Enjoy a quiet morning of fishing, then taste a local grandma’s homestyle Japanese cooking. For the afternoon, take a leisurely e-bike ride through old forested backstreets, with stops at sacred natural wonders and a tranquil bath house. This itinerary is perfect for a solo traveler or small group who want a slow day experiencing and savoring the nature of a small Japanese village.
9:00 AM | 9:00 AM – Valley stream fishing at Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center |
12:00 PM | Grandma’s cooking at Tanima |
1:00 PM | E-bike ride |
2:00 PM | Hot spring bath and snacks at Shioji no Yu |
4:00 PM | 4:00 PM – End back at Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center |
Valley stream fishing at Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center
![Rambling through a scenic village: Valley stream fishing](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/229c27456e1444f119639ba694d70193-1100x733.jpg)
Fishing season on the Kannagawa River opens in spring. We started our day at a section of this valley stream behind the Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center.
Before casting your line, make sure you buy the required fishing ticket at the visitors center fishery association. Then, head out from the back of the building down to the scenic stretch of river behind it.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Valley stream fishing](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/df6fd64ddcf21b6aed22e096dc8df7f7-1100x619.jpg)
In spring, you can find yamame trout and char in the stream. Note this fishing area is catch and release only, and has some other rules as listed below:
Fishing rules
- The whole area is catch and release only. Please do not kill or take home the fish. (Using bait is prohibited)
- Gang fishing prohibited.
- If a fish has swallowed the hook, cut your line and release the fish as is.
- Triple hooks and droppers prohibited.
- Use barbless hooks.
- Do not lay the fish on the ground when taking pictures (it’s not good for the fish). When touching fish, make it quick, make sure your hands are cool, and do not put hands inside gills.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Valley stream fishing](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0116-3-1100x733.jpg)
Valley stream fishing area @ Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center
Operated by the Uenomura Fishery Association
Address | 316-1 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
TEL | +81 274-59-3155 |
Front desk hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Nov – Feb) Closed on Tuesdays |
Fishing hours | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Mar – Oct) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (November) 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Dec – Feb) Closed on Tuesdays |
Prices | Fishing ticket Men: ¥3,500 Women: ¥3,000 With yearly fishing ticket: ¥2,500 |
Make sure to buy a fishing ticket inside the visitors center (Fureai-kan building) before dropping your line. |
Tanima – a Japanese Grandma’s Country Cooking
![Rambling through a scenic village: Tanima – a Japanese Grandma’s Country Cooking](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0016-1-1100x733.jpg)
When we were ready for lunch we headed over to Tanima, the restaurant across the street from the visitors center. There were only a few tables inside, and the owner/chef led us to a kotatsu table with a heater in it, since it was it bit chilly that day despite the spring sun. The owner, an old woman, was warm and humble. She chatted with us the whole time, apologizing that the food “tastes like grandma’s cooking,” as if this were a bad thing. It turned out, as I suspected, to be a very good thing.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Tanima – a Japanese Grandma’s Country Cooking](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0027_1-1-1100x733.jpg)
We ordered the specialty, suiton, a traditional soup of veggies, egg, and dumplings—not gyoza or Chinese dumplings, but the cross between noodles and boiled biscuits found in chicken and dumplings. In a simple and flavorful soy-sauce broth, the soup was delicious and comforting. It reminded me of eating my own grandmother’s matzo ball soup. The main dish was accompanied by at least 10 different mini salads and side dishes, including cucumber salads, warabi fern, fresh wasabi leaves, and apple salad. She brought us hot coffee at the end of our meal, and the whole thing only cost ¥750. Yum!
![Rambling through a scenic village: Tanima – a Japanese Grandma’s Country Cooking](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0060-1-1100x733.jpg)
Restaurant Tanima
Address | 318 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
Phone | +81 274-59-2828 |
Hours | 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
Note the number of seats in the restaurant have been reduced for social distancing purposes. There may not be enough space for diners without reservations to enter, so it’s best to make a reservation. |
Forest Roads E-bike Ride – Rental Bikes from Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center
Bike Rentals
![Rambling through a scenic village: Forest Roads E-bike Ride](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0333-1-1100x733.jpg)
Electric-assist bicycles are available for rent through the Uenomura Local Industry Information Center located in the Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center plaza. (The sign on the building reads 総合案内所)
Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center
Address | 310-1 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
TEL | +81 274-20-7070 |
Hours | 9:00 AM -5:00 PM (last rental 3:00 PM) Open every day except for new year holiday and occasional irregular closures |
Price (includes tax)
Duration | Price |
4 hours | ¥1,000 |
8 hours | ¥2,000 |
2 days (overnight) | ¥3,000 |
Extra time/late return | ¥500 per hour |
*Helmet and gloves included free
Rental process
- Prior reservation by phone is recommended, but day-of rentals are possible as long as bikes are available.
