Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo

Travel journal of day trip bathing to hot spring

Characters

Nishi-san: He is an orthodox hot springs lover and particular about quality of springs. He loves the hot springs flowing from the source, the hot water with a presence, and the rustic atmosphere.

Kita-san: He doesn't care much about quality of hot springs. He loves the open-air bath, and prefers hot springs that have visible features such as good views.

Nishi-san and Kita-san are being to Kusatsu Onsen today. From Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, heading to Yubatake.

Well, you said you'd been to Kusatsu before, didn't you?

Right, I've been here once when I was little. But I don't remember it at all... There's a song that says 'Kusatsu is a good place, come once', you know. So I wanted to visit here before.

Ah, it's 'Kusatsu-bushi'. Actually, if you look at it, you might remember something.

While saying such things, they arrived at Yubatake.

Yubatake

Well, it's been a while, Kusatsu Onsen. This is it, this cityscape. And look, this is Yubatake.

Wow, Yubatake! What a spectacle!

After all, Kusatsu is a nice onsen to come anytime. For now, let's go around Yubatake.

Yubatake

Hmmm, even if I actually look at it, I still don't remember it at all.

In short, I don't think children are interested in hot springs.

After walking around Yubatake, they've got into Sainokawara-dori by a modestly dressed 7-Eleven store.

♨ The water in Kusatsu Onsen is very hot. So, there is a custom called "yumomi", which involves stirring the hot water with a long board to lower the temperature. "Kusatsu-bushi" is a song sung during the "yumomi".

♨ Kusatsu Onsen's total amount of spouting is 32,300 liters per minute (5th in Japan).
Amount of non-powered spouting is 31,582 liters per minute (most in Japan).

Onsen Manju

Onsen boiled eggs

The two were given onsen manju and ate onsen boiled eggs as they walked. Then they've arrived at Sainokawara Park.

Sainokawara Park

Whew, what an amazing place! Is this hot spring gushing out from here?

Right. In short, there are springs gushing out from all over the place. Hey! Watch out! The water is so acidic that your hands will melt if you touch it!

Eh! Really?

No, lie.

...Why did you lie?

♨ Kusatsu Town became a municipality responsible for landscape conservation politics in December 2009. And in October 2014, they enforced the Landscape Town Development Ordinance.

Arrived at SainoKawara Rotenburo.

Exterior

Here we are. But was it so beautiful? I feel like it was more tattered, though...

Maybe it's been renovated, you know?

So firstly they've got inside while saying such things. When you open the door from the undressing room, you are suddenly in the open-air bath.

Open-air bath

Wow! I've never seen an open-air bath like this before!

Exactly, there are very few baths this large.

It has great depth! I can't see the other side well.

In short, this is an open-air bath that looks like a dammed up hot spring river.

Great for open-air bath lovers, you know.

After all, this scale makes me realize that I've come to Kusatsu.

Nishi-san and Kita-san soak in the hot water for a while looking at the snow-covered forest and the clear sky.

♨ "Rotenburo" means open-air bath.

♨ Sainokawara Rotenburo was renovated in May 2015.

Rocks in the open-air bath

By the way, is this water green? ...No, it's not?

Exactly, it looks transparent, but this rock has turned green. What is it? Is it because of the hot spring ingredients?

I don't know, but it makes me feel like I'm in a hot spring.

Hot water spout

Nishi-san and Kita-san thoroughly enjoyed Sainokawara Rotenburo to their heart's content. Next, they returned to Yubatake and had lunch. (→ Continue to Kusatsu Onsen Gozanoyu)

(January 2021)

♨ The rocks in the bathtub are green because algae called "Cyanidium caldarium" are growing there. Cyanidium caldarium is a very rare algae that can grow even in strongly acidic hot springs and is harmless to the human body.

Impression & rating

This large open-air bath is amazing. The temperature is easy to soak in. When you come to Kusatsu Onsen, this is a good place to start.

2.5 pt

Impression & rating

This scale and openness is a masterpiece! The scenery is spacious, too. If you are an open-air bath lover, you should try it at least once.

3.5 pt

→ How to rate

The Onsen facility

Address: 521-3, Oaza-Kusatsu, Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture
Phone: domestic: 0279-88-6167
international: +81-279-88-6167
Website: Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo
Bathing hours: [April - November] 7:00 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:30) [December - March] 9:00 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:30)
Business days: Open year round
Charge: Adults: ¥ 700 / Elementary school students and younger: ¥ 350
Baths: Gender-separated open-air bath
[Every Friday 17:30 - 20:00]
Women only open-air bath and Mixed bathing open-air bath
Equipments: No shower, soap, shampoo etc. (These are also prohibited to use.)
Facilities: There are valuables lockers. (100 yen coin required, return type)
There are lockers at undressing room. (100 yen coin required / paid)
Remarks: Tattoo bathing OK

The hot spring data
(According to hot spring analysis report etc.)

(Analysis date: May 15, 2013)

Spring quality: Acid - Chloride / Sulfate spring (Hypotonic Acid Hot spring)
Source: Bandaiko source in Kusatsu Onsen
Temperature: 96.5 ℃ (205.7 ℉)
Water volume: According to the Kusatsu Onsen portal website, the Bandaiko source springing water volume is 6,200 L / min (Non-powered spouting after drilling)
pH value: 1.66
Total ingredients: 3.32 g / kg

Today's Ekiben

The appearrance of Hot roasted pork fillet bento

The whole of Hot roasted pork fillet bento

Hot char-siu (roasted pork fillet) bento

(Purchased at Takasaki Sta.)

An ekiben with a gimmick that steam is generated and heated by pulling a string sticking out of the container. It is a version with a heating function of the original "Char-siu bento".

As you can see, it's a simple composition consisting mostly of meat and rice. This ekiben is perfect for people who don't want vegetables in their bento. The char-siu is so soft that if you pick it up with chopsticks, it will fall apart, and it is quite delicious. I appreciate the heating function, especially in cold weather.

Currently, this heated version is not on sale. The original "Char-siu bento" is on sale. (without a heating function, ¥ 1,100)

« contents »
Roasted Haruna Pork fillet, Ginger-simmered Haruna Pork, Chopped dried seaweed, Roasted sesame, Sweet and sour pickles, Rice

(¥ 1,280) ( Takaben)

The descriptions on this page contain personal opinions and are not necessarily objective facts.
The information may have changed at present. In particular, the charge and price etc. has often not updated from the time of travel, so check the latest information on the official website.

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