Kusatsu is a well-known hot-spring town high in the mountains of Gunma. In winter, steam rises from the Yubatake into the cold air, the central square is lit after dark, and yumomi shows run during the day.
Here's what to know for winter 2026-27: when the illumination is on (November 21 to February 23), when you can catch the yumomi show and what it costs, how to get to Kusatsu from Tokyo in winter, and how to dress for sub-zero nights.
Plan a winter trip around two things: the Yubatake illumination (nightly from 5 p.m., November 21, 2026 to February 23, 2027) and the yumomi show (six times a day, 700 yen for adults).
The Yubatake After Dark in Winter
The Yubatake is an open-air hot spring area at the center of town. It isn't gated, so you can walk around it freely at any hour.
At night the steam glows white under the lights, and in winter, seasonal lights brighten the whole square.
This display is the "Yubatake Tree and Illumination 2026," run by the Kusatsu Town Merchants' Association. It is lit every night from November 21, 2026 to February 23, 2027, 5 p.m. to midnight, at two plazas beside the Yubatake.
The lighting ceremony, with a small giveaway while supplies last, happens on only two days: November 21 and December 25, both at 5 p.m. There is no ceremony on other nights, so if you're going for the giveaway, visit on one of those two dates.
Nearby, candles called "Yume no Akari" glow on the steps below the gate of Kozen-ji Temple. They are lit only on select Saturdays, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.: December 19, 2026, and January 16, February 20 and March 20, 2027, and are canceled in bad weather.
The Yumomi Show at Netsu-no-yu: Times and Price
Netsu-no-yu sits right by the Yubatake, a short walk from the Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal. Performers stir the hot-spring water with long wooden boards to the rhythm of Kusatsu-bushi, a local folk song.
There are six regular shows a day (the morning and afternoon times listed below), each about 30 minutes.
Show | Times |
|---|---|
Morning (daily) | 9:30 / 10:00 / 10:30 a. |
Afternoon (daily) | 3:30 / 4:00 / 4:30 p. |
Extra shows (select days) | 11:00 a. |
Night show (select days) | 8:00 p. |
Admission is 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for elementary-school children, tax included. Tickets go on sale at the Netsu-no-yu window 30 minutes before each show.
The six regular shows are held daily, but the extra shows and the night show happen only on certain days. Check the venue's monthly calendar for performance dates and any closures before planning your visit.
You can also stir the water yourself: the hands-on session is held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. and costs 300 yen (elementary-school age and up).
Getting to Kusatsu from Tokyo in Winter
By rail, take the Kusatsu-Shima limited express from Ueno to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes (the limited-express charge is on top of the base fare).
From Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, the JR Bus Kanto ride to the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal takes about 25 minutes and costs around 700 yen one way (check JR Bus Kanto for the exact fare). Buses run more than a dozen times a day and are scheduled to connect with the trains.
To skip the transfer, the direct "Joshu Yumeguri / Tokyo Yumeguri" highway buses run from Tokyo Station and Busta Shinjuku straight to the terminal, in about four hours, roughly 3,000 to 4,300 yen one way (check Kosoku Bus Net for the exact fare).
Route | Time | Typical one-way fare |
|---|---|---|
Limited express + JR bus | About 3 hours | Train fares + about 700 yen bus (one transfer) |
Direct highway bus | About 4 hours | About 3,000–4,300 yen |
The direct bus requires no transfer and is usually the cheaper, simpler choice. The train saves about an hour, but it means changing to a bus at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi, where you'll pay the base fare and limited-express surcharge plus roughly 700 yen for the bus.
It's about a five-minute walk from the terminal to the Yubatake.
The Shirane-kazan bus line is closed for winter, and the Shiga-Kusatsu Kogen Route (Route 292) has been closed since October 27, 2026. Both lead toward Mt. Shirane and are separate from the main route from Tokyo. Snow and ice can delay buses, so leave a buffer for the trip home.
What to Wear for a Kusatsu Winter
At around 1,200 meters, the cold is real. By the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991-2020 normals, Kusatsu's monthly mean temperature is −1.2°C in December, −4.1°C in January and −3.6°C in February.
The mean daily low is −4.8°C in December and −7.8°C in both January and February, and some mornings drop below that. Days can stay under freezing, and the Yubatake is colder still after dark.
Dress for it with a heavy coat, gloves, a scarf, a knit hat and layers you can adjust. Choose waterproof, non-slip shoes for snow and ice, and pack spare socks so you don't get chilled after a soak.
Planning Your Winter Visit
The daytime yumomi shows are normally held every day, so you can catch one even if you arrive at midday. To pair one with the evening lights, staying overnight makes the timing easier.
A day trip still works for a midday show plus the early-evening lights, as long as you check the last bus back before you set out. For another snowy hot-spring town in winter, see Ginzan Onsen in Winter.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.