Head to the hot spring town with the “Town Tour Set.” Stroll Through the Nishi-no-Kawara Open-Air Baths and Yubatake: After breakfast, head out for the main event of Day 2: a stroll through the Kusatsu Onsen town. One item you’ll want to pick up here is the “Kai Kusatsu Town Exploration Set,” available at the front desk for 3,500 yen! It’s an incredible value and includes all of the following items: ・Furoshiki Bag: A bag perfect for walking around town, made from Kai’s furoshiki with handles attached ・“Choina Three Hot Springs Tour Pass”: A ticket for a classic Kusatsu Onsen hot spring tour that offers savings compared to regular rates ・ Original booklet “Recommendations for Exploring Kusatsu”: Introducing spots handpicked by the staff ・Towel voucher: You can get a towel at each facility, so you can come empty-handed ・Drink voucher: A nice little bonus redeemable at “Café Tsuki no Kata” in Ura-Kusatsu (*Details later!) So, with everything ready, let’s set off! After passing through the same path we took yesterday and taking the elevator down 20 meters below ground, we pass through an 80-meter-long tunnel and are instantly transported to the hot spring town. We immediately use our pass to head first to the “Nishi-no-Kawara Open-Air Bath.” This open-air bath is famous for its overwhelming spaciousness—I’d guess it could easily accommodate 100 people. Since this facility is designed purely for enjoying the hot springs and the scenery, there are no washing areas. Here’s a little insider tip: At Nishi-no-Kawara Open-Air Bath, the men’s open-air bath becomes a “mixed-gender bath” every Friday evening (except on specific dates). Women can rent a bathing robe for 400 yen (men can use it for free), and you’re also welcome to wear your own swimsuit. Why not enjoy this massive, illuminated open-air bath together as a couple or with your family? Of course, you can use your pass on these mixed-bathing days as well.
A Hearty Japanese Breakfast on the Final Morning: The final day has finally arrived. To round out our relaxing hot spring retreat, we chose the “Local Japanese Breakfast Set” for our final meal—a small plate packed with the bountiful flavors of Gunma. From tofu topped with yuba to chicken meatballs and rolled omelet, every dish was gentle on the stomach—even for those feeling a bit worn out. And as the morning’s main course, we were served “Koshine-jiru,” a deeply flavorful miso-based soup. It was a hot pot that delighted all five senses with Gunma’s rich culinary culture, leaving us thoroughly satisfied right from the start of the day.
Making the Most of the “Town Tour Set”! A Final Stroll Through the Hot Spring Town Before Checkout Since I still had some time before my 11:00 a.m. checkout, I headed out for one last stroll through the hot spring town to make the most of the perks included in the “Town Tour Set.” My destination was the popular day-trip hot spring facility, “Otaki-no-Yu.” Here, you can experience “Awasetu,” a traditional Kusatsu bathing method where you soak in baths of varying temperatures, starting with the lukewarm ones. The women’s section has four baths, but as soon as I dipped my feet into the hottest one, I thought, “No way, no way, no way!” and had to give up immediately…! About a five-minute walk from Otaki-no-Yu, through a charming back alley, is “Café Tsuki no Kao,” where you can redeem your drink voucher. The ticket served as an 800-yen voucher that let me choose any drink I wanted. With that, I’d finally completed all the perks! The “Town Tour Set” was truly a joy to use. This was another experience made possible only because I had the luxury of time during my multi-night stay.
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