Visit the hot water fields of Yubutake, in the center of Kusatsu Onsen, one of the most beloved onsen cities in Japan.
Yubutake means “hot water field” in Japanese, an appropriate name for this high-production hot spring, where 5,000 liters gush out of the ground every minute. The water is over 70ºC and is then cooled through wooden conduits before being channeled to supply ryokan and public baths in and around Kusatsu. At night, Yubutake is illuminated and as steam rolls through the streets, it is an atmospheric spectacle.
Guests staying overnight at any ryokan in Kusatsu receive yukata (light kimono) and geta (wooden sandals). It is customary to wear these around the city while visiting different bathhouses to soak in the hot springs.