Onsen articles

N4 Kusatsu guide · 4 sections

草津温泉くさつおんせんたのしみかた

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.

  1. 草津温泉くさつおんせん群馬県ぐんまけんある有名ゆうめいですまち中心ちゅうしん、「というおおきな場所ばしょありますからあつ温泉おんせんつくられた何本なんぼんみちながれていますしろがる景色けしき草津温泉くさつおんせんです

    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.

  2. 草津温泉くさつおんせんとてもあつためむかしからという使つかわれてきましたながみずれないでげますいま湯畑ゆばたけちかある熱乃湯ねつのゆもみショーことができます

    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.

  3. 温泉おんせんはいだけでなくあるいたりべたりするたのしいですよる湯畑ゆばたけされひるちがうつくしい景色けしきたのしめます

    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.

  4. あつかんじたときしないですこしずつはいりましょう草津温泉くさつおんせん日本にほん温泉街おんせんがい特別とくべつ一緒いっしょたの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
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

Vocabulary