Go to Kusatsu Onsen by train! A model course to enjoy a new attraction, the restaurant with a view "Crystal Heaven

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Onsen + α fun in Kusatsu, not only Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen is a popular hot spring resort known by everyone. Centered around the famous "Yubatake" (hot spring fields), the area is lined with historic ryokan (Japanese-style inns) and has a nostalgic atmosphere unique to hot spring resorts. Did you know that a new landmark has been established in Kusatsu Onsen? In this issue, we will introduce you to some of the best ways to enjoy Kusatsu Onsen, with a focus on the "Crystal Sky" restaurant located within the Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort, which opened on December 23, 2023. Travel by train, on foot, or by bus! This is a 2-day/1-night model course without a car.
Yutaki Waterfall

09：00 Depart from Ueno Station by Limited Express "Kusatsu-Shima

Access to Kusatsu Onsen from the Tokyo metropolitan area is by limited express train and bus.

First, take the limited express train "Kusatsu-Shima" to Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station, which was renewed in March 2023, and all seats are reserved for passengers. There are two round trips per day on weekdays and three round trips per day on Saturdays and holidays. It is very convenient to get to Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station from Ueno Station without changing trains! This time we boarded the Kusatsu-Shima 31, which operates only on weekends and holidays.

If you are accessing by Shinkansen, we recommend taking the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki Station and then taking the Azuma Line to Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station.
Kusatsu-Shima" limited express train

11：24 Arrive at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station

After a 2.5-hour train ride, you will arrive at the entrance to Kusatsu Onsen, at Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station. There is no automatic ticket gate for ticket use at Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station. If you are using a paper ticket, please hand it to the station attendant at the ticket gate counter, and if you are using an IC card, there is a simple ticket gate on the left side of the station, so do not forget to touch the gate!

After exiting the station, walk to the left and you will soon come to a bus stop, where you can catch the JR bus to Kusatsu Onsen! This time I was able to catch the 11:31 bus. You can pay the bus fare by cash or IC card.

While riding the bus, we saw a wooden wind tunnel and a large footbath. This is the Onsen Gate, built at the entrance to Kusatsu Onsen and opened in October 2023. The footbath has three large yudoi (hot spring gutters), each about 6 meters long, with hot spring water constantly flowing from them.
Onsen Gate
Footbath
Official] JR Bus Kanto Naganohara-Kusatsu-guchi - Jyoshu-Otsu - Kusatsu-Onsen Timetable

11：53 Arrive at Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal

The bus arrives at the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. The bus terminal is a two-story building with the bus depot on the second floor and waiting rooms and souvenir shops on the first floor.

If you have a lot of luggage, you can leave it in the coin lockers located in the bus terminal! It looks like a hot spring resort....
Coin-operated lockers

Coin Locker Details

131 spaces are set up
- 400 yen, 500 yen, and 700 yen
- Hours of use: 6:00 - 21:00
- Currency exchange is available at the specialties store.

12：40 100 yen per trip! Board the Kusatsu Onsen town bus

To get to the Kusatsu Onsen ski resort, take the Kusatsu Onsen town bus from the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. It is nicknamed "100 yen bus" by the locals. The Kusatsu Onsen Town Circuit Bus is recommended for those who want to extend their visit to Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort, Kusatsu Tropical Garden, and other places in the hot spring resort area.
Kusatsu Onsen Town Tour Bus
Kusatsu is very cold in winter, so it is nice to be able to take the bus..! Please note that large luggage such as suitcases cannot be carried on the bus.

This time, we will board the 12:40 departure bus No. 7 from Bus Stop No. 8.
Yumomi-chan Seats" for the elderly and those with small children

13：00 Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort, where you can enjoy skiing in all seasons

Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is a place where non-skiers can also enjoy the "Sky Swing," the tallest swing in Japan, and seasonal events. This time, we will ride the Pulse Gondola Tengu, which just opened in December 2023, to the "Crystal Heaven" restaurant with a view.

Pulse Gondola Tengu

Purchase a gondola ticket at the Ticket Center
The Pulse Gondola Tengu is a three-connected, all-glass gondola that connects the bottom of the slope to the top of the mountain! With its stylish visuals, it looks like a vehicle of the near future.
Board the "Pulse Gondola Tengu
As you ascend, you can see the entire town of Kusatsu, and the glass floor of the first gondola makes you a little nervous! The gondola at the front of the train has a glass floor, so it is a little bit exciting!
Passing gondolas

Outline of "Pulse Gondola Tengu

Operating hours: 9:00-16:00
■Fare
One way: [Adults] 800 yen [Juniors] 600 yen
Round trip: [Adults] 1,500 yen [Juniors] 1,000 yen
Pulse Gondola Tengu

