2026 Kiryu Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in April)

Finding peace in nature! 🌿 There’s honestly nothing like standing in front of a roaring waterfall—especially at sunset with that dreamy golden light and the forest all misty in the background. Instant soul refresh! 🤩 Precy, Japan is packed with hidden gems just like this one, perfect for adventurers craving an escape from the city hustle. This scenic spot is a total vibe for a weekend getaway or a spontaneous road trip. Whether it’s cloudy, rainy, or just that classic cozy fall weather, the forest here always looks magical. Makes your phone camera look pro—seriously, every photo turns out sooo good! 📸🍁 Hot tip: Many of Precy’s waterfalls and nature trails are within easy reach. Grab a map from your hotel (check out the options on trip.com for the best deals and locations!), throw on some comfy shoes, and hit the trails. Most parks are open year-round from sunrise to sunset, so you’ll have plenty of time to chase that golden hour glow. Trust, this spot is a must if you’re all about reconnecting with nature, getting those zen vibes, and leveling up your IG game. Ready for a little forest therapy? Don’t miss out! Waterfall #NaturePhotography #ExploreJapan #HiddenGems #TravelDiar

Located in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, I visited Mizunuma no Yu, a newly renovated spa directly connected to Mizunuma Station on the Watarase Keikoku Railway, in April 2025. There were more young people than I expected, and it was bustling with groups and couples. The calming atmosphere made it a comfortable place to stay, even alone. The water was soft, and the view of the rural mountains from the open-air bath was soothing. With a restaurant, souvenir corner, and sauna equipment for sale, this hot spring facility is so well-equipped that you'll find yourself staying for a long time. I arrived around 1:00 PM on a weekday, and it wasn't crowded. Mizunuma no Yu offers both easy access and the healing power of nature. It's a great place to stop by during your travels or for a relaxing day trip, so be sure to check it out. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 📍Minuma no Yu Natural Hot Springs Near the Station 120-1 Mizunuma, Kurohone-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma Prefecture ☎️0277-46-9071 🚃Directly connected to Mizunuma Station on the Watarase Keikoku Railway (0 minutes on foot) 🚗Approximately 40 minutes from Isesaki IC or Ota Yabutsuka IC 🕘Opening Hours・Bathing: 9:00-21:00 (Last entry 20:00)・Snack Corner: 10:00-20:00 (Last orders 20:00)🚗Parking available (Free parking)💰Price (includes one drink / bathing tax)・Adults (middle school students and above): Weekdays 1,350 yen / Weekends and holidays 1,550 yen・Elementary school students: Weekdays 600 yen Weekends and holidays: ¥700; children under 5 are free. *Additional fees apply for indoor clothing-only areas (large open-air bath, Komorebi-an, etc.) (+¥600 on weekdays, +¥800 on weekends and holidays). #domestictravel #hotsprings #sauna #Gunma

Summer only!! Cool off with the vitamin-colored umbrella sky🫧☂️ Where is this? It's actually a temple✨A very cute umbrella sky✨Please come and see it💙 ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Held simultaneously with the Wind Chime FestivalSaturday, July 13, 2024 - Sunday, September 16, 20249:00-17:00 (closes at 16:30)The wind chime alley, unique to summer, is very lovely✨There are also lots of cute Jizo statues🤍For more information on the Wind Chime Festival, click here▶︎Wind Chime Festival ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼➸Tips︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Pay attention to the feet of the photo spot!! There are two heart marks, so try to find them ︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Pay the admission fee and get a tanzaku T ︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Morning and evening are recommended ︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Enjoy the umbrella sky and wind chime festival at the same time, it's a bargain ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Recommended spot📍Hotokuji Temple ✤Address: 5-1608 Kawauchi-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma Prefecture✤Access:🚗Kita-Kanto Expressway, Ota-Kiryu IC, approx. 30 minutes, Isesaki IC, approx. 30 minutes*Free parking available🚃25 minutes by bus from JR Kiryu Station✤Admission fee: 500 yen*Additional 300 yen to enter the main hall ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ #Umbrella Sky #Temple #Temple tour #Wind chimes #Wind chime festival #Summer photo #Trip #Gunma #Gunma sightseeing #Gunma trip #gunma #100 travel styles

