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About Kusatsu Onsen |
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| About Kusatsu Onsen |
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We love hot springs! Japan has the most hot springs in the world.
 Japan - more than any other country in the world - regards hot springs as a part of its culture. There are about 3,000 hot springs in Japan that have long since been loved and enjoyed by the people of Japan. Visiting hot springs is still a popular activity among all ages. It’s even common to have one or more big public bath facilities in a town with no natural hot springs. Also, many people use bath powder to enjoy hot spring-like water at home. Kusatsu Onsen is prided as one of the best hot springs in Japan. |
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Kusatsu Onsen is a wonderful spa resort known for its high quality and generous amounts of water.
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Setting “Spring Quality First” as its motto, the quality of Kusatsu Onsen’s water has been widely recognized since ancient times. It has been identified as one of Japan’s top three locations for hot spring water. As the therapeutic benefits of Kusatsu’s water are so high, the traditional Kusatsu folk song praises it as able to “cure everything but love sickness”.
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The three characteristics of Kusatsu Onsen
- Best water volume in Japan (natural discharge)
The total volume of more than 100 discharge points reaches over 32,000L/min.
- Over-flowing natural hot spring water is 100% natural spring water:
No heating, diluting or circulation system has been installed and the onsen water is cooled naturally.
- Very strong sterilizing power.
The acidity is so high that a 1 yen coin (made of aluminum) can be dissolved away in just one week. The strong sterilizing power, which destroys germs and bacteria, is the secret of its superior therapeutic benefits.
Water components:
- Acid, sulfur, aluminum, sulfate, chloride
Major therapeutic benefits:
- The onsen water is good for the relief / treatment of neuralgia, muscle pain, articular pain, dermatosis, frozen shoulder, bruises, sprains, chronic gynecological diseases, diabetes, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, convalescence, fatigue and overall health promotion.
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The history of Kusatsu Onsen
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It is said that Kusatsu Onsen’s history began when Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo found it by chance when he was hunting, and proceeded to soak himself in the hot springs.”
(material provided by Tenoji-ya) |
There are several theories about the origin of Kusatsu Onsen. One theory, for instance, was that it was discovered by a legendary hero about 1,800 years ago; another says by high priests in the Nara period. There are also a number of anecdotes related to historical figures from ancient times, the civil war (Sengoku) period, as well as the Edo, Meiji, and Taisho eras. Historical records show that Minamoto no Yoritomo, a Shogun of Kamakura period, came for bathing, and additionally, Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th Shogun of the Edo era had Kusatsu’s water delivered to Edo (now Tokyo). These anecdotal and factual stories point that the superior quality of the spring water has retained its popularity since early in the country’s history. Today, Kusatsu Onsen is still very popular among the people all over Japan.
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Dr. Baelz: the man who introduced Kusatsu Onsen to the world.
Dr. Baelz, a medical doctor from Germany is the first man who introduced Kusatsu to the world. He came to Japan in response to the invitation of the Japanese Government to teach at Tokyo Medical School (now Tokyo University Faculty of Medicine) in the Meiji era. Dr. Baelz studied Kusatsu’s strong acidic spring water as well as the therapeutic bathing method called Jikan-yu from a modern medical standpoint. His studies heralded Kusatsu Onsen as “a world class spa resort district”, with a wonderful location and environment. He presented his studies on the quality and therapeutic benefits of the spring water of Kusatsu to the German Medical Society. To this day, Dr. Baelz is still revered by the townfolk and there is a museum, onsen center and street named after him in honor of his great works. |
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Our goal is to be a friendly spa resort that people from other countries can truly enjoy.
 The town of Kusatsu has provided English lessons for residents and training for volunteer staffs in order to help people from all over the world enjoy not only onsen but also the culture and people of town. All the townspeople look forward to meeting visitors from across the globe in accordance to Kusatsu’s slogan: “Be an oasis for visitors, and let them leave with joy”. |
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A Sister City Relationship
 The town of Kusatsu has established a sister city relationship with six cities both within and outside of Japan to foster friendship and goodwill. One of the four sister cities abroad includes Bietigheim-Bissingen (Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), the birthplace of the late Dr. Baelz, which has maintained a friendship with Kusatsu for over 40 years since the establishment of the sister city relationship in 1962. Other cities include Neustift (Tirol, Austria), Snowy River (New South Wales, Australia) and Karlovy Vary (West Bohemia, the Czech Republic). Kusatsu constantly evaluates itself from various angles through exchanges with cities abroad to learn from them and improve its attractiveness to visitors. |
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The climate of Kusatsu
Monthly average temperature: |
Japan has four distinctive seasons with hot summers and cold winters. Kusatsu is located in a cold region of the country with the average temperature of 7°C. It is popular for a summer resort because the temperature does not exceed 25°C even on the hottest summer days in July and August. There are a lot of seasonal events throughout the year in Kusatsu. |
Spring (March - May)
At a high altitude, Kusatsu at this time still has areas covered with snow. The cold eases towards the end of April, when Tour de Kusatsu is held. And then the town becomes verdurous in May.
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Summer (June - August)
The cool summer attracts many visitors. Various events are held during this time, including the Himuro Festival in June, and the Kusatsu Onsen Appreciation Festival and International Music Festival in August. |
Fall (September - November)
The cold brings colors to the leaves in the mountains. Outdoor activities such as trekking and nature watching are recommended.
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Winter (December - March)
At this time, temperatures in Kusatsu are very cold, and the mountains are covered with snow. Soak yourself in an outdoor onsen while watching the snow fall, or ski at the International Ski Resort at an altitude of 2,100m. Ice-free Yugama: Shirane Crater Lake is a must see. |
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Prices in Kusatsu
Despite the fact that Kusatsu Onsen is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Japan, its prices are quite reasonable in comparison to average prices of other hot springs in Japan. However, the price range of accommodations and restaurants is very wide, depending on what you’re looking for. Choose suitable ones based on your travel style and budget. The following is a breakdown of average prices of some common items.
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Transportation |
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【Meals】
Combo meal: 1,000 yen - 1,500 yen
Noodles (e.g. Udon, Soba, Ramen): 600 yen - 1,000 yen
Yakiniku (BBQ): Approx. 3,000 yen
【Beverages】
Coffee: 350 yen - 500 yen
Canned drink : 120 yen/can
Beer: 500 yen/can
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【Budget hotels】
Sudomari (without meals): 4,000 yen and up/night,
Including two meals: 7,000 yen and up/night
【Ryokans】
Including two meals: 15,000 - 50,000 yen
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【Tokyo - Kusatsu】
Total: approx. 5,300 yen
(via train and bus: one way)
*Only 3,200 yen one way if you take the non-stop express bus to Kusatsu.
【Kusatsu town】
Bus fare: 100 yen
*There are circle bus lines that costs only 100 yen/ride in Kusatsu town.
【Taxi】
Base fare: around 650 yen (Approx. 1.5 km)
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