Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s three famous hot springs, boasting the most abundant natural discharge in the country. Its water is hot (about 55C degrees) and highly acidic, believed to be effective for many diseases, especially good for the skin. The lively area, centered around the iconic “Yubatake” (hot water field), has various types of accommodations and numerous souvenir shops. It takes 2.5 hours by train or 4 hours by express bus from Tokyo.
In this post, we will introduce 6 recommended hotels full of charm at Kusatsu Hot Spring and Onsen. Please stop by when you come to Tokyo.
What you must see in Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s three famous springs with the country’s highest discharge rate. The spring water is generally acidic with a pH of around 2.0; it has a strong sterilizing effect due to its high acidity level. Be cautious when bathing because of its high temperature; acclimate slowly starting with lower body parts after doing “Kaburi-yu” (pouring hot spring water over oneself). Also note that sulfur content may discolor or damage clothing.
- Yubatake: Located at the town center symbolizes Kusatsu Onsen; witnessing about four tons per minute gushing out is spectacular.
- Yumomi: Kusatsu Onsen has a culture of “Yumomi” that has been passed down since the Edo period. “Yumomi” is a technique of stirring the water to lower the temperature. By performing “Yumomi” and making the hot spring components uniform, it softens the touch on the skin, serves as a moderate preparatory exercise before bathing, and enhances the bathing effect. There are places where you can experience Yumomi.
How to Get There
Many tourists visit Kusatsu from Tokyo mainly using the following methods. Although using a combination of train and bus is the cheapest option, it involves multiple transfers and takes time. Buses offer direct access without transfers. Choose according to your budget and preference.
- JR Express + Bus: About 150 minutes from Ueno Station by express train, then about 30 minutes by bus from Nagano Kusatsu Exit.
- Shinkansen + Bus: About 60 minutes from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen, then about 80 minutes by bus from Karuizawa Station.
- Express Bus: About 4 hours directly from Shinjuku Bus Terminal.
6 Best Onsen Hotels in Kusatsu
Various accommodation facilities are available in Kusatsu Onsen ranging from traditional inns to affordable hotels. Listed hotels are divided into three categories: Luxury, Upper Middle, and Economy, so please refer to them according to your budget.
La Vista Kusatsu Hills
Category: Luxury
La Vista Kusatsu Hills is located on a hill in Kusatsu Onsen, and all rooms have an open-air bath with natural hot springs. On the top floor, there is Kusatsu Onsen’s first scenic bath, and you can enjoy Kusatsu’s hot water from three different Onsen sources. It is about 10 minutes by free shuttle bus from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. With advance reservations, there is also a shuttle service from JR Karuizawa Station, which arrives in about 70 minutes. It is a rare Western-style resort hotel in Kusatsu Onsen, and the rooms are prepared in three types incorporating the taste of German “Grimm’s Fairy Tales”. In addition to the large public bath and rooms, you can also enjoy four different private open-air baths. Breakfast is buffet style, and the delicious dishes are highly rated. Please note that only those aged 12 and over can stay. As it is part of the Dormy Inn Group, there is a service of free soy sauce ramen and “Tomato Ramen” at night.
Toki no niwa
Category: Luxury
Kusatsu Onsen Toki no Niwa has an open-air hot spring in all rooms, and you can enjoy the famous hot springs of Kusatsu at 23 different hot spring places. The entire building is covered with tatami mats, allowing you to enjoy the feeling of walking barefoot. It is about 15 minutes by free shuttle bus from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. Meals can be enjoyed with your eyes and tongue at a calm dining place. For dinner, you can enjoy a monthly changing Japanese banquet using plenty of seasonal ingredients suitable for “Toki no Niwa”. Breakfast is a Japanese breakfast using seasonal ingredients. As it is part of the Dormy Inn Group, there is a service of free soy sauce ramen at night.
Osayu Yumomi Show Admission in Gunma
Urakusatsu TOU
Category: Upper Middle
Ura Kusatsu Tou is a modern hot spring inn located in the “Ura Kusatsu” area, which is enjoyable for strolling. It is a 3-minute walk from the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. You can enjoy the rare Jizo source spring in the large public bath and rooms with a semi-open-air bath. The rooms incorporate traditional Japanese architectural styles. The open rooftop bar and glamorous creative cuisine incorporating French techniques are also attractive. You can enjoy an uplifting stay in a sophisticated space.
Osakaya Ryokan
Category: Upper Middle
Osakaya Ryokan is an inn with 31 rooms located about a 1-minute walk from “Yubatake”, the main spot in Kusatsu. The architecture reproduces the traditional architectural style of “Segai-dashi Beam Construction” that has been handed down from the Edo period when it was founded. You can enter a high-quality hot spring drawn from the Yubatake source. You can also use the private outdoor rock bath “Iwato no Yu”. You can enjoy the atmosphere of a cave bath that was actually carved out of the mountainside.
Hotel Sakurai
Category: Upper Middle
Hotel Sakurai, located in Kusatsu Onsen, is a hotel rich in Japanese atmosphere. It is popular for its large public bath and open-air bath that draw from three types of sources, as well as its luxurious buffet of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes and locally sourced banquet meals. It is about a 5-minute walk from the “Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal”, and there is also a free shuttle bus. Shows are held in the hotel, and you can enjoy unique shows such as “Yumomi Show” and “Sakura Taiko Show”. Breakfast is buffet style, and all the many types are rated as delicious.
Kusatsu Hotel 1913
Category: Economy
Kusatsu Hotel 1913 is a three-story wooden inn founded in 1913. In 2020, a new building was completed, equipped with a dining area “Okuniwa” and a new bath “Open-air Futatsu-yu”. It is an 8-minute free shuttle ride from the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. The hot spring has a large public bath and a private bath, as well as rooms with a private hot spring. Meals are prepared one by one, incorporating the traditional taste of Japan using local Gunma prefecture produce and seasonal ingredients from nearby areas. The hot spring is particularly highly rated and is reputed to make you feel comfortable. For foreign tourists, the space that combines the traditional Japanese atmosphere and modern comfort is recommended.
Tips on Dormy Inn hotel ☺ Dormy Inn is a popular business hotel chain in Japan. In this post, "La Vista Kusatsu Hills" and "Toki no Niwa" is from Dormy Inn group. Here's some of the reason why it's popular. ・Almost all of its branches have large public baths, open-air baths, and saunas. You can relax your fatigue after a day. ・Breakfast is luxurious buffet style, and you can enjoy local dishes. ・Night soba (Shoyu Noodle) is provided for FREE to guests basically from 9:30 pm to 11 pm! (10pm to 11pm, for above two hotels) Isn't it wonderful? Outside Kusatsu too, this hotel chain is recommended in Japan.
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