Stop crowding Hokkaido! This onsen town is too magical.

🚄Transportation The 【JR Limited Express Kusatsu-Shima】train goes direct—it couldn't be more convenient. The bus connections are seamless; just follow the crowd after you get off the train. There are buses that only accept cash and buses that only accept IC cards, so don't get in the wrong line! ♨️Things to Do ✔️The onsen town is small; you can walk almost everywhere. ✔️There's also a sightseeing bus, but it doesn't allow luggage! So if you have a lot of stuff, just wait for the hotel shuttle at the JR bus station (almost all hotels have shuttles). ✔️Check the schedule for *yumomi* (hot spring water stirring) performances. If you want to see the monkeys, buy a day pass first, get a numbered ticket, and then go eat or shop. (You can buy tickets for the monkey performance online.) ✔️If you think the outdoor foot baths are too cold, try a foot bath in a cafe. Yubatake Kusaan (an onsen hotel) offers this service at their Ashiyu Cafe. All you need to do is order a drink, and that covers the bathing fee. A little further into the residential area, there's also a place called "Manga-do" where you can read books and do crafts. ✔️Serious onsen fans can try an onsen pilgrimage. Follow the official route: Shiratama no Yu - Goza no Yu - Sai no Kawara Open-Air Bath - Chiyo no Yu - Otaki no Yu - Jizo no Yu. Otaki no Yu, Goza no Yu, and Sai no Kawara Open-Air Bath are the three most popular onsen in Kusatsu. You can buy a "Three Onsen Stamp" for a discounted price (JPY 1,950, children JPY 900). After collecting all the stamps, you can even mail it as a postcard! 🏨Accommodation For couples, we recommend staying near "Yubatake." There are many Japanese-style onsen hotels there, and you can stroll around in your *yukata* (provided in your room). For families with kids who want to play in the snow, we recommend Kusatsu Onsen Village Hotel. Enjoy private snow play areas and unlimited access to entertainment facilities! Although the resort isn't in the onsen town, you can take the hotel shuttle to get there. It runs about every 30 minutes and takes about 10 minutes.