This quiet hot spring town is set in a beautiful forested landscape and along with the towns of Kusatsu, Ikaho and Minakami, makes up the four famous onsen towns of Gunma Prefecture. Some claim that Shima Onsen is also the oldest hot spring town in Japan with its abundant natural water said to treat many ailments.

Nestled in a beautiful valley, visitors can enjoy a tranquil getaway in this quaint, traditional town. Over forty hot spring sources feed the baths of the towns many ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses, large hotels, public baths and mineral springs dotted throughout the town. Particularly beautiful in autumn, Shima Onsen is spread along the Shima River Valley, it’s a pleasant town to explore on-foot before retiring to your guesthouse for dinner and evening hot spring.

Information regarding accommodation in and around Shima can be found through our ‘Shima Onsen Area’ hotel page.