Kusatsu 2 Day Itinerary

Summary

This time, a 2-day/1-night trip to enjoy Kusatsu in summer 🚌. Enjoy not only hot springs but also izakaya gourmet food and eating 🤤💖. It is a summer trip to stay cool wearing a yukata too 🌿. On the second day, we also tried an activity to enjoy walking in the air! Please refer to the plan to enjoy every corner of Kusatsu in summer🎶.

*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.

Travel Itinerary

12:00pm Naganoharakusatsuguchi station（長野原草津口駅）

The departure point for this trip is Kusatsu Station! Take the bus to Yubatake (🚌). It takes about 25 minutes from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station to Yubatake!

Naganoharakusatsuguchi station is located in Naganohara-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture. This station can be reached from Tokyo in about 2 hours by Shinkansen and train. There are car rental agencies near the station from which you can enjoy a road trip. You can also take a bus from this station to Yubatake. Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station is often used as a base for sightseeing, and its convenience is highly praised by word of mouth.

12:40pm Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake（草津温泉 湯畑）

Arrive at Yubatake, which is crowded with tourists! This smell of sulfur…I feel like I’m in a hot spring resort 🎶❣️

wind chime

The cool sound of wind chimes will soothe you 🌿.

footbath

The charm of footbaths is that they are easy to enter 🌿.

Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake is a hot spring source located in Kusatsu, Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture. It is synonymous with Kusatsu Onsen, with 4,000 liters of hot spring water gushing out every minute. Surrounded by restaurants and souvenir shops, the area attracts many tourists. Parking is available, but it is crowded, so it is recommended to leave plenty of time for your visit. At night, the area is lit up and offers beautiful scenery. To get a taste of Kusatsu Onsen, a visit to Yubatake is a must. Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake has different attractions by day and by night, and can be enjoyed even by solo travelers.

1:00pm Handmade soba, Meal, Sake Aoyama（手打蕎麦・食事・酒 あおやま）

First, we went to this restaurant for lunch, where you can enjoy handmade soba noodles, rice dishes, and sake made with the finest ingredients. I ordered soba and udon this time, but next time I definitely want to try tempura too ❗️

Menu

Gunma’s Matsutake mushroom tempura and a wide variety of cold, hot and udon soba and udon noodles are on the menu🎶. There is also a sake and local sake menu that goes well with Japanese food 🍶✨.

Yunohana Tofu (limited quantity) 500 yen

Tsuke Toro Soba 1,100 yen

We’ll have a lot of long potatoes intertwined with it 🤤. It is a perfect match with slightly hard-boiled soba noodles!

assorted Two-color 1,300 yen

Creamy and thick sesame sauce goes well with udon noodles 💖. The aroma of buckwheat noodles can be felt well and it is delicious~!

introspection

The spacious restaurant has counter seating for any occasion, and above all, a great atmosphere. ☺️

counter seat

Handmade soba, Meal, Sake Aoyama is a handmade soba restaurant located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture. You can enjoy handmade buckwheat noodles, rice dishes, and alcoholic beverages made from carefully selected ingredients. Kusatsu is famous for its soba, so why not visit?

2:00pm Jizo Cafe Tsuki no kao（地蔵カフェ 月の貌）

Next, we went to a cafe in Ura-Kusatsu, a popular hidden spot in Kusatsu! A cafe with a great atmosphere where you can enjoy coffee and sweets. ☕️ Open and airy with a warm woody atmosphere and a great view 🌿. You can also bring in manga you borrowed from the attached manga hall!

Exterior

Menu

A wide variety of specialty coffees and handmade sweets 🍨.

Terrace Seat

Chamomile Citrus HOT 500yen, Firm pudding 500yen

Pudding is still hard 💖.

Hand-drip coffee 500 yen, handmade strawberry gelato 700 yen

Strawberry gelato with a dollop of condensed milk 🤤.

Fruity as if you were eating strawberries as they are!

Jizo Cafe Tsuki no kao is located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture. The interior of the café has an open atmosphere with the warmth of wood. Customers can bring in manga they have borrowed from the adjoining manga hall and enjoy reading while enjoying coffee and sweets. With Jizo no Yu and other tourist spots in the vicinity, the area is attracting attention as a new sightseeing area. Word of mouth has introduced it as a hidden popular spot, and it is definitely a place to stop by when visiting Kusatsu.

4:00pm Yakushi no Yu Yumotokan（薬師の湯 湯元館）

This time, the inn is located right in front of Yubatake, with 100% free-flowing Yubatake hot-spring water! Japanese style room will heal you 🌿. Cute yukata dressing service is also available, so you can change into a cool yukata and take a walk in the hot spring fields 😽💖.

lobby

Calm and serene museum with antiques and other exhibits 😌.

room

Clean, spacious and nice atmosphere!

