[Gunma/Onsen] Kusatsu Onsen sightseeing model course! Royal road, hot spring indulgence, night spot

[Departing from Tokyo Station] 2 days at famous hot spring Kusatsu Onsen “Joy no Yado Takamatsu”

Click here to make a reservation!

1. Popular hot spring area “Kusatsu Onsen”

Kusatsu Onsen is located in Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, deep in the mountains near the prefectural border with Nagano Prefecture. There is no shortage of tourists throughout the year, and from summer to autumn it is crowded with people seeking a escape from the heat and changing colors, and from winter to spring it is crowded with people enjoying hot springs and winter sports. The hot springs are one of the most abundant in Japan, with more than 32,300 liters flowing every minute, and you can enjoy the hot spring water to your heart's content. It has a long history, and is said to have originated in the Nara period and the mythological period.

There are three ways to get there: train, bus, and car. If you are taking a train, take the conventional line to Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station, or take the Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station and transfer to a bus. If you are coming from the Tokyo metropolitan area, take the general road from Kanetsu Expressway, Shibukawa-Ikaho IC or Joshinetsu Expressway, Usui Karuizawa IC, and if you are coming from the Kansai area, head for Kusatsu from Chuo Expressway, Sutama IC or Joshinetsu Expressway, Ueda-Sugadaira IC.

2. Sightseeing spots in Kusatsu Onsen

There are many tourist spots in Kusatsu Onsen, but we will introduce some of the most representative spots.

2-1 Yubatake

Located in the center of Kusatsu Onsen, Yubatake is the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen and its largest hot spring source. The temperature of the hot spring water at Yubatake, which boasts a gushing rate of 4,000 liters per minute, is often close to 50 degrees Celsius, so it needs to be cooled down, so it is cooled down through seven hot water gutters. The spring quality is also good, with a highly acidic pH value of 2.1, and is also characterized by its high bactericidal effect.

The area around the Yubatake is a sidewalk paved with tiles, stone fences, benches, and a footbath called ``Yukemuri-tei'', making it a relaxing place with a hot spring atmosphere. The unique gourd-shaped design was created by Taro Okamoto, who loved hot springs and skiing. The names of famous people who visited Kusatsu are engraved on the stone fence surrounding the Yubatake. It's fun to find out what kind of people came.

2-2 Yumomi (hot water)

Just to the west of the Yubatake is Netsunoyu, which is known for its hot water massage. You can watch a Yumomi show where a large Yumomi board moves rhythmically in time with the Kusatsu Bushi song that begins with the song ``Hadokkoisho''. There is also a hot water massage experience led by Yumomi Girls, as well as an impressive hot water massage show that is unique to men.

【basic information】

Name: Netsunoyu

Contact 0279-88-3613 (Kusatsu Tourism Association)

WEB Netsu no Yu official website

2-3 Nishinogawara Street/Nishinokawara Open-air Bath

Nishi-no-Kawara Street is the street that connects Yubatake, the central town, to Kusatsu's largest open-air bath, Nishi-no-Kawara Open-air Bath. The narrow alleys that give you the feel of a hot spring are lined with restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and more, so you can enjoy shopping while strolling. In addition to the standard hot spring manju, other popular items include Matagi-yaki, a skewered pork or chicken marinated in homemade sauce, and hamburger steak. Gunma Prefecture has branded beef, pork, and chicken meat, so you can expect a lot of deliciousness.

2-4 Yukemuri-tei

Yukemuri-tei is a pavilion located in a corner of Yubatake. Anyone can use it freely. The hot spring water is fed by the hot spring water source, so you can touch the hot springs with your hands or dip your feet in them. Just putting your hands and feet in it for a few minutes will make it feel warm. It's perfect not only for going to and from hot springs, but also for a short stop on your way back from skiing or snowboarding.

【basic information】

Name Yukemuri-tei (Opening hours: 24 hours/Free)

2-5 Shirahata no Yu

Kusatsu Onsen has many public baths. Among them, the most popular is Shirahata no Yu. It is located next to Netsunoyu, next to Yubatake. There are no lockers with keys, so please be careful with your valuables. The public bathing area is open to tourists, but the hot springs are used by locals, so please be respectful when bathing.

【basic information】

Name: Shirahata no Yu (Business hours: 5:00-23:00/Free) *Cannot be used during cleaning

For inquiries about lost items: 0279-88-7182 (Kusatsu Town Onsen Division) or 0279-88-2100 (Kusatsu Town Police Box)

2-6 Kusatsu Kataoka Tsurutaro Museum

The Kusatsu Kataoka Tsurutaro Art Museum, located just off Nishi-no-Kawahara Street, has over 100 works by him, including ink paintings and ceramics, on display. The museum has a collection of 300 works, and the exhibits are changed four times a year, so visitors will never get bored. There is also a cafe attached, so why not spend a relaxing time admiring the works?

