Kusatsu, Gunma

Today, we'll visit one of Japan's most famous hot springs, Kusatsu Onsen, approximately 200km from Tokyo. Going by train or highway bus from Shinjuku makes the experience a trip of its own. A favorite since the Edo period, their population of 7,000 attracts 3 million visitors yearly. We'll stay at a Japanese inn adjacent to the symbolic Yubatake, natural hot springs from the source. This impressive 3-story-wooden-building is a tangible cultural property. The manager's hospitality, unique ways of bathing, and various hot springs are on our itinerary.