渋川市は、日本そして群馬県のほぼ中央部、雄大な関東平野の始まる位置にあたり、古くから交通の要衝として栄え、豊富な水資源を生かした工業、山地の開拓による農業や、首都圏の奥座敷となる観光・温泉などを主産業としてきました。
　市の南側は県都前橋市に隣接し、東京都心まで１２０ｋｍ《高速道路(関越自動車道渋川伊香保IC)利用で約２時間、JR上越線及び新幹線利用で約１時間１０分》の距離にあります。
　主な交通網としては、JR上越線・JR吾妻線の２路線が通り、それぞれ４駅があります。また道路は、南北に関越自動車道と国道１７号、東西に国道３５３号が通り、関越自動車道には渋川伊香保ICと赤城ICがあります。
　地形は、赤城山・榛名山・子持山・小野子山に囲まれ、利根川と吾妻川の流れによって形成された谷地とともに、標高差が概ね１，４００ｍ以上となる起伏に富んだ地形を有し、地区の大半が自然的土地利用で占められています。

Shibukawa city is located in the center of Gunma Prefecture. Marking the beginning of the magnificent Kanto plain, it is known as an outdoor paradise to the greater metropolitan area and has a long history as a transportation hub, the abundant water resources which are used for industrial development, the mountainous land which is used for farming, and the plentiful hot springs which make it a popular tourist attraction.
The southern portion of Shibukawa is adjacent to the prefectural capital, Maebashi. Shibukawa is located about 120 km away from Tokyo (two hours by car on the Kan-etsu express highway and about one hour and ten minutes by train on the Joetsu line and Shinkansen (bullet train)). There are two main train lines, the Joetsu Line and the Agatsuma Line, that run through the city. There are four stations respectively that are within Shibukawa city on these lines. The major roadways are the Kan-etsu Expressway (Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange, Akagi Interchange), National Route 17, and National Route 353.
The city is surrounded by four major mountain ranges (Akagi, Haruna, Komochi and Onoko) and its valleys have been carved by the flow of the Tone and Agatsuma Rivers. Shibukawa is full of peaks and valleys whose altitudes differ no less than 1,400 meters. The city’s land is rich in natural resources.

◆温泉エリア　Spa Area

　伊香保温泉のメインストリートは、約４３０年の歴史を誇る石段街。３６５段の石段が続き、両側の店をのぞきながら、そぞろ歩きが楽しめます。石段には与謝野晶子の『伊香保の街』の歌が刻まれ、途中にはお湯の流れを観察できる小間口観覧所が４ヶ所あります。
　石段街を上ったところには伊香保神社があり、町を一望できます。さらに５００ｍほど上ると、毎分約４，０００リットルの湧出量を誇り、「子宝の湯」として知られる「黄金の湯」源泉湧出口と、露天風呂があります。
　このエリアには、徳冨蘆花記念文学館、竹久夢二記念館、伊香保御関所跡、旧ハワイ国公使別邸、さらには日帰り浴場「石段の湯」など見どころがいろいろ。不如帰駅からロープウェイに乗れば、上州の山々の素晴らしいパノラマが楽しめます。

The Ikaho Hot Springs area is characterized by the unique "Stone Steps", which runs through the city and are comprised of a total of 365 steps. Numerous gift shops and spa resorts can be enjoyed while ascending or descending the stone steps. The famous poet Akiko Yosano's poem, "The Streets of Ikaho", is engraved into the face of the steps. There are four sets of windows throughout the town which enable you to watch the hot springs water flow.
At the top of the steps you can find Ikaho Shrine. Traveling 500 meters beyond the shrine, you will approach the source of "Kogane-no-Yu" hot spring, which is also known as "Kodakara-no-Yu", where 4,000 liters of thermal water flows into a public open air bath each minute. At the base of the steps, there is an old barrier which was once a traveler's resting spot. In addition, the summer residence of the Minister of the former Kingdom of Hawai'i can also be seen nearby. One can also find the museum of the novelist Roka Tokutomi, Yumeji Takehisa and other Japanese artists in this area. For those who wish to take a day trip, there is a public bath, "Ishidan-no-Yu", making this area ideal for touring. From Hototogisu Station at the top of the town, one can ride to ropeway to the top of the mountain for a breathtaking panoramic view of the region.

