In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Kusatsu
草津
Go for one night, two if you want a full soak day: the town is small, the baths are the point, and a day trip from Tokyo costs 8+ hours in transit.
Kusatsu is a hot-spring town at about 1,200 m on the edge of Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park, one of Japan's three famous springs and fed by more than 32,000 litres of hot water a minute from Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane. There is no train station: you arrive by bus or via Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, then walk the centre. Come for the water, the yubatake and the open-air baths, not for a sightseeing checklist.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 草津
- Best months
- May–Jun, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (deep snow and road closures), Golden Week and Obon
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–10,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–18,000 excl. bed · High ¥18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Sainokawara Open-air Bath | ¥600 adults, ¥300 children |
| Otaki Hot Spring | ¥900 adults, ¥400 children |
| Goza Hot Spring | ¥600 adults, ¥300 children |
| Yumomi ceremony at Netsu-no-yu | ¥700 adults, ¥350 children |
| Hand-made soba or wide udon set meal | ¥1,000–1,700 |
| Coffee or a soft drink | ¥400–700 |
| Beer, local craft or a can from a shop | ¥600–900 / ¥250–350 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HND · Tokyo Haneda
- Bus or rail to Tokyo, then the Jōshu Yūmeguri bus from Shinjuku or the limited express from Ueno; about 4–5 h door to door.
- NRT · Tokyo Narita
- Add about 1 h to reach Shinjuku or Ueno before the onward leg.
Typical fares
- Shinjuku → Kusatsu, Jōshu Yūmeguri bus
- ¥3,000–3,600, about 4 h
- Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi → Kusatsu, bus
- ¥710, 25 min
- Town loop bus
- ¥100 a ride
Get around
The centre is walkable but hilly; the town loop bus costs ¥100 and links the bus terminal, the Yubatake and the bigger hotels. Free hotel shuttles run from the bus terminal and the Yubatake. A bus line connects the terminal with the ski area.
See and do
Known for
- Yubatake hot-water field
- Sainokawara Open-air Bath
- Yumomi water-cooling ceremony
- Kusatsu-Shirane volcano and crater lake
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Karuizawa | Bus from Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal, about 1 h 20 min | About 1.5 h |
| Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi and the Agatsuma Line | Bus from the bus terminal, 25 min, ¥710 | About 40 min |
| Kusatsu-Shirane crater lake | Car or taxi up the Shirane volcano road | About 30 min |
| Minakami | Bus or car via Naganohara, then rail | 2–3 h |
Sleep
- Around the Yubatake
- The centre: baths, shops and food on foot. Most expensive and books out first in autumn and on weekends.
- Sainokawara side
- 10–15 min walk west of the Yubatake, next to the park and the big open-air bath; quieter.
- Kusatsu Hotel Village / ski-area side
- 15 min walk or a short bus ride out; larger hotels, Therme Therme and the ski area.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| One adult, please | 大人一枚くださいotona ichimai kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- No train station: the last bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi leaves in the early evening, so check the timetable before a late arrival.
- The water is strongly acidic and hot: rinse off, don't put your head under, and keep metal jewellery out of the bath.
- Winter brings snow and ice on the pavements and occasional road closures over the pass; carry grip soles.
- Many small baths and shops take cash only.
Very safe for tourists; the real risks are the 70 °C acidic water, icy pavements in winter and a missed last bus. Japan's emergency numbers work here: 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance.Very safe for tourists; the real risks are the 158 °F acidic water, icy pavements in winter and a missed last bus. Japan's emergency numbers work here: 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kusatsu yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Yubatake hot-water field
- Sainokawara Open-air Bath
- Yumomi water-cooling ceremony
- Kusatsu-Shirane volcano and crater lake
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kusatsu town official site: www.town.kusatsu.gunma.jp/
- Kusatsu Onsen tourist association portal: www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/portal/
- Kusatsu International Ski Area: www.kusatsu-kokusai.com/
- Wikivoyage: Kusatsu, revision 5330867 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5330867
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Kusatsu草津
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in town; most are in Tokyo. The US embassy is in Tokyo (check the address).
Baths are shared and mostly naked; tattoos may be refused at some facilities, so ask first or book a private bath.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/kusatsu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.