Limited time only!! Let's go to the Wind Chime Festival🎐 Introducing "Hotokuji Temple"!! The wind chime alley is so lovely, unique to summer✨ Lots of cute Jizo statues too🤍 ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼➸Tips︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Pay the admission fee and get a tanzaku︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Mornings and evenings are recommended︎︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎How many Jizo statues can you find? ︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎There are a wide variety of Goshuin stamps ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Recommended spot📍Hotokuji Temple ✤Address: 5-1608 Kawauchi-cho, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture✤Access: 🚗About 30 minutes from Ota-Kiryu IC on the Kita-Kanto Expressway Isesaki IC About 30 minutes 🚃About 25 minutes by bus from JR Kiryu Station✤Admission fee: 500 yen✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ #0 yen trip #temple tour #wind chime #wind chime festival #summer trip #summer short trip #summer weekend trip #Gunma #Gunma trip #Kiryu #gunma

#Exhibition 2022 #Japan #Tokyo Art museums see a lot, fabric museums such specialized exhibitions are really rare! You can enjoy the display of artifacts such as textile tools at this Textile Reference Museum in Japan . The Kiryu textiles displayed here are more than 1000 years old and are one of Kiryu's famous specialties! In addition to being used to make high-end kimonos, it will be used to make shawls and other clothing supplies racks, in 1977 was designated as a traditional craft! In addition to fabrics, you can also visit the factory, watch the on-site staff operate the textile machines, and have a dedicated person to teach you textile techniques. You can also experience crafts such as blue dyeing! It's really worth a visit!

Houtokuji Temple Famous for the maple leaves reflected on its polished floors. I visited during the summer, and the lush green leaves were beautifully mirrored on the floor, creating a refreshing and serene atmosphere. While the autumn foliage season is popular, summer brings the Wind Chime Festival, making this temple enjoyable throughout the year. 🏨 Accommodations Hotels around Kiryu and Ota are convenient. If traveling by car, extending your trip to Ikaho Onsen or Kusatsu Onsen is also a great option. 🍴 Nearby Gourmet Spots Kiryu's specialty "Himokawa Udon" is a must-try! The wide noodles are visually striking and perfect for social media posts. 📌 Useful Information Houtokuji Temple is about a 30-minute drive from the Kita-Kanto Expressway Ota-Yabuzuka IC. During the autumn foliage season, visiting in the morning is recommended to avoid crowds.

Ramen Shibahama, a hugely popular ramen shop in Kiryu, opens at 7 AM, so you're sure to find a long line. Experience morning ramen culture and experience a special bowl of ramen. ⸻ ✅ Must-See Points · Morning Ramen Set: This signature dish features a refined soy sauce ramen with a small bowl and a raw egg on rice. · Refined Soup: The clear, flavorful soup is light and easy to eat, even in the morning. · Homemade Noodles: The smooth texture and firmness are exquisite. · Limited Menu: Be sure to check out the creative ramen that changes daily. ⸻ 💡 Tips · It's bound to be crowded right after opening! It's best to get there early. · If you want a hearty breakfast, we recommend the "set." · Wait times are especially long on weekends, so allow plenty of time. ⸻ #RamenShibahama #KiryuGourmet #KiryuRamen #MorningRamen #GunmaTrip ⸻ 👉 Ramen Shibahama isn't just any ramen shop; it's a place where you can find a bowl of ramen worth lining up for in the morning. If you visit Kiryu, this is a gourmet experience you'll definitely want to wake up early to experience. ✨ #TravelWithPochiKatsu

Located in the town of Kiryu, Kali Table is a cafe serving healthy, comforting dishes made with local ingredients. It's a cozy space perfect for a relaxing break during your travels. ⸻ ✅ Must-See Points · Colorful plate lunches: Packed with vegetables and perfectly balanced nutrition. · Spicy dishes: Featuring healthy, ethnic flavors. · Sweets and drinks: Enjoy teatime with homemade cakes and specialty coffee. · Cozy interior: Relax in a space where you can feel the warmth of wood. ⸻ 💡 Tips · Especially recommended for vegetable lovers and health-conscious people. · A great place to stop by while walking around Kiryu. · Lunch is popular, so arrive early. ⸻ #kaliTable #KariTable #KiryuCafe #KiryuLunch #GunmaGourmet ⸻ 👉 "kali table" is a place where you can not only eat, but also experience a meal that heals both your mind and body. It's the perfect place to spend a little time in Kiryu. ✨ #TravelWithPochiKatsu

