famous road
Philosopher's Path
A peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
16 km · about 30 min drive
AsiaJapanShiga
Kusatsu
Shiga, Japan · Asia
About Kusatsu
Kusatsu works well as a base: 10 minutes from Moriyama, 16km from Philosopher's Path.
Kusatsu is in Shiga, Japan, with about 140,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Moriyama, about 6 km away.
Kusatsu (草津市, Kusatsu-shi) is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city lies on Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. As of 31 January 2024, the city had an estimated population of 139,913 in 63,942 households and a population density of 2100 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 67.82 squareRead more
kilometres (26.19 sq mi). The city is often confused with Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture, which is a famous hot spring resort.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kusatsu?
Within an hour or so of Kusatsu: Philosopher's Path (16 km), Gion District (17 km), Kiyomizu-dera (17 km), Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari-taisha) (18 km).
Are there any good drives near Kusatsu?
The nearest famous roads are Philosopher's Path and Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail.
Where is Kusatsu?
Kusatsu is in Shiga, Japan, about 6 km from Moriyama.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 143,913
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Shiga
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.0167, 135.9667
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Kusatsu
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Gion District
Kyoto's most famous geisha district with preserved wooden machiya townhouses, traditional teahouses, and cobblestone streets.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Kiyomizu-dera
A historic Buddhist temple perched on a hillside with a massive wooden stage offering sweeping views over Kyoto.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari-taisha)
An iconic Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates that wind through the forested slopes of Mount Inari.
18 km · about 20 min drive
cafe
Kissa Soirée
A 1948 Kyoto tearoom lit entirely in blue, its walls hung with paintings by Seiho Takehisa. Famous for jelly punch, a glass of coloured gelatin cubes that glows under the blue light.
18 km · about 20 min drive
cafe
Inoda Coffee Honten
A Kyoto kissaten founded in 1940, serving its Arabian Pearl blend pre-mixed with sugar and milk by default. The wood-panelled original room off Sakaimachi street is a working institution, not a revival.
19 km · about 20 min drive
restaurant
Honke Daiichi Asahi
A Kyoto ramen shop by the station serving soy-based pork-bone broth with stacked chashu and heaps of leek since 1947. Queues form outside from breakfast onwards, alongside its long-time rival next door.
19 km · about 20 min drive
castle
Nijō Castle
A flatland castle in Kyoto built by the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, famous for its nightingale floors and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
20 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Kusatsu
- 16 kmPhilosopher's PathA peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
- 74 kmMount YoshinoJapan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spot with over 30,000 trees covering an entire mountainside in waves of pink each spring.
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