Fukuichi stands at the top of the stone steps of Ikaho Onsen in Gunma, looking out toward the Haruna mountains. The inn traces its history back about 440 years, to the Sengoku period, and it keeps two kinds of hot-spring water: the brown Kogane-no-yu (golden water) and the clear Shirogane-no-yu (silver water). Before you book, three things matter: the inn does not provide food-allergy support; it has some closed days in the cold months; and if you are late, call, because a booking can be treated as canceled after 20:00 without word from you.
Fukuichi at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 5-4 Koto, Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa, Gunma 377-0102 |
| Location | Top of the Ikaho stone steps |
| Buildings | Three wings: Manyo, Senju and Kotohogi |
| Hot springs | Kogane-no-yu (golden) and Shirogane-no-yu (silver) |
| Check-in | 15:00 (latest 22:00) |
| Breakfast | Buffet on the 8th floor |
| Parking | Underground, about 50 cars, free for guests |
| Rooms | All non-smoking (smoking area available) |
| Phone | 0279-20-3000 |
Getting to Fukuichi at the top of the Ikaho stone steps
How do I get there by train or bus?
By rail, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki and continue to Shibukawa. From Shibukawa, the bus for Ikaho Onsen takes about 30 minutes. Get off at the Ikaho Onsen or Ikaho Haruna-guchi stop and call the inn; it will pick you up. From Tokyo, the Joshu Yumeguri highway bus leaves from Busta Shinjuku and takes about 2 hours 42 minutes to the Ikaho Ishidangai stop, where the inn also offers a pickup.
Can I drive?
Yes. The official access page puts the inn about 20 minutes from the Shibukawa-Ikaho exit of the Kan-etsu Expressway. Parking is in the underground car park beneath the building, with room for about 50 cars, and it is free for overnight guests. For directions by car, follow the access page on the official site.
The baths at Fukuichi: golden and silver water
What are the two kinds of water?
Kogane-no-yu is the old, brownish water Ikaho is known for, and Shirogane-no-yu is a clear water that came up in more recent times. The official bath page says that of the more than 50 inns in Ikaho, only about five have both. The water is listed as a calcium-sodium sulfate, bicarbonate and chloride spring.
What are the large baths like?
There are two large baths on the 3rd floor of the Manyo wing, Fuku-no-yu and Ichi-no-yu. Both have the golden and the silver water, an outdoor bath and a sauna. The Japanese bath page lists bath hours of 15:00 to 1:00 and 5:00 to 10:00. Ask at the front desk which bath is for men and which is for women during your stay.
Is there a private bath?
Yes. Private baths are on the 6th floor of the Manyo wing and are booked by phone. One of them, Fuwari, is closed for now: the inn says the earthquake of June 16, 2026 damaged its equipment and it has no date to reopen. The other private baths and the large baths are open as usual. Ask the inn for the current fee and time slots when you book.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages, the terms of stay and the house rules do not mention tattoos. If you have one, ask the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals at Fukuichi
Where are dinner and breakfast served?
Where you eat dinner depends on your wing. Guests in the Manyo wing have a creative Japanese course meal in a private dining room. Guests in Senju and Kotohogi have a Joshu course meal, with local dishes such as okkirikomi noodles, in the “Wa Dining” room, where every seat is at a table with chairs. Children’s meals come in two types, one for elementary school children and one for younger children.
Breakfast is a buffet in Reiho, the view dining room on the 8th floor. It starts at 7:00 or 7:30 and ends at 9:00 or 9:30, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. You do not book a time, and seats cannot be reserved.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
Please plan around this one. Article 13 of the inn’s terms of stay says it does not provide food-allergy support, such as allergen labels or a change to a low-allergen menu, and guests stay on that understanding. The official pages also do not mention vegetarian or halal meals. If you have an allergy or a diet you must keep, contact the inn before booking so you both know what to expect.
What a night at Fukuichi costs, and the rules that come with it
How much does a stay cost?
The official site shows starting prices per person per night, for two guests in a room, with the bathing tax extra. They change by date.
| Plan (official site) | From, per person |
|---|---|
| Autumn standard, Senju Joshu course dinner | 19,250 yen |
| Senju standard | 22,000 yen |
| Manyo standard | 26,400 yen |
| Manyo creative course dinner in a private room | 30,250 yen |
| Bathing tax (Shibukawa city) | 150 yen per person per day; under 12 free |
Shibukawa city sets the bathing tax at 150 yen per person per day, counts a one-night stay as one day, and exempts children under 12. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
What do children cost?
The terms of stay count children as elementary school age and younger. A child given the same meals and bedding as an adult pays 70 percent of the adult rate; bedding only, 30 percent; and a small child with no meals or bedding, 3,150 yen. The inn lends a baby bath, a formula-water pot and a diaper bucket. Minors cannot stay alone without a guardian’s permission.
What is the cancellation policy?
Article 6 of the terms of stay says cancellation fees follow a table attached to the terms. That table is an image in the PDF and we could not read it, so check the fee on your plan before you pay. The terms also say that if you have not arrived by 20:00 without calling, or two hours after the arrival time you gave, the booking may be treated as canceled. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay?
The house rules say you pay at the front desk when you leave, in cash, by credit card, or with traveler’s checks or vouchers the inn accepts. The official top page also lists PayPay and Alipay.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Fukuichi
- The inn has an English website, but some details differ from the Japanese pages. For times and fees, confirm with the inn.
- The inn has some closed days in the coming months. Check the calendar on the official site before you fix your dates.
- Pets cannot be brought in, under the house rules. Our pet fees guide covers other options.
- Rooms are non-smoking, and there is a smoking area.
- There is free Wi-Fi, and the shop offers tax-free shopping.
- If you will be late, call the inn before 20:00.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Fukuichi?
Does Fukuichi have both the golden and the silver water?
Can Fukuichi handle food allergies?
Is parking free at Fukuichi?
Is Fukuichi open every day?
Bottom line (2026): Fukuichi is a centuries-old inn at the top of Ikaho’s stone steps, with both the golden and the silver water in its large baths, private dining for Manyo guests and a buffet breakfast with a view. Ask ahead about allergies, check the closed days, and confirm the check-out time for your plan.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Fukuichi’s official pages: home (Japanese), English site, rooms (Senju), hot springs, breakfast, access, notice on the Fuwari bath, notice on closed days, the terms of stay (PDF) and the house rules (PDF), and from Shibukawa city’s bathing tax page. All were read on October 20, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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