Kusatsu is one of the most celebrated hot spring in Japan, located 3 hours from Tokyo, in northern Gunma prefecture. It’s about 1 hour from Karuizawa and Mt. & Lake Haruna, very popular resort sights around there.
The hot spring in Kusatsu is known as the highest medical virtues of the water as well as Arima and Matsunoyama, called three highest quality hot springs in Japan. It springs more than 30,000 liters every minutes naturally, as the largest amount of water. It also noted for its therapeutic effects with strong acid springs with sterilizing power. Moreover, although the temperature of the water is between 50 to 90℃, too hot to bathe, people do not fill the water at all to keep the spring quality. Then the people in this spa village have made several efforts cooling down the hot spring without additional water. One is manual cooling down by wooden board called “Yumomi”. Another one is very famous symbol, “Yubatake”, that is located in center of the village, long wooden way cooling down the hot spring naturally. Looking at “Yubatake” closely, foggy steam and sulfurous smell could be quite impressive.
In early winter, it is a little bit cold in the morning and evening, then it comes the best season for the hot spring bathing. Try and enjoy the most powerful hot spring in Kusatsu with its unspoiled natural beauty.
(2018 early Nov.)
Jun-Spade 