Kusatsu, Gunma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Kusatsu's location in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. |
|
| Location | |
| Country | Japan |
| Prefecture | Gunma Prefecture |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 49.74 km² (19.20 sq mi) |
| Population (as of 2008) | |
| Total | 7,419 |
| Density | 149 /km² (386 /sq mi) |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Rhododendron |
 Symbol of Kusatsu |
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| Kusatsu Government Office | |
| Mayor | Nakazawa, Takashi |
| Address | 〒377-1792 Kusatsumachi, Ōaza Kusatsu, 28 |
| Phone number | 0279-88-0001 |
| Official website: Kusatsu | |
Contents |
[edit] Basic information
Kusatsu (jap. 草津町) is a small town in Agatsuma District (jap. 吾妻) in Gunma Prefecture (jap. 群馬) in the centre of Japan. Kusatsu is situated about 1200 meters above sea level. The active volcano Mt.Shirane (jap. 白根山, 2160 meters high) and the (not volcanic) Mt.Tengu (jap. 天狗山, 1385 meters high) and Mt.Motoshirane (jap. 本白根山, 2171 meters high) are located west of Kusatsu.
[edit] Climate
Due to the altitude Kusatsu’s annual average temperature is 7°C, with a maximum temperature of around 30°C during summer and a minimum temperature of -14°C in winter. The main rainy season is from June to September.
[edit] Population, economy and infrastructure
Kusatsu has a population of 7419, which is slowly decreasing. The town’s main income is tourism (about 90% of the working population is employed in the tertiary sector), there is only very little industry and almost no agriculture. Kusatsu’s infrastructure is well developed: Besides the road 292, there is a bus connection from the Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi station (jap.長野原草津口) as well as a bus connection from Shinjuku (jap.新宿) , Tokyo. During the winter season the streets are kept free of snow using Onsen water.
[edit] Onsen
Kusatsu is one of the most popular hot springs resorts in Japan and regularly achieves high rankings in Japan-wide surveys. There are about 100 Onsen in Kusatsu with a total amount of about 34000 liters water per minute pouring out of the ground. The water is sulfurous and acid. The hot springs are said to help curing the following ailments: arthralgia, stiff shoulders, paralysis, hardenings, bruises, sprains, chronic indigestion, hemorrhoids, chills, arteriosclerosis, burns, chronic gynecological disorders. The water from the Onsen is used not only for bathing but also for the heating of the primary and secondary schools, the municipal welfare center, the streets during winter and many households, as well as for the municipal swimming pool.
[edit] Sister cities
Kusatsu has quite a few sister cities in Japan and all over the world. In Japan these are mostly Onsen or Sea resorts such as:
Hayama (jap.葉山)- Noboribetsu Onsen (jap.登別温泉)
- Gero Onsen (jap.下呂温泉)
- Arima Onsen (jap.有馬温泉)
Another sister city is Kusatsu in Shiga prefecture (jap.滋賀).
Outside Japan Kusatsu has the following sister cities:
Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. The town in which Kusatsu’s benefactor Erwin Bälz was born. The contacts with this sister town are the most intensive. There is an annual student exchange.
Neustift, Austria. Winter sport resort town. Contact established through the Austrian national ski team.
Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad, Carlsbad), Czech Republic. Spa resort town, was compared with Kusatsu by Bälz.
Snowy River, Australia. This town is located on the same latitude as Kusatsu, only on the southern half of the world.
Kusatsu is member of the “Romantic road Japan” (jap.日本ロマンチック街道, Nihon romanchikku kaidô) from Komoro (jap.小諸市) in Nagano prefecture to Nikkô (jap.日光) in Tochigi prefecture. This road is a "partner road" to the German romantic road.
[edit] The history of Kusatsu
[edit] Yayoi period
The legendary origin of Kusatsu goes back to the second century during the Yayoi period. Following the legend, either Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (jap.日本武尊) or Yamabushi (jap.山伏) discovered the hot springs around Kusatsu. There is no historical evidence, however. There is evidence that Yamato Takeru no Mikoto named the towns Tsumagoi (jap.嬬恋) and Agatsuma (jap.吾妻) after his wife (the term “tsuma” is one way to express “wife” in Japanese). Since both towns are in the proximity of Kusatsu, we do know that people at least settled near Kusatsu at that time.
