Yubatake Hot Water Field

The Symbol of Kusatsu Onsen

The Yubatake, or hot water field, is the beating heart of Kusatsu Onsen and one of the most recognisable sights in all of Japan's spa country. A vast wooden lattice channels the scalding mineral water as it cools, a centuries-old technique known as yumomi that defines the town's identity.

A Living Geothermal Spectacle

Around 4,000 litres of sulphurous water surge from the earth here every minute, threading through the cypress troughs and releasing constant plumes of steam. The mineral-rich flow paints the channels in pale ochre and feeds the celebrated bathhouses that made the resort famous.

The Heart of the Onsen Town

Encircling the field, traditional ryokan, tea houses and souvenir stalls line the cobbled plaza, while gas lamps and timber façades preserve a distinctly nostalgic atmosphere. It is the natural gathering point for visitors strolling the resort.

Gunma's Mountain Spa

Set high in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu has drawn bathers for over a thousand years, prized for waters long said to cure every ailment but lovesickness. This camera overlooks the very source that gave the town its enduring fame.