Gunma · Kusatsu Onsen
Yubatake & Yukemuri-tei foot bath
湯畑・湯けむり亭（足湯）
The heart of Kusatsu, where 4,000 litres a minute cascade down wooden channels. The Yukemuri-tei pavilion beside it is a free 24-hour foot bath, lit up at night. Start your visit here.
- Price (adult)
- Donation / free
- Hours
- 24 hours
- Closed
- Open daily
- Access
- 5 min walk from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal
- Water type
- Acidic spring
- Tattoos
- Allowed
- Fee
- Free, 24 hours (except cleaning)
- Source
- Yubatake source (strongly acidic sulfur water), cooled before use
- Bring
- Bring a towel for your feet (sold at nearby shops)
- Phone
- 0279-88-0800
- Official site
- www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp ↗
- Open in Google Maps
- Google Maps ↗
Essentials
Stay in this onsen town
Compare and book stays in Kusatsu Onsen. Day bathing itself needs no booking.
Opens partner booking site (affiliate)
Why go
- Japan's largest spring output
- Free foot bath around the clock
- Illuminated at night
A 24-hour foot bath beside Yubatake
Yukemuri-tei is a pavilion-style foot bath right next to Yubatake. The strongly acidic water — Yubatake yields about 4,000 litres a minute — is cooled through wooden channels, and at night you can soak while watching the illuminated Yubatake. At pH ~2 it stings cuts and tarnishes silver jewellery.
Tips
- Seats are limited and queues form by day; early morning, mealtimes and right after the illumination are quieter.
- Wear trousers you can roll above the knee.
- Within 1 min: the yumomi show at Netsunoyu (paid) and the free Shirahata-no-yu communal bath.
Getting there
About 5 min on foot from the bus terminal, inside Yubatake square.
Before you go
- Strongly acidic water — rinse off afterwards, avoid long soaks, and remove silver jewellery.
- Last entry is 30–60 minutes before closing.
Features
Mood & scenery
Convenience
Language support
✔ Verified operating: 2026-09 草津温泉観光協会
Prices and hours change. Check official sources before visiting.
More in this area
Sainokawara Open-Air Bath
A 10-minute walk west of Kusatsu's Yubatake, at the far end of Sainokawara Park, lies one of Japan's largest open-air baths. Around 500 m² of pool brims with strongly acidic water, open to the surrounding forest. Snow in winter, fresh green in summer, illuminations at night. There are no washing stations — this is purely for soaking.
Otakinoyu
A large day facility where you can try Kusatsu's traditional 'awase-yu' — a row of wooden tubs at rising temperatures, entered in order. Indoor baths, rotenburo, sauna, plus rest and dining areas make it good for half a day. About 10 minutes' walk from the Yubatake, or a short bus ride. Admission ¥1,200 (2026); three-bath pass with Gozanoyu and Sainokawara ¥2,100.
Gozanoyu
Right in front of the Yubatake, a wooden recreation of the Edo–Meiji communal baths. Wood and stone bath halls alternate between men and women daily, with two sources (Yubatake and Bandaiko). The upstairs hall looks down on the Yubatake.