- Fill in a rental form and pay at the front desk.
- Listen to an explanation of how to use the bikes, then receive your rental bike, helmet, and gloves.
- At the end of your ride, return bikes and accessories to the visitors center information building.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Forest Roads E-bike Ride](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0371-3-1100x733.jpg)
Full and energized after lunch, we headed back to the visitors center to pick up our rental e-bikes. The woman at the Local Industry Information Center desk helped us fill in a short rental form and got our helmets and bikes set up. She explained how to use the electric assist on the bikes and handed us the keys to attached bike locks. Remember to lock up the bikes whenever you’re not using them—Japan is relatively free of theft overall, but it can happen.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Forest Roads E-bike Ride](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0159-3-1100x733.jpg)
The number out of 100 on the display represents how much battery is left, and the number of dots on the lower half shows what power setting the engine is on. One dot means just a little assist, while 3 dots gives you the power you need to pedal up steep hills with relative ease.
Once we had our bikes, we turned right out of the parking lot, past Tanima, and across a red bridge.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Forest Roads E-bike Ride](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0298-1-1100x733.jpg)
We turned left at the end of the bridge onto another bridge that took us down a tiny magical-feeling forest road.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Forest Roads E-bike Ride](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0321_1-1-1100x733.jpg)
After a pleasant stretch through the trees, it was right onto the main road and then right onto another small road.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Forest Roads E-bike Ride](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0200-1-1100x733.jpg)
Great Sawara Cypress of Kangyo Amitabha Hall
The high point—literally—of the ride was set to be an enormous, 600-year-old cypress tree by a hilltop shrine. Forked right at the sign for the tree, which conveniently had English in small print underneath the Japanese: “The Great Sawara Cypress of Kangyo Amitabha Hall”
The road up the hill was steep, winding, and a bit bumpy. Make sure to set your electric assist to full power (3 dots), and your gears down to 1. With the electric assist, it wasn’t nearly as painful of a hill as it would have been on a normal bike, but it was still a bit of a workout.
At the top of the hill there was a tiny parking lot where we forked left onto a slight downhill towards the tree and the shrine.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Great Sawara Cypress of Kangyo Amitabha Hall](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0220-1-734x1100.jpg)
![Rambling through a scenic village: Great Sawara Cypress of Kangyo Amitabha Hall](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0224-1-1100x733.jpg)
Great Sawara Cypress of Kangyo Amitabha Hall
Address | Address: 1910 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
After taking in the peaceful scene, we headed back down the hill and continued in the same direction, back onto the main road. When we got to a fork with a tunnel on the left, we went right, along the river.
Shioji no Yu – Hot Spring Bath and Refreshing Ice Cream
![Rambling through a scenic village: Shioji no Yu](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0098-1-1100x733.jpg)
Strawberry Ice Cream: ¥400
We finally arrived at Shioji no Yu, the farthest point on our out and back route. In addition to the hot springs, this bathhouse has a Japanese style lounge and indoor terrace seating area where you can snack on ice cream as well as full meals. We opted to try the seasonal strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberries grown locally in the village.
![Rambling through a scenic village: Shioji no Yu](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0132-1-1100x733.jpg)
Shioji no Yu Hot Springs
Address | 3487-2 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
TEL | +81 274-59-3955 |
Hours | Wed – Mon: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (last entry 7:30) Tues: Closed *When Tuesday is a public holiday, the facility will be open on that Tuesday and then closed the next day. *Irregular closures during winter. *Hours may have changed due to COVID-19. |
Price | Adults (12 – 69) ¥600 Children (3 – 11) ¥400 Seniors (70+) ¥500 |
Website | https://www.shiojinoyu.com/ |
After relaxing at Shioji for a bit, we got back on the bikes and headed back to the visitors center. Don’t forget to return bike keys, helmet, gloves, and anything else to the front desk.
Kawa No Eki Riverside Visitors Center -Mori no Taiken-kan (activity center)
Address | 310-1 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
TEL | +81 274-20-7070 |
Hours | 9:00 AM -5:00 PM Closed on Tuesdays |
More Spring Itineraries
![](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0197-2-1100x733.jpg)
Spring Blossoms Walking Route in Uenomura
Easy walking route to see the village’s many cherry blossoms, complete with hidden shrines and spots for local cuisine.
![](https://ueno-village.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DSC_0371-1-1100x733.jpg)
Fun for the Whole Family: Exploration Underground and Among the Treetops
This 1-day itinerary features a limestone cave, one of the largest power plants in the world, and zip lining through the treetops.