[edit] Kamakura period
Up to the 12th century there is no specific record of Kusatsu. The local lore tells that in 1193, Minamoto Yoritomo (jap.源頼朝) came to Kusatsu in pursue of fleeing Heike (jap.平家) warriors. He then bathed in the Yubatake (jap.湯畑). The Gozaishi (jap.御座石, illustrious seat, royal seat) on which Yoritomo sat, and the Yoritomo-gû (jap.頼朝宮, Yoritomo-palace) in which he is said to have bathed, can be visited until this day, near the Yubatake. The narration also tells, that there was a lot of undergrowth near the Yubatake, which was cut by Yoritomo, so we can reason that there wasn’t a settlement near today’s Kusatsu yet. Kusatsu’s history began in 1200 when the Kôsenji (jap.光泉寺, Kôsenji: Light of the hot springs - temple) was founded. Records can be found in the annals of Kusatsu.
[edit] Sengoku period
Almost 400 years later, during the Sengoku period, there is more evidence for the existence of Kusatsu, which, in the meantime, had grown to what is nowadays known as a hot springs resort. Mostly wounded Samurai came here to tend to their wounds. In the Tôdaishiryôhensanjoeishabon (jap.東大史料編纂所影写本, Tokyo University Historiographical Book Of Facsimiles) we can find a correspondence between Tokugawa Ieyasu (jap.徳川家康) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (jap.豊臣秀吉) on the following issue: In the year 1595 (Bunroku 4) Hideyoshi recommended the Kusatsu hot springs to Ieyasu. The latter, however was ill and couldn’t go to Kusatsu himself, so he advised his servants to fetch some water from Kusatsu and bring it to his residence in Edo (Tokyo). Actually it can be reasoned that Ieyasu only feigned illness in order to avoid going to Kusatsu, as the Sanada clan (jap.真田), which was hostile towards Ieyasu, resided in the vicinity of Kusatsu, in Ueda Castle (jap.上田).
[edit] Edo period
During the Edo period, especially the Bakumatsu, Kusatsu experienced an unprecedented economic growth and became one of Japan’s best known hot springs. Although an ever increasing number of Japanese infected themselves with venereal diseases like gonorrhoea and syphilis in Tokyo’s red light districts like Yoshiwara, at the time, besides bathing in hot springs, there was no medicine or treatment known in Japan for these ailments. The saying: “Kusatsu sengen Edo gamae” (jap.草津千軒江戸構え) also goes back to this time and means: A thousand stores, just like in (the shopping districts in) Edo.
[edit] Meiji period
In the year 1869 (Meiji 2) Kusatsu burned to the ground. The town was reconstructed within a few years, however many townspeople eventually ran into debts. In the wake of these debts many small enterprises, especially Ryokan (jap. hotel) went bankrupt during the next 20 years. At that time many of the inhabitants of Kusatsu abandoned the traditional practice of “Fuyuzumi” (jap.冬住み), which meant leaving Kusatsu in wintertime and returning to their hometowns, located further down the mountains. The townspeople sold their old homes, in order to repay their debts and began to live in Kusatsu all year long. In 1876 (Meiji 9) Dr. Erwin Bälz, a German internist came to Kusatsu for the first time. Dr. Erwin Bälz was one of the fathers of modern western medical science in Japan and court physician to the emperor. He was convinced of the healing power of the hot springs in Kusatsu, thus began the scientific research of the hot springs and convinced the townspeople of the necessity to teach the correct application of the hot springs to Japanese medical doctors. Furthermore he made Kusatsu well-known in Europe, a fact for which the inhabitants of Kusatsu are grateful even today.
[edit] From Taishô to Heisei
In 1914 (Taishô 3) the Kusatsu ski club was founded.
In 1926 (Taishô 15) the construction of the Kusakaru denki tetsudô (jap.草軽電気鉄道) railway line between Kusatsu and Karuizawa (jap.軽井沢), which had been begun in 1908 (Meiji 41) was finished.
In 1948 (Shôwa 23) a ski lift was erected on Tenguyama (jap.天狗山, Mt. Tengu), near Kusatsu. It was the first ski lift in Japan and Kusatsu became one of the first ski resorts in Japan, too.
In 1964 (Shôwa 39) the service of the railway line was terminated, as it became unprofitable, due to the shut down of a sulfur pit nearby.
In 1992 (Heisei 4) and 1994 (Heisei 6) Ogiwara Kenji (jap.荻原健司) from Kusatsu won two Olympic gold medals in the Nordic combined team events, as well as three world cup championships (twice individual, once team) in Nordic skiing between 1993 and 1997. His brother Tsugiharu (jap.次晴) won the world championship with the Japanese team in 1995.
