Kusatsu Onsen Hot Springs, Gunma

Kusatsu Onsen, located in the northwestern part of Gunma Prefecture, is one of Japan’s three well-known springs, boasting hot spring volume and quality. Kusatsu Onsen is one of the “three famous Japanese springs” along with Arima Onsen in Hyogo and Gero Onsen in Gifu. Along with Ikaho Onsen, it is also counted as one of the two hot springs in Gunma Prefecture.
It is the hot spring heaven that boasts the highest amount of natural hot springs in Japan and is recognized by hot spring lovers nationwide. In the hot spring town with a scent of sulfur, you can enjoy a hot spring bath and free footbaths, attracting many tourists. It is also famous as a leisure spot because it is located at the foot of Mt. Shirane, at an altitude of 1200m.
Kusatsu Onsen is easily accessible from Tokyo and can be visited on a day trip. However, it is recommended that you stay overnight if you visit. Enjoy local cuisine, relax in the hot springs, and stroll around the hot springs while wearing yukata. The hot spring town illuminated at night is also very romantic.
Kusatsu has flourished as a hot spring for a long time. Kusatsu Onsen boasts the largest amount of natural springs in Japan, and 230,000 drums of hot springs blow out each day. You can enjoy plenty of Kusatsu hot springs at Machiyu and Onsen Ryokan. In the “National Hot Spring Ranking” held by many media every year, it ranks high every year.
Boasting high quality hot water, Kusatsu has six main sources. Yubatake, the symbol of the hot spring town, Manyo boasts the highest amount of water in Kusatsu, Nikawa, known as a beauty hot spring, Shirahata, a historical source, and a small source, Jizo. The main hot spring quality of a typical Yubatake source is acidic and generally has a bactericidal effect, and is said to have an effect on cuts, burns, neuralgia, muscle pain, coldness, and recovery from fatigue.
If you are sightseeing around Kusatsu Onsen Hot Spring Town, walking alone is enough. If you want to go around the sights of Kusatsu Town efficiently, or if you are not confident about your legs, please use the “Kusatsu Tour Bus”. In addition, if you want to get a bit more sightseeing, such as Mt. Shirane and Karuizawa around Kusatsu, you can move by car.
Kusatsu Onsen has a high altitude, so it is cool throughout the year. In spring and autumn, there are many people who wear a haori in the yukata at the inn and long haori in the long sleeves, but be aware that it may be a little cold at night or in bad weather. It is recommended to have a warm atmosphere so that it does not cool down due to the temperature difference from the hot spring. By the way, there are no dressing rooms for footbaths scattered around the city, so women can use “clothes that can be rolled up” more than stockings and tights.
Yubatake of Kusatsu Onsen is lit up from sunset until 25:00. If you come to Kusatsu, don’t miss Yubatake at night.
Kusatsu Onsen at night is as lively as it is in the daytime, and you can enjoy an extraordinary feeling just by staying there. By the way, many souvenir shops around Yubatake will close gradually from around 18:00, so if you plan to buy souvenirs, it seems better to do so soon.

4000 liters of hot water gushes out every minute

The symbol “Yubatake” (hot water field) of “Kusatsu Onsen Hot Springs” in Gunma Prefecture, famous for rich and good quality hot springs.
“Yubatake” is a facility that collects hot spring constituents Yunohana (hot-spring incrustations) and adjusts the temperature of hot water. The scene which pours hot water with wooden gutterings is picturesque.
The Kusatsu hot spring, which 4000 liters of hot water gushes out every minute, is proud of the best natural discharge in Japan. So, the “Yubatake” is also huge and spectacular.

You can see it slowly after the party or after enjoying the hot spring

The illumination is lit from the time the sun sets, the neighborhood becomes a fantastic atmosphere. The hot spring resort and the appearance of the tourist who wears a yukata is wrapped in clouds of steam. Why don’t you become a piece of emotional landscape? It is lit up until about 23 o’clock, so not only walking after dinner, you can see it slowly after the party or after enjoying the hot spring.

Beautiful color of emerald green

Many tasteful buildings which stand in a row in the Kusatsu Hot Spring town are also lit up beautifully. The rows of houses projected on the water surface are also beautiful. Since there is also an alley illuminated by the light of the lantern, please walk also paying attention to the places other than the “Yubatake”.
In vast “Yubatake”, hot-spring incrustations and the original color of hot water can be seen. Especially the “hot shower-bath” where hot spring runs down has a beautiful color of emerald green.

“Yumomi” for lowering to temperature

“Yumomi Show” will be held at “Netsunoyu Onsen Hot Spring”.
The source of Kusatsu Onsen Hot Springs is hot, most of which is close to 50 degrees Celsius, so you can not take a bath as it is. However, if water is put in in order to lower the temperature, the efficacy of the hot spring will be diminished. So put “Rokushaku Ban” (board of 1.8 meters in hight) in a hot source, stir the hot water, “Yumomi” for lowering to temperature until it can take a bath was invented.

Effective of bathing even by immersing your hands and feet

“Yukemuri-tei” is free Hot-Spring Footbaths next to “Yubatake”. It is Azumaya (a cottage) of all-cypress, and the building has reproduced the public bathhouse “Matsunoyu Hot Spring” that was located in this place in the Edo period. Because Kusatsu hot water is strongly acidic at high temperature, it seems that it is effective of bathing even by immersing your hands and feet for a few minutes. It is available 24 hours.

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