Kusatsu Onsen, located in Kusatsu Town, Gunma Prefecture, is a famous hot spring that boasts the highest amount of natural hot spring water in Japan.
Due to the high temperature of the water, a traditional hot spring treatment called yumomi is performed, and you can also enjoy the Yubatake and surrounding sightseeing spots.
Kusatsu Onsen is a special place that combines history and natural beauty, making it a hot spring resort worth visiting.
Overview and characteristics of Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen is located in Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, and is said to have the highest amount of natural hot spring water in Japan.
In history from ancient times to the Edo period, it was one of the famous hot springs known as ”the Three Famous Hot Springs”,’and is also known for being described by Hayashi Razan as theTenka’s Three Famous Hot Springs.
There are multiple theories about the origin of its name, and it is said that it may have been called smelling water orsmelling place” because of the smell of hydrogen sulfide.
Kusatsu Onsen is also said to be effective against all illnesses except love, and has been popular as a medicinal hot spring since ancient times.
Kusatsu Onsen hot springs and hot spring fields
The source of Kusatsu Onsen is a publicly managed large source and a small source owned by many hotels.
The amount of hot water is extremely abundant, and the temperature of the hot water can reach anywhere from 50℃ to around 95℃.
Particularly distinctive is the traditional method of adjusting the hot spring water temperature called “yumomi”, which lowers the temperature by stirring the hot spring water with a wooden board.
Yubatake is the center of the hot spring town, and is also known as a place to collect hot water flowers from the hot water gutter.
Free public bath
Kusatsu Onsen has 19 public baths. It is open to the public for free and can be used by both residents and tourists, but since the spread of the coronavirus, only a portion of it is open to tourists.
This may change in the future, so we recommend checking it in advance.
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