[edit] Sights and events
[edit] Yubatake
The Yubatake (jap.湯畑), one of the biggest hot springs and main attraction of the town, is located in the center of Kusatsu. The spring water pours out of the rock and is then conducted through several rows of wooden boxes. In those wooden boxes Yu no hana (jap.湯の花) one of Kusatsus specialties is cultivated. The word Yubatake accordingly means “hot water field”. Around the Yubatake there are 100 name plates of famous persons that visited Kusatsu attached. Internationally well-know are: Erwin Bälz (German internist), Julius Scriba (German medical doctor, surgeon), Bruno Taut (German architect), Ernest Satow (British researcher of Japan, diplomat), Tanaka Kakuei (jap.田中角栄, Japanese prime minister 1972 - 1974), Rikidôzan (jap.力道山, Korean pro-wrestler). On the lower part of the Yubatake there is a small cascade and the rock has an emerald shade. This is one of the most popular spots for souvenir pictures.
[edit] Netsu no yu
The Netsu no yu (jap.熱の湯, really hot springs), though located adjacent to the Yubatake, is a hot spring in it’s own right. The water is about 54 degrees hot, so, naturally, it is not possible to bathe in it. For that reason there is the ancient tradition of Yumomi (jap.湯もみ) which means kneading or bashing the water. Using 1,80 meters long wooden boards the hot water is stirred, bashed, kneaded and thus cooled down. The simple method, pouring cold water into the hot water is not practiced because the healing power of the water would diminish. During the Yumomi ceremony the Kusatsu song is sung and Japanese traditional dance is performed.
[edit] The Bälz museum
The Bälz museum is another of Kusatsu’s attractions. Located at the entrance of Kusatsu visitors can inform themselves about the life and work of Erwin Bälz. Furthermore there is a souvenir shop with goods mostly from Germany and the Czech republic.
[edit] Onsen
There are more than 100 Onsen in Kusatsu. The biggest and most popular are:
- Ootaki no yu (jap.大滝の湯, great waterfall hot spring) is named after spring water forming a waterfall. The building itself is made from wood and there is one basin on the inside and one on the outside (jap.露天風呂: Rotenburo). The service in this Onsen is very extensive: There are massage chairs, footbaths, relax rooms and more.
- Sai no kawara (jap.西の河原, roughly: western riverbed) is an outside basin of approximately 500 ㎡, which can be used by more than 100 guests at once. For the separation of genders it is divided by a wooden fence. Located in a valley overflowing with hot springs it is one of the most beautiful Rotenburo of Japan.
- The Bälz Onsen Center, situated on a plateau near Mt. Tengu (jap.天狗山, Tenguyama) ski area, offers a great scenery with lots of nature all around. It is popular as an Après-ski recreation.
[edit] Flowers
Another of Kusatsu’s attractions are the mountain flowers growing in and around Kusatsu. The most famous ones are:
Watasuge (ワタスゲ, Eriophorum Vaginatum, Hare’s tail cotton grass), Zazensou （ザゼンソウ, Simplocarpus foetidus, Skunk cabbage),
Azumashakunage （アズマシャクナゲ, Rhododendron Metternichii var. Japonica, a kind of Rhododendron）, Hakusanshakunage （ハクサンシャクナゲ, Rhododendron brachycarpum, a kind of Rhododendron）, Rengetsutsuji （レンゲツツジ, Rhododendron molle subsp. Japonicum, a kind of Azalea）,
Yanagiran （ヤナギラン, Epilobium angustifolium, Rosebay Willowherb）, Nanakamado （ナナカマド, Sorbus commixta, Japanese Rowan）, Ezorindô (エゾリンドウ, Gentiana triflora var. Japonica, blue Gentian）, Komakusa (コマクサ, Dicentra peregrina, a kind of Magnolia).
[edit] Festivals and events
During the year there are a number of traditional festivals as well as a number of other events happening in Kusatsu.
- One of the most important festivals is the Music Academy in summer, which attracts famous musicians from all over Japan and even from abroad. The Japanese empress also visits the Music academy every year.
- The Kôsenji hanamatsuri (jap.光泉寺花祭り, Kôsenji flower festival) on 7/8th, May is a much more traditional festival. The children of the Kindergarten near Kôsenji pull an elephant made of paper around the Yubatake in celebration of Buddha’s birthday.
- The Himuro no Sekku (jap.氷室の節句, Ice-cave festival) happens on the first of June. Ice is brought from a cave in Mt.Shirane, which was formed by an eruption of the volcano, and then it is used to make tea with it. According to the legend anyone who drinks this special tea will not get ill in the following year.
- During the first three days of August the Onsen kanshamatsuri (jap.温泉感謝祭り, Onsen gratitude festival) takes place.
