Kusatsu Onsen · Around Yubatake
Yubatake
How to get there and what to see · facts checked 2026-10-24
The symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, where about 4,000 litres of hot spring water gush out every minute. The whole town spreads out around it.
- Nearest station
- 5 min walk from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal
- Hours
- No hours listed (open-air). Lit up at night
- Admission
- No fee is listed by the official sites
What to see
- The yutaki waterfall: hot water is cooled in seven wooden channels, then tumbles down the waterfall at the edge.
- Yunohana: mineral deposits that build up on the channels. They gave the place its name.
- Stone pillar and wooden frames for the water sent to Edo, a reminder of Yoshimune’s time.
- Evening light-up: steam and light mix after dark. The town recommends the twilight hour just after sunset.
Seasons
- Lit up in the evening (Kusatsu Town).
History
The name means “hot-spring-flower field”: mineral deposits called yunohana form on the wooden channels and can be collected. The eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, is recorded as having this water carried to Edo Castle for his bath. The site became a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty in 2017.
Getting there
A five-minute walk from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. The terminal is reached by local bus from JR Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station or Karuizawa Station, or by highway bus from Tokyo, Shinjuku and Shibuya.
Before you go
We could not confirm the light-up hours on the official pages.
Around Yubatake
Tap a red pin to open that sight's page.
Nearby sights
← Kusatsu Onsen guide: trains from Tokyo
Sources
Hours, prices and history come from the official websites and public tourism pages listed here. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
- 草津温泉観光協会（湯畑）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 草津町公式サイト（湯畑）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 草津温泉観光協会（源泉）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 草津温泉観光協会（歴史）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 草津温泉観光協会「湯Love草津」（トップ）（checked 2026-10-24）
Map data：© OpenStreetMap contributors