Activities
Soak Your Feet at Sainokawara Park
Cathy CawoodSainokawara Park in Kusatsu Onsen Town has a large public foot-bath, and warm stream flows along one side of it.
The Sainokawara Park (Sainokawara Kōen) extends over a valley not far from the city center of Kusatsu, in which there are numerous thermal springs and a large outdoor pool. The hiking trails in the upper part of the park lead through beautiful natural landscapes.
This park was once feared by the population because it was believed that Japanese ogres (oni) would rise from its sources. These days, however, the riverside hot springs are once again extremely popular.
In some places the hot water from the springs gushes to the surface, collects in warm water pools and flows in warm streams down into the valley, whereupon it flows into a central mountain stream.
There is even a small waterfall fed by hot spring water.
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A 10-minute walk from the yubatake in Kusatsu Onsen Town.
Sainokawara Park in Kusatsu Onsen Town has a large public foot-bath, and warm stream flows along one side of it.
In Japan's hot-spring and ski resort of Kusatsu, the Kusatsu Hotel is a charming, atmospheric Japanese hotel with traditional rooms and baths.
In Japan's Gunma prefecture hot-spring resort of Kusatsu, Hotel Ohruri is a charming hotel, with affordable, comfortable rooms, good facilities and relaxing baths.
Surrounding the heart of Kusatsu’s famous Yubatake lies Kirishimaya Ryokan, a Japanese style inn owned by Nakazawa-san. However you can call Nakazawa-san by his nickname Gary. Gary Nakazawa is a local of Kusatsu and you will be surprised by his knowledge of medicinal effects of the water, of the Yumomi ritual and Jikan no Yu. The staff members here are Gary Nakazawa and his wife; and although it is a ryokan, at times it felt like I was at a homestay as Gary was more than happy to ask me what I did that day, telling me all the people he had met, recommending nearby attractions and sharing me his knowledge of Kusatsu’s waters.
The charming side streets have some tasty surprises awaiting your discovery.
In the hot-spring resort of Kusatsu in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, Tsukinoi is a charming patissier and restaurant serving fresh cakes and Italian food.
In the hot spring resort of Kusatsu in Japan's Gunma Prefecture, Souan Cafe is a small, charming place for lunch or a snack.
The Kusatsu Shirane Mountain (also called Shirane Mountain) is an active stratovolcano in Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture. It is 2,160 meters high and is located immediately north of the Asama volcano. The volcano last erupted in 1983 and 2018. One of its greatest features are the three crater lakes on its summit. The largest of these lakes is the Yu-gama crater lake, which offers an incomparable sight with its turquoise-blue water. It is also the most acidic lake in all of Japan. The summit of Kusatsu Shirane Mountain is easily accessible on foot via its various hiking trails. However, it is also possible to cover a large part of the route by car. However, due to the danger of volcanic activity, certain areas of the volcano may be temporarily inaccessible
Meaning the ‘riverbed of the west’, Sai No Kawara Park (西の河原公園) is often mistranslated as ‘riverbed of the underworld’
In the hot-spring and ski resort of Kusatsu in Japan's Gunma prefecture, Kataoka Tsurutaro Art Museum holds exhibitions of charming painting, ceramics and calligraphy.