Day trip bathing travel journals to hot springs where we visited by train and bus

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo

521-3, Oaza-Kusatsu, Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture

Overwhelming scale! A super spacious open-air bath with an openness. When you come to Kusatsu, you should definitely soak in it.

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo
Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Park Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo exterior Kusatsu Onsen Onsen boiled eggs

The total area of bathtub for men and women is 500 square meters (about the size of two tennis courts). You can't see the other side because it's hazy with steam. The temperature of the water gets hotter as you go upstream, so it's fun to find a place with a temperature you like.

The source is the Bandaiko Source, which has the largest amount of gushing water in Kusatsu Onsen. You can fully enjoy the hot spring source that represents Kusatsu Onsen.

An open-air bath in Sainokawara Park, a tourist spot of Kusatsu Onsen. The sight of hot springs gushing out from all over the large park is unique to Kusatsu.

  • Click to the description page

[Mixed bathing] The open-air bath for men is mixed every Friday from 17:30 to 20:00. (Women's open-air bath is as usual.)

[Early morning] Opens at 7:00 from April 1st to November 30th.

Location

Rating of access

0.5 pt(from Ueno)

→ How to rate access train

Area / Railway

Kanto Region
Gunma Pref.

JR Agatsuma Line

onsen

Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta.JR: 3 hrs 40 min Takasaki Line - Agatsuma Line ¥ 3,080
  • Gunma Otsu Sta.Walk: 3 hrs 12 km (7.5 mi) Max difference in elevation: 606 m (1988 ft)
  • Sainokawara Rotenburo
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta.JR: 3 hrs 40 min Takasaki Line - Agatsuma Line ¥ 3,080
  • Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Sta.Bus: 28 min ¥ 710
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminalWalk: 14 min 1.1 km (0.7 mi)
  • Sainokawara Rotenburo
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta.JR Express: 2 hrs 20 min Kusatsu Non-reserved seat ¥ 4,840
  • Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Sta.Bus: 28 min ¥ 710
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminalWalk: 14 min 1.1 km (0.7 mi)
  • Sainokawara Rotenburo
Route from Tokyo (Ueno)
  • Ueno Sta.Shinkansen: 45 min Toki etc. Non-reserved seat ¥ 5,380
  • Takasaki Sta.JR express: 1 hr Kusatsu Non-reserved seat +¥ 950
  • Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Sta.Taxi: 25 min about ¥ 6,500
  • Sainokawara ParkWalk: 5 min 0.4 km (0.2 mi)
  • Sainokawara Rotenburo
Route from Tokyo (Shinjuku)
  • Shinjuku Sta. (New South Gate) Walk: 2 min
  • Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal
    (4th floor) Expressway bus: 4 hrs 05 min Joshu Yumeguri-go ¥ 3,060 - ¥ 3,800
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminalWalk: 14 min 1.1 km (0.7 mi)
  • Sainokawara Rotenburo
Route from Tokyo (Shibuya)
  • Shibuya Sta.Walk: 5 min
  • SHIBUYA MARK CITY (5th floor) Expressway bus: 4 hrs 27 min Shibuya - Kusatsu Line ¥ 3,600
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminalWalk: 14 min 1.1 km (0.7 mi)
  • Sainokawara Rotenburo
Routes from Tokyo
  • Ueno
  • JR
  • Gunma Otsu
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 6 hrs 40 min ¥ 3,080

  • Ueno
  • JR
  • Naganohara Kusatsuguchi
  • Bus
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminal
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 4 hrs 22 min ¥ 3,790

  • Ueno
  • JR express
  • Naganohara Kusatsuguchi
  • Bus
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminal
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 3 hrs 02 min ¥ 5,550

  • Ueno
  • Shinkansen
  • Takasaki
  • JR express
  • Naganohara Kusatsuguchi
  • Taxi
  • hot spring
  • 2 hrs 15 min ¥ 12,830

  • Shinjuku
  • Expressway bus
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminal
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 4 hrs 21 min ¥ 3,060~¥ 3,800

  • Shibuya
  • Expressway bus
  • Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminal
  • Walk
  • hot spring
  • 4 hrs 46 min ¥ 3,600

  • The price of JR Express and normal Shinkansen is "Basic fare" plus "(Super) Express charge". (These are determined according to the distance.) "(Super) Express charge" has two types: Reserved seat and Non-reserved seat. Reserved seat charge adds ¥930 (during the busiest season), ¥730 (during the busy season), ¥530 (during the normal season) or ¥330 (during the off season) to Non-reserved seat charge. (For details, please refer to JR East_Ticketing and Busiest / Busy / Normal / Off season calendar.)
  • The above fares are based on cash. When using an IC card, the fares may differ slightly.
  • The above times and distances are approximate. Does not include transfering or waiting times.

How to get to Sainokawara Rotenburo

(Directions from Kusatsu Onsen Bus terminal)
  1. Head to Yubatake
  2. Get into the road "Sainokawara-dori" in front of 7-Eleven store and follow the road to Sainokawara Park.
  3. Sainokawara Rotenburo is located in Sainokawara Park.

bus stop: bus stop

Click the map to open Google Map

Travel journal of day trip bathing to hot spring

Characters

Nishi-san
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
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.

Kusatsu Onsen 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.

Kusatsu Onsen 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).

Kusatsu Onsen Onsen Manju

Onsen Manju

Kusatsu Onsen Onsen boiled eggs

Onsen boiled eggs

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

Kusatsu Onsen 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.

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo exterior

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.

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo

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.

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo

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.

Kusatsu Onsen Sainokawara Rotenburo hot water spout

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 time
[April - November] 7:00 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:30) [December - March] 9:00 - 20:00 (Last entry at 19:30)
Regular holiday
Open year round
Charge
Adult: ¥ 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 ℉)
Volume
According to the Kusatsu Onsen portal website, the Bandaiko source discharge is 6,200 L / min (Non-powered spouting after drilling)
pH value
1.66
Total ingredients
3.32 g / kg

Today's Ekiben

Hot roasted pork fillet bento
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.

Onsen List

Tohoku Region

Kanto Region

Kyushu Region

  • Fukuoka Pref.
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