TV

I’m glad it’s big 🎶.

Glass or pot for drinks

table

View of Yubatake from the window

full-length mirror

refrigerator

Yukata and towel

amenity

Room bath

toilet

Cleansing, facial cleanser, and toner are also available.

Yukata set and dressing service 2,750 yen

You can return it until check-out the next day, so you can enjoy it even in the evening! There are so many cute patterns to choose from😽.

breakfast room

In front of you you can see hot spring fields 👀✨.

breakfast

Gorgeous Japanese breakfast 🍚 with a perfect nutritional balance

Yakushi no Yu Yumotokan, located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, is a hot spring ryokan that can be used as an accommodation facility. Located right in front of Yubatake, you can enjoy 100% free-flowing hot spring water from the source. Guests can relax in a Japanese-style room and enjoy a Yubatake walk, as the ryokan also offers a cute yukata dressing service. According to reviews, the rooms and hot spring baths are very good.

6:00pm Tanisaki（たに咲）

For dinner, enjoy horse meat dishes at this izakaya (Japanese-style pub), located about a minute’s walk from Yubatake.

counter seat

tatami room

personal use vacuum flask

Menu

A wide variety of dishes using horse sashimi and Gunma maitake mushrooms are available! We also have a sake menu to go with it 🍶.

Draft beer 660 yen, Lemon high 550 yen

Appetizer sashimi konnyaku

Delicious 🤤 with sweet and sour vinegared miso

Deep-fried octopus ¥830

Octopus is plump 👍🏻

Miso Butter with Squid and Maitake Mushroom 980 yen

Even people who don’t like maitake mushrooms can eat them.

Horse sashimi, red meat 1,740 yen

Garlic soy sauce makes the drinks go further 🍻.

Green tea high 550 yen

Seafood gratin 990 yen

Shrimp plentiful and happy 🦐💖.

Located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, the spot Tanisaki is a tavern where you can enjoy horse meat dishes. This spot is located about a minute walk from Yubatake, and you can enjoy delicious horse meat dishes when you visit for dinner. Please visit this spot and enjoy the delicious horse meat dishes.

7:30pm Kikyotei（桔梗亭）

The second restaurant is this one, which is an udon and soba restaurant at lunchtime and a shish-kebab bar at night!

introspection

Red lantern izakaya-like atmosphere inside the restaurant

Local beer: Yuagari Ryoufu 840 yen, Black Nikka highball 570 yen

Easy to drink and tasty local beer!

Onsen egg 170 yen

It is a delicious dish that makes you feel like you’ve been to a hot spring!

Omakase 8 bottles 1,000 yen

Freshly fried and hot 🔥.

stewed pork and potato stew

The stewed cubes are so tender… 💖.

Menu

A wide variety of shish-kebabs, snacks, and local sake menu 😋.

Kikyotei is an izakaya located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture. According to reviews, the restaurant offers a variety of delicious dishes such as local sake, tempura, simmered dishes, and salads. They also offer a stroll through the illuminated hot-spring fields, and umbrellas are available for use on rainy days. Reservations are required, and word on the street is that the restaurant is almost always full.

10:00am Tenguyama Play Zone（天狗山プレイゾーン）

Start of the second day! First, we went to the ski resort of Kusatsu, which is open all season long! ⛷

signboard

Activities

A wide variety of summer sports for children and adults

BanZip

The BanZip challenge this time is to put on a harness and glide from the top of Mt. 2,200 yen per adult!

scenery

The lawn is nice in summer season 🌿.

lift

Riding the lift to the summit! It costs 500 yen one way for adults and takes about 5 minutes to get there🎶.

View from the summit

SKY SWING

The trapeze just opened in the summer of 2022! Adults: 600 yen per visit for about 3 minutes 👀.

It is said to be the tallest swing in Japan at 10 meters high!

Yurayura with light music and spectacular views 🍃. Surreal, but thrilling and fun to ride ✨.

BanZip signboard

BanZip

They say that when the legs and hands are closed, the boat moves forward quickly, and when they are spread out, it slows down due to wind resistance!

Away in the blink of an eye.

Thrilling and makes me scream 😂.

Tenguyama Play Zone, located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, is known as Kusatsu’s ski resort. It is open all season long, and skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in winter. It is located in the Aza-Shirane National Forest, Forest Unit 158, Kusatsu, Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture.

10:30am Tenguyama Terrace（天狗山テラス）

When you reach the summit, go here 😋 to enjoy our special hand-drip coffee and snacks.

Exterior

introspection

A relaxing wood-framed restaurant with views from the top of the mountain 🌿.