Crystal Heaven" restaurant with a view

The "Crystal Heaven" observation restaurant offers Edo-mae sushi with fresh ingredients shipped directly from Tsukiji and Toyosu, Tokyo. The building is made of glass, so you can also enjoy a view of the hot spring resort and the mountains.
Crystal Heaven" restaurant with a view
This time, I ordered "omakase nigiri" and "luxurious negitoro donburi". Omakase nigiri is made with red rice, just like Edomae Sushi. It is a luxurious dish with 12 pieces of sushi and a small bowl of salmon roe!
Itadakimasu 12-piece rice bowl + salmon roe (3,590 yen)
The "Luxury Negitoro Donburi" is a bowl of rice topped with sea bream and topped with seafood such as Negitoro, salmon roe, crab, and so on!
Itadakimono (top) (2,390 yen)
First, just the tai-meshi, then the seafood, and finally the sea bream with sesame sauce, topped with tai dashi broth and topped off with chazuke (rice with green tea)! This is a very satisfying dish where you can encounter a variety of tastes.
Luxurious Kaisen-don (rice topped with seafood)
Finish with dashi chazuke (rice topped with broth)
We also have sake and beer to go with the sushi, so when it gets dark, you can sip them while gazing at the night view and starry sky. How about a special anniversary dinner?
The only observation deck overlooking the town of Kusatsu

Overview of "Crystal Heaven" restaurant with a view

Hours: 9:30-16:00 (L.O. 15:30)

14:30 Take a walk in Nishi-no-Kawahara Park

After a delicious lunch, take a walk and exercise! A few minutes' walk along one road from the Kusatsu Onsen ski resort. You will arrive at the entrance of "Nishi-no-Kawara Koen (Nishi-no-Kawara Park)," which is designated as a special area of the national park.
Petit hike along the mountain path
Nishi-no-Kawara Koen, with an open-air bath and footbath on the grounds, is filled with the aroma of hot spring water, which gushes out all over the wide riverbed. Walk toward Yubatake while taking a break at the footbath!
Nishinokawara Fudo Waterfall
Footbath

15:30 Enjoy a gelato buffet for dessert at Grande Fume Kusatsu

The sweet store introduced here is Grande Fume Kusatsu, where you can enjoy a gelato buffet. Grande Fume Kusatsu is a gelato shop where you can enjoy Italian soft gelato, the first of its kind in Japan, with over a dozen different toppings, including rusks, freely arranged.
Grande Fume Kusatsu
The Italian soft gelato, which combines the richness of gelato with the smoothness of soft-serve ice cream, is an exquisite treat. First, purchase a cup for gelato at the cash register and fill it with as much of your favorite flavor of gelato as you like!

In addition to the year-round vanilla, milk chocolate, and yogurt, you can enjoy seasonal flavors. This day it was sweet potato.
Chocolate gelato
You are free to add toppings such as rusks and fruit, the type of which changes daily. On this day, we had plain, maple, and earl grey rusks, coffee beets, and fruit mix. You can also add blueberry sauce, chocolate sauce, or chocolate spray to finish it off!

The crunchy rusks are a perfect match for the cold, sweet gelato!
Topping
At the store next to the gelato buffet, you can also purchase the same rusk toppings as souvenirs. Each package is illustrated with an image of the rusk flavor, making it tempting to buy many...!
Store
This time we will introduce you to the Garlic and Caramel Amand. Both are individually wrapped and perfect for souvenirs. The garlic rusk has a delicious garlic smell the moment you open it...! Rusks have a sweet image, but they would go well with snacks and soups!

The Caramel Amande has almonds coated with sweet caramel on a rusk, which is a perfect match! I would like to have this one with a cup of tea.
Stylish package
Garlic and caramel amand

Outline of Grande Fume Kusatsu

Price
[Adults] 880 yen [Children (3 years old and under)] 440 yen
■Rules
・4 flavors are all-you-can-eat.
Time may be limited during busy times.
Please order the same number of servings as the number of people in your party.
Please take only what you can eat.

16:30 Relax at a hot spring spa! Check in Ryokan

The attraction of Kusatsu Onsen is the quality of the water! The water in Kusatsu Onsen is one of the most acidic in Japan. The highly acidic hot spring water has a strong sterilizing effect and is said to be good for wounds, chronic skin diseases, and neuralgia. Although Kusatsu Onsen is now famous as a tourist attraction, it was originally popular as a "Touji-ba" (therapeutic bath).

Touji is an ancient Japanese therapeutic method of treating illnesses and injuries by staying in a hot spring resort and soaking in the hot water. Kusatsu Onsen is one of the "Three Great Medicinal Spas of Japan," and there is even an old saying that "there is no disease that cannot be cured except the disease of love.

Please take your time to relax and recover from your trip in the onsen at a ryokan.
The hot spring and hot spring fields that spring up in the center of the hot spring resort

20:00 Night stroll

Why don't you take a walk in the hot spring resort area at night? Yubatake (hot spring fields), around which ryokan are gathered, and Nishi-no-Kawahara Park, a 5-minute walk from Yubatake, are lit up.
Yubatake field illuminated
Footbath in a fantastic atmosphere
The sight of the yukumemuri lit up is something you can only see in an onsen resort. You can stroll around in yukata in summer and see the collaboration of snow and lights in winter.
Nishi-no-kawahara park with a different atmosphere than during the light hours
Yudamari is also lit up

How to enjoy Kusatsu Onsen, where new places of interest continue to emerge

We introduced the first day of a model course that allows you to enjoy new sights such as the Onsen Gate and the "Crystal Heaven" restaurant with a view, etc. On the second day, we will introduce a model course for enjoying "Yumomi," a Kusatsu Onsen tradition that has continued since the Edo period.

Click here for a model course for the second day

*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
All images are for reference only.
*All prices include tax.
For train + accommodation "Gunma Area" reservations, please contact [ JR East View Dynamic Rail Package ]
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