Getting there
From Tokyo to Manza Onsen
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By train and bus
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From Tokyo to Manza Onsen, the fastest way is by taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa (about 70 minutes), then a Seibu Kanko Bus to the onsen (about 1 hour 40 minutes). Some hotels like Manza Prince offer free shuttle buses from Karuizawa with reservation. Another option is a direct bus from Shinjuku, which takes around 5 hours and runs mostly on weekends and holidays. You can also travel by train via Takasaki to JR Manza-Kazawaguchi Station, then take a 45-minute bus to the onsen. JR train passes are valid on trains but not on buses.
From Karuizawa to Manza Onsen
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By train and bus
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From Karuizawa, the closest station to Manza Onsen is JR Manza-Kazawaguchi. Buses from the station to the onsen are very limited—usually just one convenient option per day. The bus takes about 45 minutes and costs 1,370 yen one way.
To reach Manza-Kazawaguchi from Tokyo, the fastest route is by shinkansen and local train via Takasaki, taking around 2.5 hours and costing 6,000 yen. A slower but cheaper option is by local trains only, which takes about 4 hours with one transfer at Takasaki and costs 3,410 yen. Train passes like the Japan Rail Pass and JR East passes are valid on the trains but not on the bus.
From Kusatsu to Manza Onsen
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By bus
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From Kusatsu, there’s no simple way to reach Manza Onsen. Most buses have stopped due to the closure of Mount Shirane. Only one bus runs per day on weekends and holidays. One-way fare is 870 yen.