water quality in all area of kusatsu

Just a question regarding the water quality in kusatsu.

Does anyone know if all the onsen spring water in the ryokan, and different bath house from Sainokawara Park, Otakinoyu bath house to Shirohatanoyu, are they all the same including the same temperature PH acid etc.

The reason I asked, is that I know the free bath house tends to be full most of the time, and if most of the spring water in the same area are the same, I'd rather go to a bigger establishment and pay for it.

Kusatsu is fed by multiple hot spring sources, and the water from the various sources is quite different. All of them are highly sulfuric and acidic, but some are a little bit more so. More importantly - in my opinion, some of the waters are slightly milky and/or contain a lot of yunohana particles, while others are completely transparent. I personally prefer my water to be non-transparent. It feels more like an onsen.

So far I have only a partial understanding of Kusatsu's various waters, but I personally like the waters from the Yubatake, Shirahata and Jizo sources in the center of town, in particular. Meanwhile, I am not the biggest fan of the transparent Bandaiko water, which feeds most of the newer hotels in the outskirts of the town.

Sainokawara Rotemburo is fed by the transparent Bandaiko water, so water-wise it is not my favorite, although it is certainly not bad, either.

Otakinoyu and Shirohatayu have the more interesting waters. So does the small Jizonoyu public bath. The new bath next to the Yubatake features Yubatake and Bandaiko water in two different pools, so it is interesting to try them out both. But I imagine it to get crowded on busy days.

I recommend the Otakinoyu in terms of variety of pools, water and size. Even if it gets crowded, it does not feel overcrowded.

Thanks uji for all your help in the past, I also prefer the milky waters from the Yubatake source, do you know the names of all the establishments that sources the water from Yubatake, it will sure help me save more time in searching for a onsen bath house, money isn't a problem, i'm willing to pay for the cost of the entrance fee.

Are all water sourced from Yubatake the same temperature, i prefer the water to be very hot.


Thank

This file lists in detail what waters are available at what lodging:
http://www.yumomi.net/oshirase/gensen/gensen_list.pdf

As for the public baths:

Sainokawara Rotemburo: Bandaiko (transparent)
Otakinoyu: Nikawa (bluish, somewhat milky I think)
Gozanoyu: Yubatake and Bandaiko (both are quite transparent, but Yubatake feels better)
Shirahata no Yu (small community bath): Shirahata (slightly milky, I think)
Jizo no yu (small community bath): Jizo (I have this in good memory, although I don't remember the details. This is also where you can experience jikanyu)

Kusatsu's water is generally not as milky as seen in really milky baths elsewhere, but many of the waters are somewhat bluish and a little bit milky. I think the milkiness also depends on how the water is treated, e.g. reaction between water and air, etc.

In any case, all the waters give the skin a wonderful smooth feeling - and of course - wonderful sulfur smell. For people with sensitive skin, the waters may be too strong.

Thanks for the quick reply, I intend to book my room for 2 nights at iijimakan, http://www.iijimakan.com/ or Gokuraku-kan, http://www.gokurakukan.com/

iijimakan sourced the water from Yubatake, whiles Gokuraku-kan sourced from Bandaiko and with self mixed water.


My visit will be on 9th and 10th October, do you think if I book on the 6th October, will this be too late, booking through internet isn't that easy, and not sure if they accept foreigners or chinese.

Also which of the two ryokan listed above would you recommend.

My visit will be on 9th and 10th October, do you think if I book on the 6th October, will this be too late

Since it is a regular weekday, Kusatsu will likely have quite a lot of vacancies. Whether your preferred lodgings will have vacancies is a different question.

booking through internet isn't that easy

The two specific lodgings seems to be difficult to reserve online, but note that many others in Kusatsu can easily be reserved online through sites like the following:
http://www.japanican.com/
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/
http://www.agoda.com/asia/japan/kusatsu.html?site_id=25544

and not sure if they accept foreigners or chinese.

Some lodgings without foreign language staff don't feel comfortable hosting guests that they cannot communicate with. So, in case you do not speak Japanese, I recommend to reserve a hotel/ryokan that has a foreign language website and/or can be reserved in a foreign language.

Also which of the two ryokan listed above would you recommend.

I am not familiar with either. Both are relatively centrally located - within walking distance of the yubatake - which is good. The Gorakukan generally gets the higher ratings among the two.

Thanks for the info.

most of the ryokan from those links are rather expensive.

This site can do the booking for me.

Kusatsu Onsen Inn Owners Cooperative

www.yumomi.net



iijimakan was their recommendation, as they say Gokuraku-kan don't accept foreigners, but then I cannot seem to find Gokuraku-kan in there list

iijimakan has a room with dinner and breakfast at 6500Yen, but they charge 7500Yen.

