The waters are iron-rich and run a characteristic golden-brown, a color reflecting the mineral content that has drawn visitors since the Nara period. The staircase serves as the town's central axis, with nearly all activity concentrated along its length or on the side streets branching from it.