N4 Kusatsu guide · 4 sections
草津温泉の楽しみ方
How to enjoy Kusatsu Onsen
An N4 reading about Kusatsu’s Yubatake, the traditional yumomi method, and the pleasures of exploring the hot spring town by day and night.
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草津温泉は、群馬県にある有名なです。町の中心には、「」という大きな場所があります。では、から出た熱い温泉が、木で作られた何本もの道を流れています。白いが上がる景色は、草津温泉のです。
Kusatsu Onsen is a famous hot spring town in Gunma Prefecture. In the center of town is a large place called the Yubatake. There, hot spring water rising from underground flows through many wooden channels. The sight of white steam rising is the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen.
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草津温泉のお湯はとても熱いため、昔から「」というが使われてきました。長い木のでお湯を、水を入れないでを下げます。今は、湯畑の近くにある「熱乃湯」で、湯もみのショーを見ることができます。
Because Kusatsu’s water is very hot, a method called yumomi has been used since long ago. The water is stirred with long wooden paddles to lower its temperature without adding cold water. Today, you can watch a yumomi show at Netsunoyu near the Yubatake.
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温泉に入るだけでなく、を歩いたり、を食べたりするのも楽しいです。夜には湯畑がされ、昼とは違う美しい景色を楽しめます。
Besides bathing in the hot springs, it is also fun to walk through the onsen town and eat onsen manjū. At night, the Yubatake is illuminated, revealing a beautiful view that is different from the daytime.
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お湯が熱いと感じたときは、をしないで、少しずつ入りましょう。草津温泉では、日本のと温泉街の特別なを一緒に楽しむことができます。
If the water feels too hot, do not push yourself; enter it a little at a time. At Kusatsu Onsen, you can enjoy both Japan’s hot spring culture and the special atmosphere of an onsen town.
Study list · 16 words
Key vocabulary
Select any underlined word in the reading for a quick definition and Japanese pronunciation, or select a word or speaker button in the list below to hear its Japanese pronunciation.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 温泉地 | おんせんち | hot spring town; onsen resort area |
| 湯畑 | ゆばたけ | Yubatake; Kusatsu’s “hot-water field” |
| 地下 | ちか | underground; beneath the ground |
| 湯気 | ゆげ | steam rising from hot water |
| シンボル | シンボル | symbol; emblem |
| 湯もみ | ゆもみ | traditional stirring of hot spring water to cool it |
| 方法 | ほうほう | method; way |
| 板 | いた | board; wooden plank |
| かき混ぜる | かきまぜる | to stir; to mix |
| 温度 | おんど | temperature |
| 温泉街 | おんせんがい | the streets or district of a hot spring town |
| 温泉まんじゅう | おんせんまんじゅう | steamed sweet bun associated with onsen towns |
| ライトアップ | ライトアップ | illumination; decorative lighting |
| 無理 | むり | overdoing it; something unreasonable or impossible |
| 温泉文化 | おんせんぶんか | hot spring culture |
| 雰囲気 | ふんいき | atmosphere; ambience |