This traditional festival has it’s origins in the Ushiyumatsuri (jap.丑湯祭り), which in accordance with the Chinese calendar is celebrated during the hottest time of the year on the day of the ox. According to the lore those that bathe in an Onsen in the hour of the ox (one to three AM) will not get ill for one year. In contrast, today’s ceremony is totally different: The goddess of Onsen descends the stairs at Kôsenji (jap.光泉寺) symbolizing the descent from heaven. She then gathers water from seven big hot springs in Kusatsu and distributes the water to the baths in Kusatsu. On the third day she ascends the stairs to Kôsenji, representing the ascent to heaven. Through this ceremony the blessing of the gods is granted, which will make sure that the springs won’t run dry.
- In addition, the following events are taking place in Kusatsu: Tour de Kusatsu (amateur bicycle race), Yuki no kairô walking (jap.雪の回廊ウォーキング, hiking through a valley of snow walls several meters high), soccer and skiing events.
[edit] Souvenirs
- Yu no hana (jap.湯の花), which means „hot water flower“, is extracted from the hot water at the Yubatake and consists of mineral sediment (mostly sulfur), which, dried, is sold as powder by the town. Using Yu no hana, guests can experience Onsen at home.
- Hanaingen mame (jap.花インゲン豆) is a kind of sweet made of a special sort of highland beans, which doesn’t bear any fruit below 700 meters above sea level. First the beans are dried, then put into water and finally they are cooked in sugar. The details of the making process are a company secret.
- Manjû (jap.まんじゅう) is a well-known sweet in Japan, consisting of a pastry crust made of flour, rice powder and buckwheat and a filling made of Azuki bean paste. In Onsen resorts Manjû were often steamed using the steam rising from the hot springs.
[edit] Lakes and waterfalls around Kusatsu
There are a number of impressive waterfalls and beautiful crater lakes. The most famous ones are: Yugama located 2100 meters above sea level (jap.湯釜, kettle) is the crater lake of Mt.Shirane. It boasts a very high acidity and an emerald-green surface. The Yumiike (jap.弓池, bow lake), 2000 meters above sea level is located between Mt.Shirane and Mt.Motoshirane. It’s water is crystal clear. The Ôsen no taki (jap.嫗仙の滝) and the Jôfu no taki (jap.常布の滝) are waterfalls near Kusatsu.
[edit] The ski area
The Kusatsu international ski area (jap.草津国際スキー場, Kusatsu kokusai sukijô) on Mt.Tengu and Mt.Shirane is over 90 years old and besides the Onsen one of the main attractions of Kusatsu. The ski area extends from 2100 meters above sea level down to 1300 meters above sea level. The snow quality is very good and there are ten different routes for all difficulty levels as well as twelve lifts. The longest route is eight km long.
[edit] External links
- Kusatsu official website (In Japanese)
- Kusatsu Onsen Resort website
- Kusatsu Onsen Tourism Association website
[edit] Sources
川合勇太郎、草津温泉史話、1966年、群馬県吾妻郡草津町、3－7－2、シゲハラ Kawaai Yûtarô, Onsenshiwa, 1966, Gunma-ken, Agatsuma-Gun, Kusatsu-Machi, 3-7-2 Shigehara
草津教育委員会、草津温泉の文化財、1998年、草津町 Kusatsu Kyôikuiinkai, Kusatsuonsen no Bunkazai, 1998, Asahiinsatsukôgyô Kabushikigaisha
ベルツ記念館、館長沖津弘良、時の移ろい (出版無し) Erwin von Bälz Museum, director Okitsu Hiroyoshi, Toki No Utsuroi (not published)
ー峰大二、漫画草津町誌、2000年、草津町 Kazumine Daiji, Manga Kusatsumachishi, 2000, Kusatsumachi
名湯草津温泉百科、旅館協会 Kusatsu Ryokankyôkai, Meiyukusatsu Onsen Hyakka
草津Style、観光協会、2007年 Kusatsu Kankô Kyôkai, Kusatsu Style, 2007
Kusatsu – The Kusatsu Guide 2002 年(2007年編集)、草津町公営事業部 Kusatsu municipal business division, Kusatsu – The Kusatsu Guide 2002 (edited 2007)
草津・草津観光要覧、草津町観光商工課 Kusatsu municipal tourism division, Kusatsu – Kusatsu tourism index
湯畑刻名・草津に歩みし百人、草津町役場企画開発課、1999年 Kusatsu town hall, special project division, Yubatake VIPs – 100 famous people that visited Kusatsu, 1999
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Ogiwara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsugiharu_Ogiwara
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8D%BB%E5%8E%9F%E5%81%A5%E5%8F%B8