◆水沢　エリア　Mizusawa Area

　水澤寺を中心とするエリアで、伊香保温泉街から車で１０分ほどの距離にあります。水澤寺は「水澤観世音」の名で親しまれ、約１，３００年の歴史がある古刹。門前には名物・水沢うどんの店が１０数軒並んでいて、それぞれ伝統の味を競っています。

Mizusawa Temple is located about 10 minutes by car from Ikaho Hot Springs. The temple boats a 1300 year history and is well-known for its "Mizusawa Kannon" (Goddess of Mercy). The temple is always crowded with those on religious pilgrimages.
Near Mizusawa Temple, over 10 restaurants serve the popular "Mizusawa Udon" noodle. Mizusawa Udon noodles are celebrated as one of Japan's top three udon noodles and is a must eat for visitors for the area. The shops compete with each other in presenting their traditional dishes, taking pride in their unique recipes.

◆アルテナード　Artenade

　シャンソン・ライブ、パリのカフェ、フランス直輸入グッズやモネの庭園など楽しさいっぱい。館長は日本シャンソン界の第一人者、芦野宏氏

The museum has a café and a garden inspired by the impressionist Monet and offers live chanson shows (on weekends and holidays). The director of the museum is Japan's leading chanson singer.

　触れる彫刻作品がいつも展示され、美術を身近に感じられる街中のオアシス。桑原巨守の彫刻作品を中心とした常時展示のほか、企画展示も随時開催。

Visitors are always allowed to touch the exhibited sculptures. The centrally located museum is an "oasis in the urban city". Many dynamic sculptures by Hiromori Kuwahara are on permanent display. The project exhibition is also open all the time.

　標高４６０ｍの山と緑に囲まれた眺望抜群の遊園地。高さ５０ｍの大観覧車からは上越の山並みや関東平野が一望できます。

Located on a green hill at an altitude of 460 meters, Shibukawa Skyland Park offers a lovely view from the 50-meter-high Ferris wheel. You can see the beautiful Kanto plain and Gunma's various mountain ranges from there.

　アール・ヌーヴォーの巨匠、ガレ・ドームのガラス工芸品やグリューベールの大型ステンド、ルイ・マジョレルの家具・書斎を展示しています。

The exhibits include samples of Art Nouveau glass work of the Dome Brothers, a large-scale stand of Gruber, and the furniture and study room of Louis Majorelle.

　動物とのふれあいやアウトドアスポーツが楽しめます。日本一のスケールを誇るシープドッグショウや牛の乳搾り教室を毎日実施。

In this extensive space, you can enjoy various outdoor sports, milking cows, sheepdog races, and various other animal interactions.

　東京品川にある原美術館の別館で、国内外の現代アートを展示。磯崎新設計によるモダンな建物も見どころ。

An annex of the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Shinagawa, Tokyo, this museum exhibits various works of Japanese modern art. The museum building is highly valued as one of the best large wooden buildings in the world.

　愛した伊香保の地で終焉を迎えた蘆花の生涯が展示室で見られます。温泉で体を癒し、文学館で心を癒してください。

You can see the life of Roka Tokutomi in this exhibition room, who lived his life out in his beloved town of Ikaho. Take a dip in a hot spring and heal your mind in this literary pavilion.

◆日帰り温泉施設　Hot spring facilities for day trips

◆佐久発電所の桜　Cherry blossoms at Saku power plant site

　真壁調整池から佐久発電所まで続く導水管周辺に約１００本の桜がみごとに咲き誇り、シーズンには近郷からの花見客でにぎわいます。
見ごろ・・・４月上～中旬

In spring, around 100 cherry trees are in full bloom from the Makabe adjustment pond next to the Saku power plant. During this season, a great number of people gather from the neighboring districts for picnics in this area.
(Best time to view: Early – Mid April)

◆白井宿の八重桜　Double cherry blossoms of Shiroijuku

　中央を白井堰が流れ、８つの井戸など宿場町の面影を残す街並み。シーズンには１００本の八重桜が咲き誇り、武者行列や句会など、さまざまなイベントが催されます。
見ごろ・・・４月中～下旬

