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.
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
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