A Unique Blend of Hot Springs and Culture
Ura-Kusatsu Jizo features several new facilities, including Takadai Square, Mangado, and Café Tsuki no Kao. The area also offers several unusual ways to experience Kusatsu’s famous hot spring water, including a rare face steam bath, a footbath, and a hot spring hand-washing facility.
Kusatsu Onsen is famous for its strongly acidic spring water, which has long been valued for its cleansing properties and has supported the development of Kusatsu as a traditional hot spring healing resort. At Ura-Kusatsu Jizo, visitors can experience this hot spring culture in several different ways.
The face steam bath allows visitors to enjoy the warm vapor rising from the spring, while the hand-washing hot spring provides a unique opportunity to warm and cleanse the hands with natural hot spring water. These facilities can be used free of charge 24 hours a day, making them convenient stops during a walk around the area.
Mangado — A Cozy Cultural Space Filled with Books
Mangado is an open, two-story wooden building that houses approximately 10,000 manga volumes. Its collection includes works by manga artists associated with Kusatsu as well as beloved classics and more recent titles, offering something for visitors of different generations.
Natural light enters through the spacious entrance, while the warm wooden interior creates an atmosphere reminiscent of a quiet library. Visitors can sit comfortably and browse the collection at their own pace.
For international visitors, manga provides a fun way to encounter another aspect of Japanese popular culture. The experience of relaxing with a manga book in the middle of a traditional hot spring town is one of the distinctive pleasures of Ura-Kusatsu.
Café Tsuki no Kao — A Stylish Hideaway for Adults
Located within Takadai Square, Café Tsuki no Kao is an elegant and relaxing café surrounded by the warmth and natural fragrance of wood.
Because it is slightly removed from the busy Yubatake area, the café is well suited to travelers looking for a quiet place to take a break. It offers original menu items that can be enjoyed here, along with charming tableware designed with particular attention to detail.
Sitting down with a fragrant cup of coffee after enjoying a hot spring is a wonderful way to relax and reflect on the day’s travels. Visitors can find a favorite seat and simply enjoy the slower rhythm of Ura-Kusatsu.
Face Steam, Footbath, and Hand-Washing Hot Spring
Near the Jizo spring source, visitors will find a face steam bath, footbath, and hot spring hand-washing facility. Among them, the face steam bath is particularly unusual and offers a memorable way to experience Kusatsu’s geothermal water.
Instead of soaking the entire body, visitors can simply enjoy the warm steam rising from the hot spring and experience its moisture and mineral-rich atmosphere around the face.
The footbath provides a comfortable place to sit and rest tired feet after exploring the town. Further into the area are the natural spring source and Jizo-do Hall, creating a characteristic Kusatsu scene where hot spring culture and religious traditions coexist.
The opportunity to experience several forms of hot spring culture in one small area—including bathing, face steaming, a footbath, and hand washing—is one of the distinctive attractions of Ura-Kusatsu Jizo.
Hyakunenishi Bettei — Create Your Own Kusatsu Souvenir
At Hyakunenishi Bettei, visitors can take part in a unique “Hyakunenishi” stone-making experience.
The process begins by drawing a picture or writing words on a piece of limestone. The stone is then treated and polished by craftsmen using Kusatsu’s hot spring water. Because the water is strongly acidic, it gradually dissolves the limestone and causes the areas around the design to change, creating a distinctive raised effect.
The activity takes approximately one hour. Creating an original piece while surrounded by the warmth of a traditional wooden building makes for a memorable travel experience.
The finished stone can also become a special souvenir carrying a tangible connection to the natural power of Kusatsu’s hot springs.
Dento-yu Jizo — Experience Traditional Hot Spring Culture
Dento-yu Jizo is a private bathing facility attached to the communal Jizo-no-Yu Bath. It provides visitors with an opportunity to experience traditional bathing practices that have been passed down through Kusatsu’s long hot spring history.
The water is characterized by a soft, milky appearance and is traditionally appreciated for the smooth feeling it leaves on the skin.
The private bathing option is suitable for visitors who want to enjoy a peaceful bathing experience with family or companions. There is also a free communal bath nearby, where visitors can experience the traditional spirit of mora-yu, a local custom based on the idea of sharing the benefits of hot spring water.
For travelers interested in understanding the roots of Kusatsu’s onsen culture, this is an especially meaningful place to visit.
Takadai Square — A Peaceful Elevated Viewpoint
Takadai Square, located on the same elevated area as Mangado and Café Tsuki no Kao, is a relaxing public space characterized by terraced landscaping and abundant greenery.
Unlike the busy streets surrounding Yubatake, the square was designed around the idea of slowing down and spending time at your own pace. It is a pleasant place to sit, take a break, and enjoy the quieter side of Kusatsu.
A viewing deck along the route from Yubatake toward Ura-Kusatsu also provides an opportunity to look down over the famous hot spring district from above. After dark, the area is illuminated, creating a different atmosphere and making it an appealing spot for photography.
The scenery changes considerably between daytime and nighttime, giving visitors a fresh perspective depending on when they visit.
A Quiet Side of Kusatsu Onsen
Ura-Kusatsu Jizo offers a different way to experience Kusatsu Onsen. Rather than focusing solely on traditional bathing, the area combines hot spring experiences with culture, art, literature, cafés, craftsmanship, and public spaces.
After exploring the lively streets around Yubatake, take a short walk toward Ura-Kusatsu and discover a quieter atmosphere. The gentle sound of flowing hot spring water, rising steam, warm wooden architecture, and peaceful green spaces create an environment where visitors can slow down and enjoy the character of Kusatsu.
For travelers looking beyond the best-known sights, Ura-Kusatsu Jizo provides an opportunity to experience another side of Kusatsu Onsen—one that connects its traditional hot spring culture with new ideas for relaxation, creativity, and cultural exchange.