Kusatsu City, Japan: A Detailed Travel Guide

🌟Kusatsu City, Japan: A Detailed Travel Guide🌟 Transportation - From Tokyo: Take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Takasaki Station, then transfer to the JR Agatsuma Line to Kusatsu Onsen Station. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hrs. You can also take a direct bus from Shinjuku Bus Terminal, passing Ikaho Onsen, which takes about 3 hrs. - By car: Drive along the Romantic Road, which connects Nagano, Gunma, and Tochigi prefectures, and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. It takes about 3 hrs from Tokyo. Accommodation - Kindai Pension: About a 10-min walk from the main hot spring area, this pension looks like a European country cottage, covered in snow in winter, creating a romantic atmosphere. The rooms are in classic Japanese tatami style with kotatsu (heated tables), perfect for winter stays. There are five unique hot springs, among which the "Lava Hot Spring" is the most special, an almost entirely black open-air bath where you can see the stars while soaking. - Kusatsu Onsen Takamatsu: Located a 4-min walk from Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, this hotel uses 100% undiluted hot spring water. The large public bath "Megumi" has three baths with different temperatures, and there are also two private garden baths where you can enjoy the scenery while bathing. - Kinmidori: This is a long-established hot spring inn with over 120 years of history, located just a 3-min walk from Yubatake. It offers a variety of room types, from standard Japanese-style rooms to modern rooms with stylish designs. The cuisine here is also famous, using local and carefully selected ingredients from all over Japan. You can enjoy Akagi beef sirloin steak, raw horsemeat, and other local specialties. Food - Onsen Manju: One of Kusatsu Onsen's specialties, these sweet buns are steamed with hot spring water, resulting in a soft, fluffy texture and a sweet but not overpowering taste. - Onsen Tamago: Eggs boiled in hot spring water, with soft egg whites and half-cooked yolks, are a must-try delicacy in Kusatsu Onsen. - Sanyu Apartment: The dinner here is prepared by the owner, who trained at a long-established Western restaurant. The crispy kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) and nutritionally balanced healthy meals are worth trying. Things to Do - Yubatake: The symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, this large hot water system delivers geothermal water directly from the source to the surface, flowing and cooling along wooden chutes. The hot spring water here is high in temperature (approx. 55°C) and acidity, which is particularly good for the skin. - Netsunoyu: Easily accessible on foot from Yubatake, you can watch Yumomi performances here. Hot spring workers cool the spring water by soaking and rotating wooden planks, a unique cooling method you can try. - Sai-no-Kawara Park: Walk along the narrow alley near Netsunoyu to reach this park, where steaming hot spring water gushes naturally from the ground, making it a great place to relax. - Kusatsu-juku Honjin: A nationally designated historical site, this is the largest and only complete Honjin building on the Tokaido Road from the Edo period. It was once a resting place for feudal lords and court nobles. - Tachiki Shrine: Designated as a Japan Heritage site, this shrine's solemn structure, including the surrounding moat, is reminiscent of a castle. The Shoin (study hall), relocated from the nationally designated Important Cultural Properties Amida-do and Nagahara Goten, is open to the public twice a year. Recommended Itinerary - Day 1: Depart from Tokyo and arrive at Kusatsu Onsen by Shinkansen or bus. After checking into the hotel, visit Yubatake to experience the unique charm of Kusatsu Onsen, then stroll around Netsunoyu and try Onsen Manju and Onsen Tamago. - Day 2: Visit Kusatsu-juku Honjin in the morning to learn about the history of the Edo period. In the afternoon, visit Tachiki Shrine to experience traditional Japanese culture. Return to the hotel in the evening to enjoy the hot springs and dinner. - Day 3: After breakfast at the hotel, take a walk in Sai-no-Kawara Park, and then conclude your enjoyable Kusatsu trip.