Shoriseki is an irrigation channel which flows through eight ancient wells. Walking down the street, one can imagine what life was like in ancient times.
People parade through the streets dressed in ancient attire. In spring, around 100 cherry trees are in full bloom.
(Best time to view: Mid-Late April)

◆長峰自然公園のツツジ　Azalea in Nagamine Park

　伊香保温泉～榛名湖間約５haに１２，０００株のツツジが群生し、シーズンはあたり一面を真っ赤に染め上げます。
見ごろ・・・５月中～下旬

The area between Ikaho Hot Springs and Lake Haruna includes 5 hectares (approx. 12 acres) of Azaleas. When in full bloom, it appears as though an artist has painted large red brush strokes on the ground.
(Best time to view: Mid-Late May)

◆いちご狩り　Strawberry Picking

　１月上旬～６月上旬にかけて、赤城地区・子持地区でいちご狩りが楽しめます。また、いちごの直売所もあり、特製いちごシャーベットも販売されています。

In the Akagi and Komochi area, from early January to early June, strawberry patches are open for public picking. For a small fee, you can pick strawberries. There are also small shops that sell strawberries and delicious strawberry sherbet.

◆ブルーベリー狩り　Blueberry Picking

　６月上旬から８月中旬にかけて、赤城地区・子持地区でブルーベリー狩りが楽しめます。美しい小さな紫色の果実は、その場で生で食べても、持ち帰ってジャムにしても美味しく食べられます。

The season for blueberry picking comes to the Akagi and Komochi areas in early June and visitors can enjoy blueberry picking through the summer until early August. You can eat your blueberries on the spot or take them home to make blueberry jam. The beautiful, small violet fruits will surely satisfy your taste buds.

◆石段ひなまつり　Doll festival at stone steps

　伊香保温泉のシンボル石段街に設置された特設のひな段に、美しいひな衣装を身につけ、ほんのり薄化粧をした可愛い子ども雛たちが登場します。早春の伊香保温泉で、心温まる華やかなひと時をお楽しみください。
とき・・・３月３日に近い土・日曜日

Lovely children dressed like Hina (Girls' Day) dolls light up the stage. The stairs of the stone steps, that is the symbol of Ikaho Hot Springs, are used as the doll festival stage. It's sure to be an unforgettable moment for you.
(Annually on the Saturday and Sunday closest to March 3rd.)

◆渋川へそ祭り　Shibukawa Heso Festival (Bellybutton festival)

　渋川市が日本列島及び群馬県のほぼ中央にあることから、「日本のまんなかへそのまち」を全国にPRするお祭りです。踊るたびに、お腹に書いた絵が伸びたり縮んだりするユニークな祭りです。
とき・・・７月第４金曜・土曜日

As the center, or "belly button", of Japan, Shibukawa holds this unique festival annually. People parade with faces painted on their stomachs and whenever they dance, their stomachs expand and shrink to show the faces in laughter.
(Annually on the forth Friday and Saturday of July)

◆たちばな古里まつり　Thachibana Furusato Festival

　愛宕山ふるさと公園で開催される夏祭り。
古代行列や真壁調整池での湖上大花火大会が開催されます。水面に映える花火の美しさは格別です。
とき・・・８月上旬の日曜日

This summer festival is held in Atagoyama Park. People parade dressed in ancient attire and watch large fireworks displays near Lake Makabe. The reflection of the fireworks on the surface of the water is spectacular at night.
(Annually on Sunday in early August)

◆渋川山車まつり　 Shibukawa Dashi Festival (float festival)

　渋川山車まつりは、江戸時代末期に八坂神社、惣鎮守八幡宮の例祭に諸町が練り物を出したことから始まりました。現在では、山車の造りと飾りの見事さで北関東一を誇っています。町ごとに趣向を凝らした山車が勢ぞろいし、町中を練り歩くさまは勇壮にして壮観。その威勢のよさから、別名「あばれ山車」の異名をとっています。
とき・・・隔年８月中旬

Dashi Festival is where elaborately designed floats from different districts of the city parade through the streets of Shibukawa. This festival started in the 19th century. The workmanship of the floats and their splendid ornaments are the best of the northern Kanto Region and they are called "wild floats".
(Mid-August, every other year)