What do you think of this place, it seem quite close to Yubatake and rather cheap at YEN 6000 with breakfast.

http://www.ohruri.com/hotel_12/

Thanks for the info.
most of the ryokan from those links are rather expensive.

What is your budget? I'm seeing lots of listings for 20,000 or less for 2 people including meals, which tends to fall more on the inexpensive end for ryokan.

iijimakan was their recommendation

Looks pretty normal, and is relatively close to the Yubatake.

iijimakan has a room with dinner and breakfast at 6500Yen, but they charge 7500Yen.

They seem to have several plans ranging from 6000 yen (weekday, dinner, no breakfast) to 10650 yen (weekend, 10 course dinner).

http://www.iijimakan.com/reserve/index.html

What do you think of this place, it seem quite close to Yubatake and rather cheap at YEN 6000 with breakfast.
http://www.ohruri.com/hotel_12/

The location is great (right at the foot of the yubatake). Otherwise, its a pretty old hotel. BTW, the 6000 yen rate includes 2 meals.

Thanks yllwsmrf and uji for your help.

I will be traveling along, and as for my budget in kusatsu for hotel, it could be anything upto 18000 yen a night jus for the hotel, but I'd rather spend more money on other things rather than the hotel.


http://www.iijimakan.com/

i like the idea of iijimakan offering 8 course dinner and breakfast for 6500yen, and the place is rather close to the Yubatake, but it's quite difficult to book there, Kusatsu Onsen Inn Owners Cooperative

can help me book, but they charge 1000yen on top.

http://www.gokurakukan.com/

Gokuraku-kan is good, at about 8500 yen without meal, the place looks good, but hard to reserve a room.


http://www.ohruri.com/hotel_12/

is really cheap, and I can book through www.booking.com at 13000 yen for 2 nights including breakfast only.


I do prefer to go there and book a hotel or ryokan, but uji recommend me not to, as it waste time, and i'll have a big problem if no room are available.

Is it recommended to as my hotel in ueno when I get there on the 6th, to do the booking for me or will this be too late.


all in all i'm still deciding which of the 3 ryokan to choose, theere is more chance i'll go for the iijimaka.

I will be spending most of my time out of the hotel, even if i paid for dinner or breakfast, i'll probably be eating outside.

sorry, my stay in kusatsu is on the 9th and 10th october for 2 nights, i will be arriving in tokyo on the 6th october about 2-3pm.

I do prefer to go there and book a hotel or ryokan, but uji recommend me not to, as it waste time, and i'll have a big problem if no room are available.

I'd try to book ahead of time if possible. Many places won't even take same day reservations.

Is it recommended to as my hotel in ueno when I get there on the 6th, to do the booking for me or will this be too late.

Midweek tends to not be so busy, so I think you'll have a good chance of finding a place if you ask your hotel to help you make the reservation. Maybe keep a backup place in mind just in case.

Personally, I'd probably just pay the extra 1000 yen to have the ryokan owners coop get the reservation for me in advance so its one less thing for me to worry about.

just want to know, on my visit to kusatsu, I will be trying out a few places which includes Sainokawara Rotemburo, Shirohatanoyu, Otakinoyu and may be along with others around the same area's including the ryokan's very own bath.

As they all provide different water quality, and was told that after the onsen water I shouldn't take a bathe to clean up, but allow the onsen water to take effect on my body, will using different bath affect the water benefits.

Does anyone know if you can buy from the local shops, powder/minerals forms of the minerals found in the kusatsu waters, the reasons I asked, so friends of mine asked for me to bring some back.

NHK World had a program today about Kusatsu - there was some information about the powder called Yunohana that is sold there in limited quantities...see info on this link:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/seasoning/index.html

Thanks for the information, do you know what I should ask for if I want to purchase these from kusatsu.

Does anyone know if you can buy from the local shops, powder/minerals forms of the minerals found in the kusatsu waters, the reasons I asked, so friends of mine asked for me to bring some back.

Yes, its called Yunohana (as Maranyc mentioned). I wouldn't say its only available in limited quantities as practically every shop carries it, usually in yellow, cone shaped packages.

Thansk, is it possible to have the name done in japanese.

Here you go:

“’‚̉Ô

And here's some pics:

https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&q=%E8%8D%89%E6%B4%A5%E6%B8%A9%E...

Thanks for the quick reply, with all the different packaging, brands and variations, are there any differences between them, how do you look for a quality product, and do they all just disolve in hot water for use.

thanks.