Menu

There is also an original menu of specialty coffees and zip docks!

Tenguyama Terrace

Take out and come to the terrace for free 🎶.

Iced tea 380 yen, Cheesecake to drink 650 yen

The sensation of eating a rich cheesecake!

Tenguyama Terrace, located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, is where you can enjoy our special hand-drip coffee and light meals. On a clear day, this is a must-visit spot to enjoy the spectacular view.

12:00pm Tengu Lodge（天狗山ロッジ）

For lunch, we went to a restaurant with Wi-Fi and terrace seating, perfect for a break 🍴.

introspection

Very spacious interior!

Menu

There is a wide variety of ramen, katsudon (pork cutlet bowl), etc. 😋.

Cold chicken salt ramen (summer only) 940 yen, udon noodles with fried wild vegetables 780 yen

Udon noodles with a gentle taste of dashi broth!

Tenguyama Lodge is a restaurant located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, offering Wi-Fi access and terrace seating, making it an ideal place to take a break. According to reviews, you can not only enjoy your meal, but also relax in comfortable surroundings.

1:30pm Kusatsu Onsen Yubatake（草津温泉 湯畑）

Take the free shuttle bus back to Yubatake and start exploring 🏃‍♀️

1:30pm Kusatsu Tamago Farm（草津たまごファーム）

First came a store that sells creative sweets using eggs from Gunma Prefecture’s local chickens! Many products that would make great souvenirs, such as mayonnaise made from local chicken eggs and onsen tamago bolo (hot spring egg bolo), are available at ☺️ Here you can buy Kusatsu Pudding as a souvenir ❣️

Exterior

introspection

In addition to sweets, there is a full lineup of takeout sweets such as Kusatsu Pudding and soft-serve ice cream!

Kusatsu Tamago Farm, located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, is the first egg confectionery specialty store in Kusatsu Onsen. Here, creative sweets using eggs from Gunma Prefecture’s local chickens are sold, including mayonnaise and onsen tamago bolo (hot spring egg bolo), both of which are made from local eggs. Located along Yubatake, the shop also offers take-out soft-serve ice cream, which is popular among locals and tourists alike.

2:00pm Terakoya Honpo（寺子屋本舗）

Next came a rice cracker shop 🍘 about a 4-minute walk from Yubatake to Nishinokawara-dori.

Exterior

introspection

Many kinds of handmade okaki (rice crackers)!

cracked rice crackers

wet rice crackers

Popular products for eating 🤤.

Sweet soy sauce 200 yen, Wasabi soy sauce 220 yen

The soft rice crackers are soaked in sweet soy sauce and delicious 😋. Wasabi has an addictive twang to the nose🎶.

Terakoya Honpo, located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, specializes in rice crackers, wet rice crackers. According to word of mouth, their hand-baked rice crackers and wet rice crackers are popular and go well with mayonnaise. They also offer free tea.

2:30pm Kusatsu Onsen Osaru no Yumomi-dokoro ~Osayu（草津温泉おさるの湯もみ処～おさ湯）

We came to a new spot in Kusatsu where you can see a monkey yumomi show on the first floor and interact with animals on the second floor.

signboard

Exterior

Show Time Schedule

Schedule of Charges

Special deals on set tickets for viewing and touching the yumomi (hot spring)!

Yumomi show

Cute monkeys in yukata 💕 I enjoyed the perfect comic timing 😂.

The monkey who is a master of the hot water bath 🐵.

Monkey Name

capybara

Moggly, quiet and good boy ☺️

Newly born baby

Cuddle Experience

Kusatsu Onsen Osaru no Yumomidokoro is an theme park located in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, where you can enjoy a monkey hot spring show on the first floor and interact with animals on the second floor. The admission fee to Osa-yu is 600 yen. Admission to Osa-yu is 600 yen (including tax) and to Kapi-yu is 500 yen (including tax), and a common ticket is also available.

3:00pm Yuagari Karinto（湯あがりかりんと）

Lastly, we came to a souvenir shop that offers a wide variety of 28 different flavors of karinto!

Exterior

introspection

The Japanese patterned karinto package is cute and makes a great souvenir ✨.

This is the only way to eat!

Yuagari cheese tart 324 yen

Banana-flavored cheese tart🍌 available only here. It’s too good to eat because it has the face of a monkey 🥺.

Yuagari Karinto is a store in Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, that sells a variety of karinto. The shop has a reputation for having unusual karinto that make great souvenirs, and has a wide variety of 28 different flavors to choose from. The bags are cute and the various flavors are perfect for souvenirs for friends and relatives. You can also sample the food so you can find the karinto you like best. If you are looking for stylish karinto, this is a good spot to visit.

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