Onsen · Tokyo & Around

Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu, Gunma♨ Strongly acidic hot spring (about pH 2). Otakinoyu is an acidic sulfur spring (pH 2.1)

Overview

A hot spring area with abundant water and the Yubatake at the heart of town. Strongly acidic water of about pH 2 flows naturally at more than 32,000L per minute. The town’s three day-use facilities, the Sanyu, do not specifically refuse guests with tattoos.

The steaming Yubatake is the symbol of the town and is illuminated at night. The three baths, Sainokawara Open-air Bath, Otakinoyu and Gozanoyu, are all open to day visitors, offering different experiences such as awaseyu and a huge open-air bath. At Netsunoyu next to the Yubatake, you can watch a show of Kusatsu’s traditional yumomi (water stirring) and dance every day.

Location: Kusatsu, Gunma
Official website: https://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/
Official website (English) ↗

Nearby area

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Day-Use Baths

Baths you can visit without staying

Public baths, day-use spas and foot baths open to non-staying visitors.

Day-use spa

Sainokawara Open-air Bath

Price: Adults ¥800, children (age 3 to elementary school) ¥400 (as of October 2026)
Hours: April 1–November 30 7:00–20:00, December 1–March 31 9:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30)
Tattoos: Guests with tattoos are not specifically refused entry or bathing (official FAQ)
Note: There is no washing area
Official site: https://onsen-kusatsu.com/sainokawara/

Day-use spa

Otakinoyu

Price: Adults ¥1,200, children ¥600 (as of October 2026)
Hours: 9:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00)
Closed: Closed for maintenance in December
Tattoos: Guests with tattoos are not specifically refused entry or bathing (official FAQ)
Private bath: Private hot spring Shakunage available (¥2,000 per hour, admission fee separate, reservation required)
Note: Offers awaseyu, where you bathe in a series of baths at different temperatures
Official site: https://onsen-kusatsu.com/ohtakinoyu/guide/

Day-use spa

Gozanoyu

Price: Adults ¥900, children ¥450 (as of October 2026)
Hours: April 1–November 30 7:00–21:00, December 1–March 31 8:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
Tattoos: Guests with tattoos are not specifically refused entry or bathing (official FAQ)
Official site: https://onsen-kusatsu.com/gozanoyu/guide/

Foot bath

Yubatake Footbath

Price: Free (as of October 2026)
Note: Next to the Yubatake
Official site: https://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/pamphlet/pdf/kusatsu_25W_26S.pdf

Prices and hours are as of the date shown and may change, with occasional closures. Check each facility’s official website before you go.

🖋 If you have tattoos

The town’s three day-use facilities, the Sanyu (Sainokawara Open-air Bath, Otakinoyu and Gozanoyu), officially state that they do not specifically refuse entry or bathing to guests with tattoos. For other facilities such as ryokan, please check with each one

🔒 Private baths and in-room baths

Otakinoyu has a private hot spring available to day visitors (reservation required)

Spring

Spring type and features

♨ Strongly acidic hot spring (about pH 2). Otakinoyu is an acidic sulfur spring (pH 2.1)

According to the tourism association, it is said to have been used for skin conditions, cuts, burns, recovery from fatigue and more, and Otakinoyu lists benefits for neuralgia, joint pain, burns, beautiful skin and more

Etiquette

Bathing etiquette

✓Rinse yourself with hot water (kakeyu) before getting into the bath
✓Do not put your towel in the bath water
✓With very hot water, start in a cooler bath and move up gradually to let your body adjust (awaseyu)
✓Do not take photos in the bathing area

Sights

Nearby sights

Yubatake

A hot spring source in the center of town. About 4,000L flows out every minute, and it is illuminated at night

Netsunoyu Yumomi and Dance Show

Performed 6 times a day next to the Yubatake. Tickets are sold on site only, from 30 minutes before each show

Sainokawara Park

A park where hot springs bubble up here and there. About 10 minutes on foot from the Yubatake

Tips

Good to know

!Payment for the yumomi show is cash or PayPay only
!Opening hours of the three baths change depending on the season
!The Sainokawara Open-air Bath has no washing area

Access

Nearest station / bus stop: Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station (JR Agatsuma Line)About 25 minutes by JR Bus
From major cities and airports: Ueno: JR Limited Express Kusatsu-Shima to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, then transfer to a JR Bus (About 2 hours 33 minutes + about 25 minutes)
Tokyo: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station, then transfer to a local bus (About 1 hour 10 minutes + 1 hour 18–55 minutes)

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Travel Passes

Travel passes for getting there

🚄 JR

Japan Rail Pass

Nationwide ・ Three types: 7, 14 or 21 days. The period of use cannot be extended or changed

From ¥50,000

Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Kusatsu OnsenPR

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Attractions

Attractions in Kusatsu Onsen

Zoo

Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland

Tokyo & Around ・ Kusatsu Onsen

This privately run zoo in the Kusatsu Onsen hot spring town is known as the highest-altitude zoo in Japan. Inside a 15 m-tall dome heated by hot spring water, a subtropical climate lets you see tropical plants and animals even in chilly Kusatsu.

See all attractions →

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Prices, hours, tattoo policies and spring types are based on official facility, municipal and tourism association information. They can change, so check the official websites before you go.

Last checked: 2026-10-08

Kusatsu Onsen

Overview