Tokyo Winter Family Secret Spot! Unlock the double fun of skiing + hot springs in 1.5 hours
Winter trips with kids, Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture near Tokyo is definitely a treasure choice! Just an hour and a half drive from Tokyo, you can take your kids to experience the speed and excitement at the ski resort, enjoy warmth and comfort at a century-old hot spring hotel, and savor authentic Japanese cuisine, making family time fulfilling and wonderful~
Hotel: Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku
📍 Location: Minakami, Gunma
🛏️ Room Type: Chose a room without a private bathroom, requiring use of the indoor public hot spring bath, letting kids experience a different style of accommodation. The room is tatami-style, spacious and comfortable, where children can freely play and roll around, experiencing Japanese living culture.
♨️ Hot Springs: The hotel has 4 open-air mixed-gender hot springs (including one women-only hot spring) and indoor hot springs. In winter, although the water temperature of the open-air mixed hot springs is slightly lower, soaking in the hot springs amid falling snow creates a romantic and unique experience that family travelers will never forget. Bathing with kids relaxes the body and mind and lets you feel the unique charm of Japanese hot springs.
🚐 Transportation: Flexible transportation options, you can drive yourself, convenient for carrying family gear; or choose public transport. The hotel shuttle picks up guests at Jomokogen Station at 1 PM or 3 PM, and at Minakami Station at 3 PM. Just arrive at the station on time to take the shuttle to the hotel, making traveling with kids worry-free and convenient.
😋 Dining: The hotel includes breakfast and dinner 🍱, lunch is self-arranged (there are no restaurants around the hotel, so it is recommended to buy boxed meals for kids at the train station to bring along). Meals are made with fresh natural ingredients, beautifully plated, and adjusted seasonally, full of traditional Japanese flavors, authentic taste, and kids will enjoy eating.
💗 Family Experience: Although the hotel has a century of history and the facilities are somewhat old, it is full of rich traditional Japanese charm, warm and comfortable. The natural scenery around the hotel is stunning; when heavy snow falls, the entire hotel is covered in white snow, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere that kids will especially love. It is recommended to stay two days with kids—one day for skiing, one day for relaxing and exploring the hotel and surroundings for a better experience! ❄️
Ski Resort: Hodaigi Ski Resort ⛷️
🚐 Transportation: Only a 10-minute drive from Takaragawa Onsen, inform the hotel front desk in advance, and they will arrange free round-trip shuttle service, so no worries about transportation when traveling with kids.
🧑🏫 Ski Instructor: Canyons Ski School offers English-speaking ski instructors, with only a full-day 6-hour ski course, suitable for kids to systematically learn skiing. The instructors are professional and patient, helping children quickly master skiing skills.
🎿 Ski Equipment: The ski resort rents essential gear such as helmets, skis, and ski boots. Ski goggles are not available for rent, so prepare them for your kids in advance or buy them on-site at the ski resort.
🍛 Dining: The ski resort restaurant has multiple snack stalls offering Japanese curry rice, ramen, burgers, and various other foods, with rich flavors and affordable prices, making lunch easy to handle with kids at the ski resort 😋.
☃️ Family Experience: This is a ski resort frequently visited by local Japanese families. It is less crowded Monday to Friday, providing a better skiing experience, while weekends are busier, so it is recommended to visit with kids during off-peak times. The snow quality is excellent—soft and fine—so even if kids fall, it won’t hurt, making it very safe and perfect for beginners or intermediate skiers. The ski resort and surrounding environment are full of traditional Japanese style, letting kids run and play freely on the snow, enjoying the unique fun of winter skiing.
🏨 Other Ski Resorts: Near Takaragawa Onsen, there are also Minakami Kogen Ski Resort and Minakami Kogen Fujiwara Ski Resort, which can be chosen based on the family’s skiing level and needs.
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