Kusatsu Onsen: Everything You Need Before Visiting

Q: Why is Kusatsu Onsen famous?

Kusatsu Onsen is famous because it has the most natural hot spring water in Japan. The water is very hot, around 55 degrees Celsius, and has high acidity. Many people believe it helps cure different health issues and is great for your skin. Another special attraction in Kusatsu is the traditional method of cooling the hot water called "yumomi." Many people come here to watch the stirring of hot spring baths with big wooden paddles to make it cooler so you can enjoy it. This unique tradition adds to the charm of the town.

Q: Is Kusatsu Onsen tattoo-friendly?

Yes, Kusatsu Onsen is known for being one of the most tattoo-friendly onsen towns in Japan. Many of the local baths and ryokan (traditional inns) allow guests with tattoos to enter the hot springs. This makes it a convenient destination for international tourists.

Q: How many days do you need in Kusatsu Onsen?

To enjoy Kusatsu Onsen, plan for a three-day weekend visit. You'll have enough time to explore the hot spring town, visit Sainokawara Park, join local events like the Shirane Shrine Festival, and go skiing at Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort. Plus, staying longer means you can try out the different hot springs all around the town.

Q: How to get to Kusatsu Onsen?

To get to Kusatsu Onsen, take a direct express train from Ueno Train Station in Tokyo to Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station, which takes about two and a half hours. From there, a connecting 25-minute bus ride will take you to the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, which is just a short walk away from the hot springs.

Q: Where to stay in Kusatsu Onsen?

Kusatsu Onsen has many places to stay that fit different tastes and budgets. You can choose a traditional ryokan, which often has a private hot spring bath, for a real Japanese experience. There are also modern hotels, guesthouses, and minshuku, which are family-run inns. Each place offers special amenities and easy access to the town’s healing hot springs.

Q: Where to eat in Kusatsu Onsen?

Dining in Kusatsu Onsen is a real treat with lots of local favorites. You can try onsen tamago, which are eggs cooked in hot spring water, and onsen manju, yummy steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste. There are many restaurants where you can enjoy sushi, tempura, and noodle dishes. Plus, there are cozy cafes and shops where you can taste local snacks.

Kusatsu Onsen Tickets & Tours

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Tours • From Tokyo

Tokyo Departure | Nikko/Karuizawa/Gunma/Yokohama Customized Private Car Charter Day Trip

Book now for tomorrow

Hotel pick-up

Private tour

4.8 / 5

(15) • 100+ booked

From

kr 2,539

Tours • From Tokyo

[Private Chartered Car] Tokyo City to Tokyo Disneyland/Mount Fuji/Karuizawa/Nagano/Niigata and other areas

Book now for tomorrow

Hotel pick-up

English guided

4.9 / 5

(24) • 300+ booked

From

kr 718

Tours • From Tokyo

2-Day Tokyo, Kusatsu Onsen, and Kawagoe History and Culture Tour

English guided

New Activity

kr 1,635

Tours • From Tokyo

Kamikochi & Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Tour (From Tokyo)

English guided

Free cancellation

4.7 / 5

(179) • 2K+ booked

kr 1,953

Tours • Agatsuma

Gunma Bar Hopping Tour in Kusatsu

English guided

Instant confirmation

From

kr 1,468.67

Hotels • Agatsuma

Kusatsu Onsen Inn Konoha

Instant confirmation

4.4 / 5

(127)

From

kr 1,499.01

Hotels • Agatsuma

Kusatsu Onsen Boun

Instant confirmation

4.6 / 5

(275)

From

kr 1,838.02

kr 1,856.56

Hotels • Agatsuma

Kusatsu Onsen Futabaya

Instant confirmation

4.6 / 5

(260)

From

kr 665.20

Hotels • Agatsuma

Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya

Instant confirmation

4.8 / 5

(116)

From

kr 1,410.92

Hotels • Agatsuma

Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Sakurai

Instant confirmation

4.6 / 5

(406)

From

kr 2,197.58

kr 2,217.06

Hotels • Agatsuma

Rakuten STAY VILLA Kusatsu Onsen

Instant confirmation

4.4 / 5

(8)

From

kr 1,123.29

More to explore

Buses • Kitasaku (From Nagano)

Kusakaru Kotsu Karuizawa-Kusatsu Onsen Route Bus One-way Ticket

Book now for tomorrow

Instant confirmation

4.4 / 5

(7) • 200+ booked

kr 48

CHANG ****

2026-08-18 07:40:24

Fantastic 5.0

This time, we opted for a customized private car charter, which allowed us to arrange our own route based on the attractions we wanted to visit. Our itinerary included the "Byakue Dai-Kannon -> Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple in Takasaki City -> Haruna Shrine -> Lake Haruna." The overall itinerary was very smooth, and the driver was punctual for pickups and drop-offs. We were also able to flexibly adjust our time at each stop based on the actual situation. If we had used public transportation between these attractions, it would have taken a lot of time with transfers. A private car charter was much more convenient, allowing us to visit, take photos, and explore at our own pace. We visited four places we wanted to see in one day; the itinerary was fulfilling without feeling rushed. Overall, we were very satisfied with the experience! We highly recommend it to anyone who wants to freely plan their Gunma itinerary without worrying about transportation.