◆伊香保ハワイアンフェスティバル　 Ikaho Hawaiian Festival

　日本で唯一、ハワイが独立国の頃の史跡「旧ハワイ王国公使別邸」が残り、今もハワイとの交流を深める祭典です。本場ハワイの優勝チームによる「メリーモナークショー」をはじめ、ハワイの伝統舞踊フラやハワイアンミュージックでお楽しみください。
とき・・・８月上旬

Since Ikaho is home to the historic site of the Minister of the former Kingdom of Hawaii's summer home and has a sister city relationship with Hilo, Hawai'i, a special Hawaiian festival is held every year. The festival deepens cultural exchanges between Japanese and Hawaiians. You can enjoy traditional Hawaiian Hula and music performances by one of the winning teams from the Merrie Monarch Hula Competition in Hawaii.
(Annually in the beginning of August)

◆そばの花・りんご狩り　 Buckwheat Flowers and Apple Picking

　渋川市では秋から冬に掛けて、味覚の季節を迎えます。秋の行幸田そば畑では、可憐な白いそばの花が辺り一面に広がり、雄大な景色をつくります。
　渋川地区・子持地区・赤城地区の観光りんご園では、豊かな自然の中で育まれた甘くて芳醇なりんごが皆様をお待ちしております。

Autumn and winter are "the seasons of taste" in Shibukawa city. In autumn, the Miyukida area is the host to the beautiful white buckwheat flower. In full bloom, the flowers make for some magnificent scenery.
The Shibukawa, Komochi and Akagi apple orchards are open for public picking for a small fee.

◆伊香保まつり　 Ikaho Festival

　伊香保温泉伝統の「樽みこし」や「本みこし」が勇壮に石段街を練り歩きます。数々の催し物でお楽しみください。また、９月１８日は、小説「不如帰」で知られる、明治の文豪徳冨蘆花の命日に因んだ蘆花祭・蘆花追悼茶会・湯くみ式などを開催します。
とき・・・９月１８・１９・２０日

At the traditional Ikaho Hot Spring Festival, many elaborately decorated portable shrines parade bravely up the stone stepped street. At the anniversary of the great Roka Tokutomi's death, September 18th, there were a lot of events such as a tea ceremony and demonstration of the traditional methods of getting water from a hot spring. Roka Tokutomi is known for his famous novel, "Hototogisu", which brought attention to the area.
(Annually on September 18th, 19th and 20th.)

●ＪＲでお越しの場合
東京駅―（上越新幹線/約５５分）－高崎駅(乗り換え)
新潟駅―（上越新幹線/約８０分）－高崎駅(乗り換え)
高崎駅―（上越線・吾妻線/約２５分）－渋川駅(下車)
渋川駅―伊香保温泉　バスで２５分

By Train
From Tokyo
It takes approximately 55 minutes from Tokyo Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen. Get off at Takasaki Station and transfer to either the Joetsu or Agatsuma Line trains bound for Shibukawa Station which takes about 25 minutes.
From Niigata
It takes approximately 80 minutes from Niigata Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen to get to Takasaki Station. Change to the Joetsu or Agatsuma Line train bound for Shibukawa Station which takes about 25 minutes.

●車でお越しの場合
練馬ＩＣ―（関越自動車道/約８０分）－渋川・伊香保ＩＣ（下車）
新潟西ＩＣ―（関越自動車道/約１４０分）－渋川・伊香保ＩＣ(下車)
長野ＩＣ－（上信越自動車道/約１２０分）－渋川・伊香保ＩＣ（下車）
渋川・伊香保IC―伊香保温泉　２５分

By Car
From Tokyo
It takes approximately 80 minutes by car on the Kan-etsu Expressway from the Nerima Ramp to the Shibukawa-Ikaho Ramp.
From Niigata
It takes approximately 140 minutes by car on the Kanetsu Expressway from the Niigata Nishi Ramp Exit to the Shibukawa-Ikaho Ramp.
From Nagano
It takes approximately 120 minutes by car on the Jo-shinetsu Expressway from the Nagano Ramp to the Shibukawa-Ikaho Ramp.