Yukio Regional Story #03

Kusatsu Onsen – Cures everything except love sickness

Each Yukio holds a small story about a Japanese region. This episode's protagonist comes from Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture – voted number one by Japanese people and a dream hot spring village that you won't want to leave once you've experienced it.

Kusatsu Onsen (くさつおんせん)

Kusatsu Onsen is located in the northwestern part of Gunma Prefecture and is one of Japan's three famous hot springs (the other two being Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Gero Onsen in Gifu Prefecture). It has been voted the nation's number one hot spring by Japanese people for 23 consecutive years, a well-deserved reputation.

Kusatsu has an ancient saying passed down for centuries: "Kusatsu no yu wa manbyō ni kiku ga, koi no yamai dake wa kikanai" – Kusatsu's hot spring water cures all ailments, except for love sickness. This saying is a folk wisdom passed down from the Edo period and is also the origin of this episode's Yukio character.

Since the Edo period, numerous samurai and commoners traveled to Kusatsu specifically for "Tōji" (湯治) – long-term hot spring bathing for therapeutic purposes. Stays would range from a few days to several months, and Kusatsu was almost considered a "natural hospital" in the minds of Japanese people back then.

Details of Kusatsu Yukio

White headband – This is the traditional attire of Kusatsu Onsen's hot spring stirring staff (Yumomi), with the white hachimaki headband being their symbol.

Aqua blue design – Echoes the color of Kusatsu Onsen's hot spring water, while also evoking the feeling of steam-filled hot springs.

Yumomi board – The long wooden board held by Yukio is the famous "Yumomi board," approximately 1.8 meters long, used to stir the hot spring water to cool it naturally.

Kusatsu Onsen Fun Facts

🏆 One of Japan's Three Famous Hot Springs · #1 for 23 Consecutive Years
Consistently crowned by Japan's most authoritative hot spring ranking, the "Japan Hot Spring General Election," it holds the longest record as number one.

💧 Natural spring water, 32,000 liters per minute
Kusatsu Onsen's water is not pumped out but naturally gushes from underground, with a flow rate of up to 32,000 liters per minute, making it one of Japan's largest flowing hot springs. The water quality is fresh, and there's never a shortage of supply.

🔥 Nearly 50℃ high temperature, no cold water added for cooling
Kusatsu Onsen's water emerges at nearly 50℃, which is too hot for the human body, but the people of Kusatsu insist on not adding cold water to dilute it – because adding water would compromise the water quality and sterilization power. Their solution is a technique passed down for centuries called "Yumomi": using long wooden boards to collectively stir the hot spring water, allowing it to cool naturally through contact with air while preserving its complete quality. Yumomi performances are still a daily occurrence in Kusatsu, with public demonstrations at scheduled times.

🦠 pH 2.2 strong acidity, strongest natural sterilization
Kusatsu Onsen's water has a pH value of approximately 2.2, which is extremely acidic and has a strong inhibitory effect on bacteria and fungi. In addition to skin diseases, it is traditionally believed to help with rheumatism, neuralgia, and chronic fatigue – this is the scientific basis for the saying "manbyō ni kiku" (cures all ailments).

The most famous attraction in central Kusatsu, "Yubatake (湯畑)," is an open-air hot spring source field where hot spring water gushes from underground and flows through wooden channels to cool down. Steam perpetually permeates the area, and at night, illuminated by lights, it becomes a popular photo spot.

"There's no ailment that one hot spring bath can't cure, and if there is, then take two!"
—— Hot Spring Loving Editor

Kusatsu Onsen Yukio, with its aqua blue plush design, iconic white headband, and holding the centuries-old Yumomi board – every detail is a miniature reflection of this thousand-year-old hot spring village.

 👉 Get your Yukio now

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Yukio Regional Story #03｜Kusatsu Onsen Chapter
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