Shibukawa (渋川) is a city in Gunma, known for hot springs in Ikaho (伊香保) area.

Understand

Shibukawa is known as the belly button of Japan, as it is in the very centre of Japan (not taking Okinawan islands into count). Famous for the "Heso Matsuri" or belly button festival, Shibukawa lies in the shadow of Mount Haruna with great views of Mount Akagi and Mount Komochi. Shibukawa municipality includes the famous hot spring resort town of Ikaho.

Tourist information site

The local tourism association maintains a multilingual guide site.

Get in

Shibukawa is easily accessible by train from Takasaki station, which can be reached by Shinkansen (bullet train). By car it can be accessed via Route 17.

Get around

Busses travel frequently between Shibukawa and Ikaho and can be caught from the station. Taxis are also available, but are a little more pricy.

See

Ikaho is worth a day visit at least, but a weekend is well spent there. Green Bokujou and Shibukawa Skyland Park are great places to take the kids.

Shibukawa station has a visitors centre which has more information on must see spots. There is also a map outside of the station, written in Japanese and poor English.

• 1 Green Bokujo (グリーン牧場). (updated Sep 2020)

Do

Shibukawa station has a visitors centre which has information on the many activities the area offers.

Eat

Shibukawa's famous sweet potato sweets are a must try.

Sleep

Ikaho has many hotels, while Shibukawa proper has a few hotels in close proximity to the station.

Go next

Numata, Minakami and Nakanojō are accessible from Shibukawa via road or rail.

• Fujimi
• Takayama
• Showa
• Higashiagatsuma
• Shinto
• Yoshioka
• Takasaki

Routes through Shibukawa

Minakami ← Numata ←	N  S	→ Maebashi → Takasaki
Minakami ← Numata ←	N  S	→ Maebashi → Takasaki
Nakanojo ←	N  S	→ Maebashi → Kiryu