Kiryu, Gunma ˗ˏˋ cafe restaurant NILS ˎˊ˗ A cute European-style restaurant nestled in the forest🏠 A hidden cafe restaurant nestled in the satoyama area of ​​Umeda-cho. A Western-style building with a calming atmosphere, nestled in a natural setting. Their lunch menu includes handmade fresh pasta, as well as standard and daily specials. Their pizza is also delicious. They also occasionally hold pop-up events featuring vintage goods and tableware. Why not consider this as an idea for your next road trip? ˗ˏˋ Cafe Restaurant NILS ˎˊ˗ 📍 3-127 Umeda-cho, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture 📱 0277-32-0608 🚃 Approximately 20 minutes by bus from JR Kiryu Station toward Umeda-cho. Get off at Umeda Jujiro and walk for about 10 minutes. Or Take a taxi from the station for approximately 15 minutes. #TravelWithPochiKatsu

Kiryu, Gunma ˗ˏˋ Houtokuji Templeˎˊ˗ 2025 Wind Chime Festival🎐 Introducing a wonderful temple. Houtokuji Temple in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture A special summer display of maple leaves has begun🍁 The autumn leaves are lovely, but the green maples are also lovely♡ Wind chimes Japanese umbrellas Maple leaves Umbrella sky There's lots to see. Please come and enjoy the soothing sound of the wind chimes 🎐 [2025 Wind Chime Festival] Dates: July 5th (Saturday) - September 23rd (Tuesday, national holiday) · Please note that the Tokomomiji will not be open to the public in the morning on August 13th and 16th due to legal matters Visiting hours: 9:00-16:30 (closes at 17:00) Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, includes a prayer strip for the wind chimes · Tokomomiji: 300 yen for adults Free for high school students and younger Parking fee: Free #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

There are some really strange monkeys here that I highly recommend you come and see. #KiryugaokaPark

[Watarase Valley Railway] A nostalgic trip through the valley in each season on a trolley train The Watarase Valley Railway, which runs from Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture to Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, can be boarded from JR Kiryu Station. Particularly popular is the windowless Watarase Valley Trolley Train. You can enjoy the beauty of the valley in each season from the train window, with cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snowy scenery in winter. At Godo Station and Mizunuma Station Onsen Center along the way, you can also experience hot springs and foot baths attached to the stations. When you actually ride the train, you will feel as if time is flowing slowly as the scenery flows by along with the sound of the rattling. Why not reset your mind with a nostalgic train trip? #absolutelyfreetrip #domestictravel #coupletrip #solotrip #watarasevalleyrailway #trolleytrain #relaxingholiday

For those who travel by train, a hotel close to the station is definitely a good choice! This is a highly recommended hotel because there are no tall buildings around. If you are near Kiryu, please try staying here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Toyoko Inn Kiryu Station South Exit 📍 2-1810-18 Tomoe-cho, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture ⏰Check-in: 15:00 Check-out: 10:00 ☑︎Breakfast included plan available ☑︎Very clean and nice ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ※This information is current, so please check it out before you go! Photo taken on: 2025/4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌷~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #Gunma #Kiryu #Stay #Toyoko Inn #0 yen trip

Juza Burger A handmade hamburger shop founded in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture🍔 The beer that went with the hamburger was incredibly delicious😋 The Ginza store that I visited is gone, but the main store is still open! 👍 If you're in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, please give it a try✨️ Address: 5-62 Honmachi, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture Business hours: 11:00-16:00 (last order 15:30) Closed: Mondays and the third Sunday Menu (example): ・Cheeseburger 720 yen (excl. tax) ・Avocado cheeseburger 800 yen (excl. tax) #Spring 0 yen trip

Hotokuji Temple in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, is a little bit of autumn that appears in the temple during the autumn foliage season. Apparently, a spectacular view that was discovered by chance while changing tatami mats became a tourist spot. There is a parking lot, but you can also get there by bus from Kiryu Station.

It's the season when the green leaves of maples are at their most beautiful🍀 We'd like to introduce you to Hotokuji Temple, where you can see the green leaves on the floor!! ︎ ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Tips︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎There are a wide variety of Goshuin stamps ︎︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎There are 4 types of Kirie Goshuin stamps ︎︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎The shrine office is open until 16:00 ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Wind Chime Festival is being held from Saturday, July 13, 2024 Sunday, September 16, 2024 9:00-17:00 (closes at 16:30) ➸Umbrella Sky Saturday, July 13, 2024 - Sunday, September 16, 2024 9:00-17:00 (closes at 16:30) The wind chime alley is lovely, unique to summer✨ There are also lots of cute Jizo statues🤍 ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Recommended spot📍Hotokuji Temple ✤Address: 5-1608 Kawauchi-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma-ken✤Access:🚗Kita-Kanto Expressway, Ota-Kiryu IC, approx. 30 mins, Isesaki IC, approx. 30 mins※Free parking available🚃About 25 mins by bus from JR Kiryu Station✤Admission fee: 800 yen ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼#Temple stamp #Temple stamp tour #Temple stamp girl #Temple tour #Wind chimes #Wind chime festival #Japanese umbrella #Maple leaves #Maple leaves on the floor #Summer photo #100 travel styles

