Last updated: March 28, 2024
Mt. Haruna is a dormant volcano in Ikaho, with a large caldera. Lake Haruna is a crater lake that is popular for boating and fishing, and there are some accommodations in the area. Hiking trails and a ropeway take visitors up Mt. Haruna for spectacular views.
Lake Haruna is accessible by train and bus in less than 3 hours from Tokyo, via Takasaki Station. Alternatively, take a bus from Ikaho Onsen in around 25 minutes.
You can board Hokuriku and Joetsu shinkansen services at Tokyo Station.
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Shinkansen trains from Tokyo Station reach Takasaki Station in under 1 hour. The shinkansen to Takasaki Station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass and JR EAST Pass, and others.
Takasaki is a stop on the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen Lines, and the gateway to Gunma: express trains and local trains from Tokyo stop at Takasaki Station. You can transfer to local trains for destinations across Gunma.
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From Takasaki Station, take a Gunma Bus Takasaki-Haruna Lake Line service to Lake Haruna. The journey takes around 80 minutes. You can pay the fare in cash or with a transportation IC card as you exit the bus.
Lake Haruna is the final stop on the bus route. It takes about 2 minutes to walk to the lakeside with shops, cafes, and boat rentals. Transfer to another bus to Mt. Haruna Ropeway (Ropeway-mae bus stop) which takes about 2 minutes.
From Ikaho Onsen, take a Ikaho-Harunako Line (Gunma Bus) bus to Lake Haruna from Ikaho Bus Terminal. The bus also stops at Ishidangaiguchi Bus Stop, and takes about 25 minutes to reach the Lake Haruna boat and cafe area, with a stop along the way at Mt. Haruna Ropeway (Ropeway-mae bus stop). You can pay the fare in cash or with a transportation IC card.
Actual design may differ from the image shown.
Lake Haruna is the final stop on the bus route. It takes about 2 minutes to walk to the lakeside with shops, cafes, and boat rentals. The bus stops at Mt. Haruna Ropeway (Ropeway-mae bus stop) on the way to the lake.
You can use the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, JR East Pass, and other JR passes for trains on this route. However, bus fares must be paid separately. There are many passes and travel combinations to discover, so use the links below to find your ideal travel plan.
- JR East Pass
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass
- Japan Rail Pass
- JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Save time and purchase train tickets and passes, and reserve seats online, before you travel.
There is a wide range of accommodation options in Ikaho, including charming traditional inns in Ikaho Onsen.
