Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake

草津温泉湯畑

Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japan's most famous hot spring towns, and the town centers around Yubatake. Yubatake is a large system of wooden channels that carries the natural hot water to nearby baths. In front of it stands Netsunoyu, a bathhouse where you can watch yumomi, a traditional way of cooling the hot water. Nearby Sainokawara Park is a riverside park with rising steam.

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Visitor information

Opening hours

Yumomi shows are held six times a day at 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 15:30, 16:00 and 16:30.

Getting there

Yubatake is a 5-minute walk from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal.

About 2 hours 40 minutes from Ueno Station by train and bus, or about 4 hours from Shinjuku by direct expressway bus.

Time needed

Each yumomi show at Netsunoyu lasts around 30 minutes.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

Netsunoyu is open daily; trying yumomi yourself is only available on weekends and holidays.
Sainokawara Park has many free footbaths.

Tips for Muslim visitors

At Sainokawara Open-air Bath, every Friday is a mixed-bathing day; visitors who want gender-separated bathing should choose another day.
The town's Dentoyu Jizo private bath can be reserved for one group (up to about 10 people) per hour, so families can bathe privately. Reservation is required.
At most public hot springs in Japan people bathe naked, in baths separated by gender, and swimwear is usually not allowed. If you prefer privacy, look for a private bath (kashikiri-buro), an in-room bath or a foot bath.
Wash your body at the shower area before entering the bath. Many visitors who want to stay covered choose a foot bath instead.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Gunma and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.