Return to the Japan Alps May 2024

[RooFlyer]

Maybe we don't need a picture of the toilet? But here it is anyways!

sorry, I haven’t been following along that much, but I’ve had my hands a bit full .

While on the subject of toilets, what’s that container of liquid they always have next to the toilet on the floor?

 

[rbjhan]

Bathroom....is that....?


Ah YES! Private onsen on the balcony!!


Push this button and the onsen tub will be filled.
Also detailed analysis of the onsen water is required by law to be displayed.


FOUR types of slippers here:
One for balcony, pictured above.
One for the toilet, also above.
One for your room and the final pair for walking inside the hotel! And it's not that unusual in ryokans...

 

[rbjhan]

sorry, I haven’t been following along that much, but I’ve had my hands a bit full .

While on the subject of toilets, what’s that container of liquid they always have next to the toilet on the floor?

I had to zoom in the picture
It said '非常用" on it, so I think it's drinking water for emergencies.
Japanese are very big on being prepared for disaster...

 

[RooFlyer]

I had to zoom in the picture
It said '非常用" on it, so I think it's drinking water for emergencies.
Japanese are very big on being prepared for disaster...

Ah, OK. It’s been a very similar container in exactly the same position in every place I’ve been in so far.

 

[rbjhan]

Ah, OK. It’s been a very similar container in exactly the same position in every place I’ve been in so far.

The survival kit is big business in Japan!

https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/%E9%9D%9E%E5%B8%B8%E7%94%A8%E6%8C%81%E3%81%A1%E5%87%BA%E3%81%97%E8%A2%8B/

Hotels are probably required by law to keep such things.

 

[rbjhan]

A basket was prepared for guests to take to the onsen.


Picture from hotel website.
This was magnificent.


There were also 4 private onsen.
No reservation. Lighting indicated usage.


So I went to Yama no yu


And Kaze no yu.


Note that in the private onsens, there's no shower area. So please wash yourselves first (either in your room or the big public bath) before coming.

 

[rbjhan]

Two dinner seating at 5:30pm and 8pm, I thought the timing was a bit strange

I wanted to go out to Yubatake so chose the 5:30 round.


The stained glass was pretty!


Please refer to menu for details








Honestly, not bad at all.
However that's me after a whole week in Nagano and sick of soba...had I come directly from Tokyo the verdict might be different!

 

[rbjhan]

As the name suggested, La Vista Kusatsu Hills was on top of a hill....Google said 15 mins walk to Yubatake.
But why walk when there's a shuttle bus?


I took the 6:35pm bus directly to Yubatake.

*Yubatake 湯畑, literally means hot water field, is the symbol of Kusatsu onsen.
As the onsen source water is over 70C, it needs to be cooled down before being distributed to ryokans and the like.
So people built these wooden boxes for onsen water to pass through. The onsen flowers (sulphur sediment) can also be collected from the boxes and is a very popular souvenir.

It was a most impressive sight!


Here is the source.




End of Yubatake.

 

[rbjhan]

The area surrounding Yubatake was the centre of Kusatsu.

On the right: Gozannoyu, one of Kusatsu's public baths.
Left: Shirahata, one of the onsen water source.


This foot bath was very popular.


This was to wash your hands with onsen water.


Kimuraya, ryokan by a famous architect.
It's a fancy one! If you are interested:

草津温泉 きむらや – 湯畑を独占する

Naraya was the ryokan I originally wanted to book...

 

[rbjhan]

About 10 mins walk away from Yubatake was Sainokawara Park.



Some funky lighting going on...




Lots of foot baths in the park! Sadly I forgot to bring a towel

 

[rbjhan]

Forgot to mention, Kusatsu was at about 1200m above sea level so it is a lot cooler than Karuizawa or Tokyo.
I was a little worried about going out at night until I saw this heavy jacket hotel provided. And let me tell you, without the jacket I'd probably ran back to the shuttle bus within 20 mins.


Jizo, another onsen source.


The foot bath at Jizo.
Don't ask, I did not control the lighting!


More Yubatake!


This one was taken from Kosenji.

 

[rbjhan]

Took the 2nd last shuttle bus back to hotel.

Went to another private onsen, this time the Iwa no yu.


Like all Dormy Inns, there was also the free ramen service at 10pm

 

[drron]

I liked the Moose cake on the menu in post 127. I didn't think they had any moose in Japan.

 

[rbjhan]

I liked the Moose cake on the menu in post 127. I didn't think they had any moose in Japan.

I was playing with the camera and picture went a bit....
Hence didn't post it there!


Moose, mousse, same thing anyways!

 

[rbjhan]

The next morning.
Weather was looking good!


First a soak


Then breakfast


I love TKG!

 

[rbjhan]

In the morning and afternoon shuttle buses went to the Kusatsu Bus Terminal, about 5 mins walk to the Yubatake.


I just loved it!


It was quite early so not too many people.


Look closely you can even see the water coming up...


Another Japanese thing I'll probably never understand

 

[rbjhan]

There were many bath houses in Kusatsu for locals only, but a few also open to tourists (free).
This was one of them.
*According to my research they are all pretty basic, and most importantly no lockers! So depends on how comfortable you are with leaving everything on a shelf I guess? (I'm not, even though Japan is incredibly safe.)



Finally seeing the Jizo area under normal lighting
Foot bath on the right. Do you know what's the thing on the left?


Kosenji.




Got a Shuin here.

 

[rbjhan]

Back onto another shuttle bus ride to Karuizawa.


Did some shopping here.
Then yakiniku for lunch! 200g of wagyu heaven

 

[rbjhan]

Going through the Train Review thread, I've never taken the Hokuriku Shinkansen's Green class?
Hmm this needed to be rectified, obviously!


It was very comfy.
Not like the Gran Class but good enough.


Drink holder design on the armrest was very smart.


And not too expensive! Ordinary car was 6xx_ something iirc.

 

[RooFlyer]

A basket was prepared for guests to take to the onsen.

May I interrupt with another question? The places I've been staying in Hokkaido, provide one towel and 2 hand towels in the room (for a single person). They all say take the towel and a hand towel to the onsen etc. There is a basket in the onsen change room for used towels, but then what would I use in my room? I just take mine back to my room and hang it to dry, but most people seem to put theirs in the onsen basket. Do they call down for a fresh room towel?