Tokyo Departure | Nikko/Karuizawa/Gunma/Yokohama Customized Private Car Charter Day Trip

Usuario de Klook

2026-09-21 04:18:13

Fantastic 5.0

Great trip, driver was very nice, the comunication was very good despite the language barrier.

[Private Chartered Car] Tokyo City to Tokyo Disneyland/Mount Fuji/Karuizawa/Nagano/Niigata and other areas

Kwok *********

2026-05-30 08:16:53

Fantastic 5.0

The tour guide for this group was from Hong Kong. Sheila, our guide, was very thoughtful. She reminded us that the bus ride would be long and advised us to buy food at a convenience store to eat if we got hungry. The trip was very comfortable, and the tour bus was spacious with plenty of room, so it didn't feel crowded. Every 2 to 3 hours, there was a rest stop where we could buy snacks and use the restroom. On the first day, we visited Kamikochi. The itinerary was well-planned, and we got to see all the intended sights. The weather that day was perfect, neither too hot nor too cold. The scenery in Kamikochi is beautiful and well worth a visit; I recommend it to everyone. Our first night's accommodation was a hot spring ryokan in Hakuba Onsen. The buffet was delicious, with a wide variety of food. On the second day, we went to Tateyama Kurobe. Unfortunately, the weather was bad, and the Snow Valley was closed, which gives us a reason to visit again in the future. We returned to Tokyo around 7 PM after the trip concluded. Our guide, Sheila, also recommended some good restaurants to try in Tokyo. We followed her advice and went to a beef tongue restaurant, which was quite tasty. We are very grateful to our guide for providing us with such an enjoyable two-day, one-night trip.

Kamikochi & Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Tour (From Tokyo)

Yng ********

2026-06-05 04:57:32

Fantastic 5.0

The location of the hotel is great and convenient. However, I was told I couldn’t drive my car to unload my luggage in front of the hotel. Hence, I parked my car at the nearest tourist’s carpark. But then it was a deep slope to walk down before approaching to the hotel, and up to the carpark after we checked-out the hotel. My advise is not to carry big luggage if anyone were to decide to stay at this hotel. The room is great with private onsen and very spacious. One interesting point to mention, before we went up to our room, we were told to change to the home slippers at the hotel lobby. Then kept our shoes inside the locker as provided by the hotel. Adterall, it’s a beautiful place worth the visit.

Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake Sensui

Klook User

2026-07-05 05:31:32

Great 4.0

Going here on a solo trip, I wasnt sure what to expect. It seems to be more of a hotel set for families rather than solo visitors, but it still worked.

Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Village

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Why is Kusatsu Onsen famous?

Is Kusatsu Onsen tattoo-friendly?

How many days do you need in Kusatsu Onsen?

How to get to Kusatsu Onsen?

Where to stay in Kusatsu Onsen?

Where to eat in Kusatsu Onsen?

Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan's most famous hot springs, located in Gunma Prefecture. It has the largest natural flow of hot spring water in the country, which comes out at the Yubatake in the town center. The water is rich in sulfur and very acidic, making it known as some of the best hot spring water in Japan for hundreds of years. When you visit Kusatsu Onsen, you'll find plenty to do all year round. In winter, you can relax in open-air baths, and some even welcome people with tattoos. Since the town sits 1,200 meters above sea level, it's also the perfect place to enjoy winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. In the warmer months, you can enjoy hiking, biking, and golfing. The town has charming shops and restaurants where you can buy souvenirs and try local food. With so much to explore, Kusatsu Onsen is a must-visit spot in Japan for fun all year long!

Kusatsu, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Top Attractions in Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Hot Springs

Come try the town's therapeutic hot spring water known for its high acidity and health benefits. You can enjoy these hot springs in many places around the town. There are public baths you can visit, or private baths in ryokan inns. The special waters here are believed to heal different aches and pains and make you feel refreshed

Yubatake

The Yubatake, which means "hot water field," is the main attraction in Kusatsu Onsen. This big wooden structure is where the hot spring water cools down before going to the baths in town. You can watch the steam rise and even try some eggs boiled in the hot spring water, called onsen tamago. At night, the lights make the Yubatake look even more beautiful, making it great for photos.

Mount Shirane

Visit Mount Shirane, where you can explore an active volcano and see the beautiful Lake Yugama. The hiking trails have amazing views of the Gunma Prefecture, perfect for anyone who loves nature. In winter, the mountain becomes a hotspot for skiing and fun winter sports.

SainoKawara Park

Take a walk through Sainokawara Park, a beautiful place with lots of green plants and steam rising from hot springs. The park has the Sainokawara Open Air Bath, one of the biggest outdoor baths in Japan. You can relax in the warm water while enjoying the beauty of nature and listening to the sound of water flowing.

Kusatsu Ski Resort

For anyone who loves winter fun, the Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is a great place to visit. It has fantastic ski slopes and lots of cool facilities. With different runs for every skill level, both beginners and experts can enjoy skiing and snowboarding.

Kusatsu Onsen

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Why is Kusatsu Onsen famous?

Is Kusatsu Onsen tattoo-friendly?

How many days do you need in Kusatsu Onsen?

How to get to Kusatsu Onsen?

Where to stay in Kusatsu Onsen?

Where to eat in Kusatsu Onsen?

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Top Attractions in Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Hot Springs

Yubatake

Mount Shirane

SainoKawara Park

Kusatsu Ski Resort

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