100 Year Stone Making Experience

Experience making 100 year old stone in only a few days

Aline Laborde Oct 21, 2013 - 1 min read

Some of the staff member's intricate works. A few of their limestone features many eroded layers; creating a 3D effect.

Walk in through this gate to begin your 100 year journey

Choose a limestone and walk in to start painting

Step into this workshop to start painting

A small family concentrating on their Kusatsu limestone masterpieces

Some stones in their collection including Gunma-chan and Yumomi-chan

A larger collection done by the staff in their free time

The hut where they submerge your painted stones

The bath where they submerge your limestones

A few stones slowly eroding away in Kusatsu's waters

Located in Kusatsu’s Environment Experience Amusement Center is the ‘Hundred Year Old Stone Production Experience Hut’ (百年石制作体験小屋). Here, you can produce art utilizing the acidic nature featured in Kusatsu’s hot spring water. First, you paint a picture of your favorite character or write anything you like onto the limestone. Once the paint has dried the next step is to submerge the stone under Kusatsu’s famous waters for a few days. The stone’s surface completely erodes away except for the area covered in paint, leaving an embossed design. It’s completely free and you do not need to make a reservation. It is open from 9:30 am – 4pm every day and is only a 7 minute walk from Yubatake or Kirishimaya Ryokan.