Kusatsu Onsen from Tokyo: Yubatake, Yumomi Show and Day-Trip Baths

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Researched guide · Checked on Oct 21, 2026

Steam rising from a field of wooden channels in the middle of town, the smell of sulfur, and people singing as they stir scalding water with long paddles: Kusatsu is one of Japan’s most famous hot spring towns. It sits about 1,200 meters up in the mountains of Gunma, roughly three hours from Tokyo, and its very acidic water is said to be good for tired bodies. Here is how to get there and where to bathe.

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The Yubatake

The Yubatake (“hot water field”) is the heart of Kusatsu: a huge source of spring water that flows through rows of wooden channels, cooling as it goes, in the middle of the town. JR East describes Kusatsu as having Japan’s largest natural flow of hot spring water. The square around it was designed by the artist Taro Okamoto, and the old streets spread out from here. It is lit up at night, so come back after dark.

Yumomi show at Netsunoyu

Kusatsu’s water comes out very hot. The traditional way to cool it without adding cold water is yumomi: stirring it with long wooden boards, often while singing a folk song. At Netsunoyu, right next to the Yubatake, you can watch a show of yumomi and dance.

	Details
Show times	9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 (an extra show runs 15:00–15:30 on some days)
Price	Adults ¥700, elementary school children ¥350
Tickets	On sale 30 minutes before each show
Try it yourself	Yumomi experience ¥300 (elementary school age and up), 11:30–12:50. Check the official calendar for dates

Three day-trip baths

You don’t need to stay overnight to bathe in Kusatsu water. The town runs three public bathhouses, all with free-flowing spring water. Kusatsu’s water is strongly acidic, about pH 2.05.

Bath	Good for	Hours	Adult price
Sainokawara Open-Air Bath	A large outdoor bath in a park of steaming streams	Apr–Nov 7:00–20:00, Dec–Mar 9:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30)	¥800
Gozanoyu	A wooden bathhouse beside the Yubatake, with yukata rental	Apr–Nov 7:00–21:00, Dec–Mar 8:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)	¥900
Otakinoyu	Several baths and the chance to try baths at different temperatures	9:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00)	¥1,200

• Pass for all three: the Choina Sanyu Meguri Tegata costs ¥2,100 for adults (¥1,050 for children), one visit to each bath, with no expiry date. Buy it at any of the three.
• Towels: bring your own, or buy one at Sainokawara or Gozanoyu (face towel ¥380). Otakinoyu rents towel sets (¥250) and yukata (¥300).
• Yukata walk: Gozanoyu rents yukata with geta sandals and a basket for strolling around town, ¥2,500 for 3 hours (reception 9:00–17:00).
• Cloudy water day: Otakinoyu has milky-white water on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.
• Mixed bathing: on Fridays from 17:30 to 20:00 (except some dates), the men’s outdoor bath at Sainokawara becomes mixed. Men are lent a bathing wrap for free; women can rent one for ¥400 or wear a swimsuit. The women’s outdoor bath stays women-only.
• Tattoos: the three baths say they do not specifically refuse guests with tattoos. Follow the usual bathing manners.

How to bathe in Kusatsu water

The official bathhouses give this advice for the hot, acidic water:

• Pour hot water over your head and neck before getting in.
• Start with a half-body soak, and keep your first bath to about 5–10 minutes.
• Don’t bathe after drinking alcohol, right after eating, or straight after exercise.
• Bathe no more than three times a day.
• Rinse only lightly afterwards. Sulfur can weaken fabric, so a yukata is a good choice after bathing. Metal parts on swimsuits may change color.
• Drink water and rest for 30 minutes to an hour after bathing.

New to onsen? Read our onsen and sento etiquette guide first.

Getting there from Tokyo

Route	Time	Notes
Limited express Kusatsu-Shima from Ueno to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, then JR bus	About 2 hours 20–35 minutes by train, plus 25 minutes by bus	All seats reserved. Some trains start from Tokyo Station on certain days
Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Karuizawa, then bus	About 1 hour 10 minutes by train, plus 1 hour 18–55 minutes by bus	Combine with a stop in Karuizawa
Highway bus (Joshu Yumeguri-go) from Tokyo Station or Busta Shinjuku	See the operator’s timetable	Arrives at Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal

JR East lists the JR TOKYO Wide Pass among the passes for the Kusatsu-Shima train; see our transport pass guide. Kusatsu is high in the mountains, so expect snow in winter. A day trip is possible, but with about three hours each way, many people stay a night.

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