Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Minakami Onsenkyō
Minakami Onsenkyō is a hot spring town in Gunma, Japan. Officially the water is classed as simple spring and sulfate spring.
The water here
Simple spring
Mild and low in dissolved minerals. Usually clear and gentle on the skin, which is why these baths are often recommended for first-timers.
Sulfate spring
Clear water with a faintly bitter taste. Known for holding heat.
More photographs
From Wikimedia Commons. Tap a photo for the photographer and licence.
With tattoos
Many public baths still turn away visible tattoos, and the rule is set by each bath, not by the town. The reliable way round it is to bathe privately: a room with its own open-air bath, or an inn with a private bath you can book for yourselves.
Where to stay
Similar water elsewhere
Read more
Other towns in Gunma
Planning a first soak? Read how an onsen stay works, and what to do if you have tattoos.