Trip to Kusatsu Onsen & Karuizawa

Down below, we'll introduce a hot spring destination easily accessible by highway bus from Tokyo called Kusatsu Onsen!

Kusatsu Onsen is renowned for having the highest natural hot spring water output in Japan, with an abundant supply of mineral-rich waters. Its symbol, "Yubatake" (hot water field), is located at the heart of the hot spring town. It’s a perfect photo spot, offering a picturesque view of Kusatsu with its billowing steam.

It is also close to Karuizawa, home to the popular outlet mall, "Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza." These two destinations are about an hour and a half apart by bus, allowing visitors to enjoy both hot springs and shopping in one trip. Kusatsu and Karuizawa also feature many charming wooden buildings, making it perfect for a stroll through the traditional landscape.

Why not relax your body and mind in the soothing hot springs while also enjoying shopping and exploring the beautiful surroundings?

DAY 1

First, leave Shibuya Highway Bus Terminal located on the 5th floor of Shibuya Markcity at 8:20. Before getting to Kusatsu Onsen, the bus also stops at a rest stop for around 10~15 minutes, making the total travel time around 4 hours. Traveling by bus is more comfortable and convenient vs traveling by trains because you can go straight to your destination without carrying your luggage or transferring.

Access to Shibuya Mark City Highway Bus Terminal  

The bus arrives at Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal at 12:13. Here you can leave your luggage at a coin locker and then go sightseeing!

There are a lot of public onsen open to all visitors in Kusatsu Onsen. One hot spring in particular, Shirahata-no-yu, is only a 3 minute walk from the bus terminal and is open from 5 AM. The best part is, it's completely free!

On your way to Shirahata-no-yu, you will pass the iconic landmark of Kusatsu Onsen, Yubatake. You can relax here by taking in the scents and watching the steam rise from the hot springs in the area.

There is also a foot bath nearby.

The Yumomi dance and performance at Netsu-no-yu, located in front of Yubatake is also one of the most iconic sightseeing spots in Kusatsu. "Yumomi" is a method which brings down the temperature of hot spring water by stirring the water with wooden planks. You can even receive a commemorative certificate if you participate in Yumomi!

If you get hungry, there are lots of places to eat near Yubatake. There is a main street within a 3 minute walk from the center of Kusatsu Onsen. There are also restaurants and souvenir shops along the main street.

After lunch, you can walk down to Kosenji Temple which is also located near Yubatake. One of the best hidden scenic spots in Kusatsu is up the stairs of this area. After walking up the stairs for a few minutes, if you turn around and look straight down, you can see the entirety of the Yubatake field from there. While I was there, I even got a really cute good luck charm at the temple!

If you're in the mood for a walk, I suggest walking down to the National Park called Sainokawara Park. It's around a 10 minute walk from downtown. If you keep walking through the path along the natural hot spring, you will find a huge hot spring bath called "Saino Kawara Onsen".

Kusatsu Onsen can be enjoyed in all seasons! In the spring you can enjoy cherry blossoms, in the summer the lush green trees, in autumn fall foliage, and in the winter you can enjoy fresh piles of snow.

Tonight I'm staying at the hotel, Onsen Ryokan "Boun".

You can choose your own yukata from over 100 different designs. I had trouble choosing from all the ones I liked!

The guest room and public bath are nice and comfortable, so it's easy to relax here. If you are not comfortable using public baths, you can also reserve a private bath!

You can eat dinner in the room's private dining space, but if you'd rather eat outside the hotel, you can also opt out of meals. The dinner served here however is exceptional!

After dinner, I took a walk to the Yubatake field. At night, the Yubatake field is lit in different colors. The illumination creates a completely different atmosphere–it's very romantic!!

DAY 2

After breakfast, I left Kusatsu Onsen for Karuizawa. It is only an hour and a half by local bus. The bus runs only once an hour, so you might want to check the timetable in advance. You do not need a reservation for this bus.
The bus fare is 2,240 yen one way (for adults).

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is located within a 5 minute walk from Karuizawa bus terminal. There are more than 200 outlet shops and popular brand shops here. The shopping plaza itself is huge and is surrounded by nature, so it feels nice just walking around.

If you are done with shopping at the outlet, you can leave your luggage at Karuizawa Station and rent a bicycle. Cycling to spots such as Harunire Terrace and enjoying their cafes and shops is a popular model route in Karuizawa.
http://www.hoshino-area.jp/en

While I was there, I found a nice guest house, Bell's Cabin Café and Guest House, located about 20 minutes from Harunire Terrace. If you have time to stay one more night, I highly recommend it!

If you would like to go a little further, there is a scenic spot, "Shiraito Falls (also called Shiraito-no-taki)" located within a half an hour by bus from Karuizawa Station. You can enjoy the nice fresh air of the beautiful surrounding nature.

Getting around Karuizawa by bicycle and bus is the best way to get around if you want to save money and time.

Let's get back to Tokyo!
For the return trip from Karuizawa to Shibuya, there is only one bus at 4:30PM. Including the rest stop (~10 to 15 minutes), in total the bus ride is only about 3 hours.

We hope you can enjoy a similar trip to Kusatsu Onsen and Karuizawa too!

Access to Shibuya Mark City Highway Bus Terminal