In Japanese anime, summer often features the sound of 'wind chimes.' In the second season of 'Natsume's Book of Friends,' titled 'Humans and Yokai,' characters gather in the courtyard to enjoy snacks and flowers, with wind chimes ringing in the breeze. Every time the wind blows and the chimes ring, it feels like a voice saying 'hello!' Especially on sweltering nights, the sound of wind chimes brings a refreshing coolness. Every July and August, various wind chime festivals are held across Japan. Let's take a look! 01 Kumano Taisha Enmusubi Wind Chime Festival Since ancient times, wind chimes in Japan have been used to convey wishes and thoughts. The famous haiku poet Santoka Taneda once wrote, 'As if you want to come and see me, I hear the wind chimes now.' The Kumano Wind Chime Summer Festival focuses on wishes for romantic relationships. As the summer breeze gently blows, it makes lovers' hearts flutter and helps singles find good matches. 02 Hōtokuji 'Feel the Coolness' Wind Chime Festival Starting July 13, about 3,000 wind chimes will be hung along the wind chime path at Hōtokuji, swaying in the wind like a dazzling rainbow. The ancient temple's dry landscape garden creates a picturesque summer scene. Additionally, there are wishes for warding off bad luck and ensuring safety! From August 31 to September 16, weekend evenings will feature a light show, offering another wonderful experience. 03 Sakura-yama Wind Chime Festival Sakura-yama Hachiman Shrine in Gifu Prefecture is one of Japan's famous matchmaking shrines. During the wind chime festival, the ema hall of Sakura-yama Hachiman Shrine will be adorned with about 2,000 wind chimes in summer colors, creating a dreamy atmosphere that complements the beautiful flower water nearby. Thousands of wind chimes ring in the wind, like a symphony of summer, creating a magical experience! Every Saturday evening from July 27 to August 24, a lighting event will be held, allowing visitors to enjoy the enchanting wind chimes under the night sky. The simultaneous ringing of the wind chimes makes one forget the summer heat. 04 Minase Shrine Good Fortune Wind Chime Festival It is said that the sound of wind chimes was originally used to ward off disasters brought by the wind and to pray for safety. From late July to early September, Osaka's Minase Shrine hosts a wind chime festival focused on wishes for good fortune. Visitors hang their written wishes on the wind chime path and then proceed to the main hall to pray. Located in Shimamoto Town, Mishima District, Osaka Prefecture, Minase Shrine is known for its blessings for academic and athletic success. It also features 'Rikyu Water,' selected as one of Japan's 'Top 100 Famous Waters,' which is said to make tea leaves more fragrant. 05 Sannoji Wind Chime Festival Sannoji Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture is famous as one of the 88 sacred sites of Sasaguri Shikoku. Due to the numerous cute tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines found throughout the temple, it is also known as 'Tanuki Temple.' From May to early October each year, Sannoji holds a wind chime festival. The 4,000 colorful wind chimes decorated by the temple's priests create a spectacular and resonant scene! In September, the evening lights make the night view even more stunning. Visitors can also paint and offer their own wind chimes on-site. 06 Kobō Kannon Wind Chime Festival Located in Nara Prefecture, Kōbō Kannon Temple of the Kōyasan Shingon sect holds a wind chime festival from early July to late September each year, with over 2,500 wind chimes decorating the temple. These wind chimes come from all over Japan, including Ryukyu glass wind chimes from Okinawa, Beppu wind chimes combining wind chimes and bamboo crafts, and Kiyomizu ware wind chimes from Kyoto. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this a showcase of Japanese wind chime craftsmanship. Additionally, visitors can purchase about 90 types of wind chimes from all over Japan, including Nara wind chimes, Odawara wind chimes from Kanagawa, and Nambu wind chimes from Iwate, at the wind chime exhibition and sale in front of the temple office. This summer, make sure to visit Japan for a wind chime festival! As the wind chimes sway, may all your wishes come true.

