Kusatsu Onsen Complete Travel Guide
Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan's most famous hot spring towns, built around the steaming Yubatake hot water field in the mountains of Gunma, with some of the highest natural spring output in the country.
Quick Facts
Best Things to Do
- Walk around the Yubatake hot water field at the center of town and watch the mineral-rich water flow.
- Watch a yumomi water-cooling performance, where staff stir the hot water with wooden paddles.
- Soak in public baths such as Otakinoyu or Gozanoyu, or try the outdoor Sainokawara Rotenburo.
- Combine the visit with skiing at the nearby Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Resort in winter or hiking in the surrounding hills in warmer months.
Tickets and Fees
Checked in July 2026: walking around the Yubatake area is free. Public bathhouses such as Otakinoyu and Gozanoyu, and the Sainokawara Open-Air Bath, each charge their own entry fee, generally a few hundred yen. Confirm current prices and hours locally since they can change seasonally.
How to Get There
From Tokyo, take a JR limited express or shinkansen connection toward Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, then a JR bus about 25 minutes to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal (roughly 2.5 to 3 hours total). Direct highway buses also run from Shinjuku Bus Terminal, taking about 3 hours 45 minutes.
Nearby Attractions
Kusatsu pairs well with Ikaho Onsen, another historic Gunma hot spring town, or with the mountain scenery of Mount Tanigawa.
Book Before You Go
Use official information for opening hours and ticket rules, then book tours or tickets only when they fit your route.