Yubatake
湯畑
The heart of Kusatsu Onsen, where about 4,000 liters of hot spring water gush out every minute, cool through seven wooden channels, and sulfurous steam rises constantly.
Yubatake is one of Kusatsu's largest hot spring sources. Strongly acidic water at about 55°C gushes out at roughly 4,000 liters per minute. It cools through seven wooden yu-oke troughs, depositing sulfur crystals called yu-no-hana, then cascades like a waterfall into jade-green pools before being piped to nearby inns. Stone fences around the area are carved with the names of famous visitors through the ages. The Yubatake Plaza, designed by Taro Okamoto, lets you get close to the source, and after dark the lights reflected in the rising steam are dreamlike. Free admission, open all day. It's a 5-minute walk from the Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal.
Opening hours
Open all day (lit at night until around 23:00)
Nearby sights
- Netsunoyu Yumomi Show
- Shirahata-no-Yu Public Bath
- Gozanoyu
- Kosen-ji Temple
- Shirane Shrine
- Otaki-no-Yu
- Sainokawara Park
- Kusatsu Tropical Wonderland