Destination - Kusatsu Onsen! (part 2)

 The last day! In the morning I took another picture from the window in our room... more snow! And, it's still snowing.

After breakfast we stayed in our room until we had to check out. Then we staeted our walk to the Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal.

This is not fun but neither of us complain. We're tough! 💪

We have reached Yubatake in the center of the town. We're halfway to the bus terminal.

Despite the heavy snow tourist are everywhere and people are already lining up to see the show at Netsu-no-yu.

Emi doesn't mind the weather, it's all part of the journey for her. 

This road leads to the bus terminal. 

Newcomers are arriving as we're leaving.

So many of the visitors are young couples.

Emi fears nothing. She marches past the taxi and up the hill.

Passing by a local products and souvenir shop.

After we arrived at the bus terminal we still needed to kill an hour before we could get on the express bus for the train station. So, we went to the third floor of the terminal where there is a public library. 

It's a nice public library! Emi read manga and I looked at magazines. 

The view from the library window.

The time went by quickly and soon we got in line for the Express bus. The line was very long and it took 4 buses to handle all the passengers.

This is our bus.

It took about 30 minutes to get to Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station.

This place is busy! We had to wait for all the incoming train passengers to get through the gate before we could go out to the platform and board our train. 

At last we got through the wicket and out to the platform. Now it's time to enjoy a nice train ride through the snowy countryside on our way home! 

The End.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Destination - Kusatsu Onsen! (part 1)

On the road rails (train rails) again, this time we visit Kusatsu Onsen.

This is where the real journey begins; Ueno train station platform 14. This is a special express train that will take us to the nearest station to Kusatsu Onsen.

When the doors to the train open everyone enters and get settled in for the 2 and a half hour train ride.

Emi and I are seated and ready to go!

We have arrived at Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station.

And, it is confirmed, this is the...

Naganohara Kusatsuguchi has to be one of the longest names for a train station.

From the train station to Kusatsu Onsen it's a 25 minute ride on a JR express bus. 

Here we are at the Kusatsu bus terminal.

Inside the bus terminal people rearrange things and get ready to find their Hotel.

Our Hotel was about a 15 minute walk from the bus terminal. It would have been a 10 minute walk but we got a little bit lost and took a few wrong turns; that's all part of the fun traveling!

Next morning view from our hotel room.

After breakfast and it's time to go for a walk and explore Kusatsu Onsen. 

This is the famous Yubatake in the center of town. Internet info

Scalding hot water and sulfur. That's what it's all about.

By-the-way, it's cold out here!

This is my "I'm on vacation" face!

This building is Netsunoyu where the Yumomi performance is done.

We're walking through small side streets on our way to Sai-no-Kawara Park.

Entering Sai-no-Kawara Park

We are in snow country.

Three ladies returning from the Sainokawara Rotemburo (outdoor hot spring bath).

The wind is strong!

Sai-no-Kawara Park has several hot spring foot baths.

A nice little shelter from the snow and rain. 

The park is a very peaceful place.

Another foot bath.

The hot spring water runs freely here.

On our way back to town we pass by a hot spring used for boiling eggs.

Eventhough it's cold, windy and snowing the streets of Kusatsu Onsen are filled with visitors. 

These people are in line to buy a special pudding.

We've worked our way back to Yubatake.

In Kusatsu Onsen there are foot baths everywhere.

Fun fact: Kusatsu Onsen has been chosen as the number one onsen resort in Japan for the 20th year running in the annual top 100 onsen poll.

This guy is harvesting the sulfur from Yubatake. 

This is the front of the Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal. Emi wanted to stop by and check the bus schedule for when we start our trip back home.

After checking the bus schedule we went shopping at this local Super Market.

Passing by a 5 story pagoda on our way back to the hotel.

And, here we are back at the entrance to our hotel. We're cold, tiered, thirsty and hungry... time for a hot bath, a cold drink, a great buffet dinner and a good night's sleep.

Part 2 is coming soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike