mountain pass
Shibu Pass
At 2,172 m this is the highest point on any Japanese national highway, on Route 292 between Nagano and Gunma. In spring the road is cut through snow walls several metres high.
8 km · about 15 min drive
AsiaJapanGunma
Kusatsu
Gunma, Japan · Asia
About Kusatsu
Kusatsu works well as a base: 15 minutes from Naganohara, 18km from Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Kusatsu is in Gunma, Japan, with about 6,300 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Naganohara, about 8 km away.
Kusatsu (草津町, Kusatsu-machi) is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. In September 2020, the town had a population of 6,255, in 3,407 households, and a population density of 130 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 249.75 square kilometres (96.43 sq mi). Kusatsu is one of the most famous hot springsRead more
resorts in Japan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kusatsu?
Within an hour or so of Kusatsu: Shibu Pass (8 km), Jigokudani Monkey Park (18 km), Shibu Onsen (20 km), Mount Haruna Touge (28 km).
Are there any good drives near Kusatsu?
The nearest famous roads are Shibu Pass, Mount Haruna Touge and Usui Pass.
Where is Kusatsu?
Kusatsu is in Gunma, Japan, about 8 km from Naganohara.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 6,255
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Gunma
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 36.6167, 138.6000
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.
natural wonder
Jigokudani Monkey Park
A unique hot spring area where wild Japanese macaques famously bathe in steaming thermal pools surrounded by snow.
18 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Shibu Onsen
A cobbled onsen village of wooden inns where guests in yukata and geta make a circuit of nine small public bathhouses. It is the road-end village below the snow monkey valley.
20 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Mount Haruna Touge
The winding climb to Lake Haruna in Gunma, immortalised as 'Mount Akina' in Initial D. Gentle hairpins, a crater lake at the top, and constant pilgrimages by fans of Japan's street-racing manga.
28 km · about 35 min drive
mountain pass
Usui Pass
Historic pass on the old Nakasendo route between Gunma and Karuizawa, packed with 180-plus corners and the brick Megane-bashi viaduct. Another Initial D battleground beloved by drivers and rail historians alike.
31 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Nozawa Onsen
A steep village of thirteen free communal bathhouses maintained by residents, plus an open hot-spring cooking pool where locals blanch vegetables. The Oyu bathhouse is a wooden temple-roofed landmark at the centre.
37 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Bessho Onsen
A thousand-year-old spa at the foot of the Nagano hills, ringed by ancient temples including a rare octagonal three-storey pagoda. Three small public baths still serve the village for a few coins.
49 km · about 55 min drive
waterfall
Fukiware Falls
A 7 m fall where the Katashina River drops into a fissure worn through flat rock, earning it the name the Niagara of the East. A riverside walkway runs right along the rim.
55 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Kusatsu
- Right hereShibu PassAt 2,172 m this is the highest point on any Japanese national highway, on Route 292 between Nagano and Gunma. In spring the road is cut through snow walls several metres high.
- 28 kmMount Haruna TougeThe winding climb to Lake Haruna in Gunma, immortalised as 'Mount Akina' in Initial D. Gentle hairpins, a crater lake at the top, and constant pilgrimages by fans of Japan's street-racing manga.
- 31 kmUsui PassHistoric pass on the old Nakasendo route between Gunma and Karuizawa, packed with 180-plus corners and the brick Megane-bashi viaduct. Another Initial D battleground beloved by drivers and rail historians alike.
- 68 kmVenus LineA 76 km free touring road across Nagano's Kirigamine and Utsukushigahara highlands, rolling over open alpine meadows at up to 1,959 m. One of Japan's best-loved drives for bikers and grand tourers.
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