Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan’s hot spring areas, boasting the nation’s highest natural hot spring output at 32,300 liters or more per minute. It was also ranked No.1 for 18 consecutive years in the “34th Nippon no Onsen 100 Selection” (2020), making it a hot spring almost everyone recognizes. Kusatsu has several hot spring sources; the major famous ones include Yubatake, Shirahata, Jizo, Nikawa, and Bandai-ko, and there are also smaller sources like Watanoyu and Atsunoyu, plus occasional “phantom” springs, letting you enjoy different water qualities. Kusatsu is fun not only for hot springs but also for strolling the town—seeing the Yubatake, watching yumomi (water-stirring) shows, browsing souvenir streets, and visiting public baths. There are over 150 lodging facilities, so staying overnight is recommended, but there are also public baths usable by day-trippers, making it suitable as a stop on the way back from other sightseeing or from ski resorts.