FairFare
Onsen Prices by Region
Admission prices for hot-spring bathhouses in Japan's dedicated onsen towns — grouped by budget, mid-range, and premium tier.
Kusatsu
One of Japan's most celebrated onsen towns, built around Yubatake — a wooden channel system that cools and distributes scalding-hot spring water across the town center.
- •Kusatsu's spring water emerges too hot (often 50–90°C) to enter directly, which led to "yumomi" — hand-paddling long wooden boards through the water to cool it without diluting its acidity, still performed as a live show with song at Netsu-no-yu.
- •Sainokawara Rotenburo, one of Japan's largest open-air baths, sits in a park at the edge of town (adult ¥800 / child ¥400 — official kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp).
Budget
Free Foot Baths near Yubatake
Several free public foot baths cluster around Yubatake, the town's central spring-water channel — a casual way to try the water without a full bath.
Free. Exact locations/hours can vary — town tourism-association information, not independently confirmed on an official price page (there's no fee to confirm).
Shirahata-no-yu
A free public bathhouse right by Yubatake, run by the local community — soap and shampoo not provided.
Free. Source: Kusatsu Onsen Tourism Association's official listing; exact hours vary slightly across sources.
Jizo-no-yu
A free public bathhouse using the Jizo spring source, a different source from Yubatake.
Free. Source: Kusatsu Onsen Tourism Association's official listing.
Chiyo-no-yu
A free public bathhouse using the Yubatake spring source — no soap or shampoo provided.
Free. Source: Kusatsu Onsen Tourism Association's official listing.
Mid-Range
Otaki-no-yu
The town-operated public bathhouse, with an indoor bath, an open-air bath, and its signature "awase-yu" — a sequence of pools at gradually rising temperatures.
Adult ¥1,200, child ¥600. Source: Kusatsu town's official website.
Gozanoyu
A day-use bathhouse right on Yubatake, with shampoo and body soap provided.
Adult ¥900, child ¥450; yukata rental +¥300, towels sold separately. Source: facility's official site.
Ryokan Surugaya — Day-Use Bath
Day-use bathing at a ryokan using both the Yubatake and Wata-no-yu spring sources, cash only.
¥1,000/person bathing fee; private bath rental additional ¥1,000/hour. No reservations, visitor window around 11:00–13:30. Source: ryokan's official site.
Ryokan Naraya — Day-Use Bath
Day-use access to a ryokan's three different types of baths, no advance reservations.
Adult ¥1,200, child ¥600; visitor window around 12:30–14:00, subject to availability. Source: ryokan's official site.
Premium
Otaki-no-yu — Private Reserved Bath
A reservable private bath at the same facility, booked by the hour — general admission is billed separately.
¥2,000/hour, reservation required, general admission billed separately. Source: facility-affiliated site, not the town's own page — worth confirming when booking.
Yorokobi no Yado Takamatsu — Private Bath
A reservable private bath at a ryokan, same-day booking only.
¥3,000 (tax excl.) for 50 minutes, towels loaned. Source: ryokan's official site.
Kusatsu Now Resort Hotel — Private Open-Air Baths
Reservable private open-air baths in a choice of cypress or ceramic tubs, with a tatami rest area.
¥4,200/45min, ¥5,400/60min, ¥8,400/90min; +¥1,200/room on weekends, holidays, and peak season. Source: hotel's official site.
Gensen Ichinoyu — Private Bath
A reservable private bath, walk-in or bookable online.
¥4,000/45min, ¥8,000/90min, ¥10,000/120min (tax incl.), last entry 18:00. Source: facility's official site.