【basic information】

Name Kusatsu Kataoka Tsurutaro Museum of Art

Address 479 Kusatsu, Kusatsu-cho, Azuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture

Contact 0279-88-1011

WEB Tsurutaro Kataoka official website

2-7 Dr. Beltz Monument

Dr. Belz was a German doctor who taught at the University of Tokyo, and is the person who made Kusatsu Onsen known to the world. During the Meiji period, he frequently visited hot springs, analyzed the quality of the springs, and introduced them as some of the best in the world. In recognition of his achievements, a monument was erected along with a bust of Dr. Skriva, and it watches over the hot spring town from Nishi-no-Kawara Park.

3. [By purpose] 5 model sightseeing courses in Kusatsu Onsen

There are many ways to enjoy Kusatsu Onsen. The basic course is 1 night and 2 days, but if you want to add other elements, we recommend 2 nights and 3 days or more. Find your favorite model course.

3-1 Royal course

If you are visiting Kusatsu Onsen for the first time, we recommend the classic course. Visit standard tourist spots.

・Yubatake, Yumomi (Nezunoyu), West Riverside open-air bath, Otaki no Yu

Yubatake and Yumomi (Netsu-no-Yu) are must-sees. Once you've had your fill of these two, let's walk down Nishi-no-Kawara-dori and enjoy some shopping. Please enjoy the sense of openness at the Nishi-no-Kawara open-air bath. Otaki no Yu is known as a beauty hot spring in Kusatsu. After renovation in 2011, a private bath and a women's bath were added.

3-2 Hot spring samadhi course

For those who want to fully enjoy Kusatsu's hot springs, we recommend the hot spring soak course. In addition to the classic course, please enjoy this one as well.

・Yukemuri-tei, Goza-no-yu, Shirahata-no-yu, Chiyo-no-yu, Jizo-no-yu

Don't just enjoy looking at the Yubatake fields, you can also stop by Yukemuri-tei. Goza-no-yu is a day trip bathing facility. This is a reproduction of the houses known as winter residences, which the people of Kusatsu lived in during the Edo to Meiji periods to protect themselves from the extreme cold. You can also rent yukata for going out, which is sure to liven up your hot spring mood. Please visit the public baths such as Shirahata-no-Yu, Chiyo-no-Yu, and Jizo-no-Yu and enjoy the hot springs to your heart's content.

3-3 Night spot enjoyment course

With the night spot enjoyment course, you can fully enjoy the charm of the hot spring town at night.

・Yubatake Lighting, Nishinokawara Street, Kusatsu Rakugo

Illuminated by light that changes in seven colors, the Yubatake takes on a completely different look than it does during the day. Combined with the rising steam, it creates a fantastic atmosphere. The lighting design was by Kaoru Mende, who also worked on JR Tokyo Station. Let's head out from Yubatake to West Kawara Street and Yutaki Street at night. You can have fun at bars and karaoke. If you want to enjoy a slightly different atmosphere, why not try having fun with hot spring rakugo at Netsunoyu?

3-4 Art museum course

Kusatsu has the aspect of being a hot spring town loved by cultural figures. If you want to experience nature and history along with hot water, we recommend the art museum course.

・Kusatsu Visitor Center, Dr. Belz Monument, Kusatsu Kataoka Tsurutaro Museum, Kusatsu Glass Collection

At the Kusatsu Visitor Center in Nishinokawara Park, you can learn about the relationship between the volcanoes and hot springs that surround Kusatsu, as well as the distribution of flora and fauna. The Dr. Beltz Monument is also in the park. On the east side of the park is the Kusatsu Kataoka Tsurutaro Museum, which we introduced earlier, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the hot spring town. At Kusatsu Glass Brewery, you can also try your hand at making glass. Enjoy a moment of being captivated by the lustrous glass.

3-5 Featured Ura-Kusatsu Course

The Ura-Kusatsu course has become a hot topic in recent years. If you want to go to a tourist spot in Kusatsu that is only known to those in the know, we recommend this place.

・Urakusatsu (Jizo district), Mangado

The Jizo area, located just past the observation deck from Yubatake, is a new tourist spot commonly known as Ura-Kusatsu. You can see a panoramic view of Yubatake from the observation deck. There is also a rare ``face bath'' where you can bathe in steam on your face. In 2021, Mangado will open with a collection of approximately 10,000 volumes, allowing you to enjoy the works of manga artists connected to Kusatsu and Gunma.

4. Refresh your body and mind at Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan's three major hot springs!

Kusatsu Onsen is a hot spring area with many popular tourist spots. We have introduced some model courses, but there are so many places you want to go that you may be wondering what kind of plan to make. In such cases, we recommend using a tour that includes transportation so you can prepare efficiently.

[Departing from Tokyo Station] 2 days at famous hot spring Kusatsu Onsen “Joy no Yado Takamatsu”

Click here to make a reservation!