Gunma has a spectacular view of the reflections that can be seen during this season of fresh greenery! Today, we will be introducing "Houtokuji Temple" in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture. It is a popular spot for autumn leaves, but the fresh greenery is still a hidden gem‼️ Houtokuji Temple will also be holding a "Spring Maple Leaves Special Opening" until May 19th, where you can see this spectacular reflection😍 You can only see the maple leaves reflections during a designated special opening period!! The highlights this spring are: ・Reflections of the fresh green maple leaves ・4,000 windmills ・500 carp streamers ・50 Jizo statues wearing straw hats ・500 peonies [Tips for taking reflection photos] The trick to taking reflection photos is to get the lens as close as possible to the object being reflected. This will result in a beautiful, linearly symmetrical reflection, making for a more beautiful picture. If you're taking photos with your smartphone, don't just bring your smartphone closer to the floor, but make sure the lens is at the bottom. Everyone takes turns taking photos, so try not to stay there for too long. [How to visit] You want to be able to walk around as freely as possible, without worrying about people in your photos, right? For those of you who want to do that, we recommend going around 3:30 p.m.! The reception hours here are until 16:00, but the gates close at 16:30. You can enjoy it in an hour, and there are very few people.😍 There are plenty of parking spaces, but if they are filled up, you can't wait and have to go back and forth on the road.💦 However, at this time, you can park in a nearby parking lot without waiting, so this is definitely the best time to come! ------------------------------------ That's all! What do you think? If you haven't decided on your plans for Golden Week yet, or if you're wondering where to go next, why not come here? 💁 ~ ...

The Watarase Keikoku Railway connects Kiryu City in Gunma Prefecture and Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture. The total length is 44.1 kilometers, along the Watase Gorge, and the journey takes about 80 minutes. This is a very typical private railway route in rural Japan. It can be said to be a railway designed for transportation for residents in the mountains and has a history of about one hundred years. As you can imagine, it once faced the risk of being abandoned in the 1990s, but was later successfully transformed into a tourist destination and preserved. The Watarase Valley Railway is picturesque, with peach and cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring, deep green in summer, colorful in autumn, and heavy snow in winter. These days, cherry blossoms and peach blossoms are in full bloom at the stations along the line, dotted with yellow rapeseed flowers and purple flowers, making the scene as colorful as an oil painting. Many small rural train stations in Japan plant cherry blossoms. There are many famous "Sakurami Stations" from north to south, but there are very few stations like the Watarase Keikoku Railway where cherry blossoms and peach blossoms are so large-scale. It is a blooming scene that is like an explosion of colors, and it becomes a must-visit place for tram photography enthusiasts every spring. Transportation: Take the Tobu Railway train bound for Ota from Kita-Senju Station in Tokyo, then transfer to the Watarase Keikoku Railway at Kiryu or Soro Station. Please download various Japanese transfer apps for details

Amazingly, admission and parking are free at this zoo! I'm impressed, considering that you probably have to pay for food these days. I didn't have high expectations because it was free, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! If you take your time, you can enjoy it for about an hour and a half to two hours. There are quite a few ups and downs on the slope, so it may be a bit difficult for elderly people or those with weak legs to see everything. The new Red Panda House has been built, and you can see the Red Pandas up close, so it has become the new symbol of the zoo. #zoo

A famous spot where 500,000 red spider lilies bloom. It's a cluster of red spider lilies. I go by car, but it's about a 5-minute walk from Mizunuma Station. You have to walk down a slope to get to the red spider lilies, so be careful of your legs. The local volunteer group Step Up Kurobone seems to be taking care of it. I'm grateful for that. I hope to enjoy it for a long time while following the rules. Maybe because it was hot this year, they've only just started to bloom (as of September 16, 2023), so I'm looking forward to what's to come. When it's in full bloom, it's all red. There's a river flowing next to it, which is nice. A new cafe called SYCAMORE CAFE TERRACE has opened next door! It's nice because you can rest even if you're tired. It's very crowded, so you write your name at the entrance and wait. You order using a QR code. It's stylish and delicious. It seems you can also have a BBQ next door. #Yagihara Village #Kurohone #Kiryu City #Gunma Prefecture

Kiryu is a small town in Gunma, Japan. I visited this place because I want to experience the country side of Japan away from the busy streets and skyscrapers. If you are into traditional & cultural experience, you may consider exploring the city of Gunma. #wintergetaway #wintergetaway