Kusatsu Onsen boasts 14 consecutive years as the No. 1 spot in the Top 100 Onsen of Japan.  Kusatsu Onsen has the highest natural onsen flow rate in Japan with as much as 32300L per minute. .  Apart from the high onsen quality, the atmosphere of the resort is very unique with the Yubatake (a wooden facility for thermal moderation of the water) located at the center.

• Type of Onsen:

The onsen water’s special feature is the strong acidity with pH 2.1. Basically, it contains sulfur, aluminum sulfate and chloride.

The secret to its renowned therapeutic effect is its antibacterial power because of the strong acidity. Experiments has shown that E-coli bacteria cannot survive in Kusatsu onsen water for more than 1 minute, and almost all other bacteria and fungi cannot proliferate and soon die.

Kusatsu Onsen is said to be good for reliving neuralgia, muscular and arthritic pain, skin ailments, chronic fatigue, chronic women's diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. That's why Kusatsu Onsen is proud of its reputation of 'curing any illness only except lovesickness'. 

• Things to Do:

Yubatake - the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen

Located in the center of the town, Yubatake (means 'hot water field' ) is the source of onsen that gush out 4,000 L of hot onsen water per minute among clouds of rising steam. Yubatake  is surrounded by a promenade made of ceramic roof tiles and a bench in the shape of Mt. Shirane (a nearby volcano). You can stroll after taking a bath and relax while enjoying the exotic atmosphere of this unique resort.

Netsu-no-Yu Bathhouse

At this traditional bathhouse, you can see demonstrations of Yumomi which is a traditional dancing-and-singing method of cooling down the hot onsen water to bathing temperature without adding any water in it. Traditional 'Rakugo', a comic storytelling performance is  given here in the evening.

Besides, you can stroll along the lively Sai-no-Kawara Street to Sai-no-Kawara Park where there is a flowing onsen river amongst large clouds of steam.  Next to Kusatsu Onsen Town, you can go to visit the 2160-meter active volcano Mt. Shirane and its crater lake - Lake Yugama. 

• Suggested Ryokans:

A full range of onsen ryokans from simple to luxury stay. Here are some of the best onsen hotels: