Kusatsu onsen, one day? from Tokyo

Hello,

I am planning my schedule for my summer trip, one of my stops would be Kusatsu Onsen and I'd come from Tokyo, should I overnight there? or it is OK if I pick an early train and come back to Tokyo, I already have a night in Tokyo and cannot cancel it , what would you do?

Hi, I would overnight there. Out of the onsen towns I've been to, Kusatsu is the most fun at night with everyone milling about in the town centre with their yukata on and the sulphur flow is all lit up.

Onsen is more than just bathing - you need to experience the whole ryokan culture. Personally, one night is too rushing for me. But if your schedule is very tight, one night is better than no night. Learn to relax at an onsen.

One thing I would mention is that if you are looking to overnight (or two) make sure that your room has air conditioning. We stayed 2 nights in a good ryokan at Kusatsu, nice room but no air conditioning (first time that has happened to us). It was early may last year which was unseasonably warm and we nearly cooked in the room - though that did encourage us to get out and about at night which was fun.

All depends on what you plan to do/see in Kusatsu.

If you'd really like to soak up the onsen culture (pun fully intended, haha) then I agree with the previous comments - stay a night or two.

If you're happy with just a quick peek at the town and enjoying a nice, relaxing detour from the big city, then sure - a day trip will work. I've done that myself and thought it was well worth the time/effort ... but bear in mind that I speak from the perspective of one who loves visiting onsen towns and yet has never set foot in anything bigger than an ashiyu, and has no plans of dipping any deeper than that. (Yes I know that sounds bizarre but I'm really not a soaker; I won't burden you with the reasons.)

https://ittekuru.com/2019/05/05/field-report-kusatsu-onsen-gunma-japan...

Cheers.

Finally I decided to book a night, although it won't be my first time in an onsen place, I've been before in Noboribetsu and Beppu, I think it will be worth, I bookd a ryokan 5 min walking from Yubatake with dinner and breakfast. Hope it will be worth

By the way, is the town very big? considering I will overnight 1 night in a ryokan is it necessary to wake up very early to go there or if I arrive there let's say at midday it's enough to walk around the onsen town and have dinner and a walk at night?

By the way, is the town very big?
No, it is a small place. Spend 3 to 6 hours, you'd see plenty.