Kusatsu VII

After missing the annual ski trip last year when I visited Shirakawago and the Snow Monkeys with friends, I figured now was a good time to enjoy another trip.

I've been in Kusatsu so many times already that I was running out of things to do but I was still able to find some places to explore on the first day. I was able to have some alone time for the first time and first made my way to Shirahine Shrine. I loved the peaceful ambiance and the snow-covered area surrounding it. There were stone lanterns that led to a stone lion and a giant torii gate, all covered with snow too. I passed by an open field and saw a cute snowman in the middle, it gave off a melancholic vibe as it looked so lonely in all of that space. I passed by another Shinto shrine dedicated to Benzaiten before arriving at Nikkoji. I loved the crimson coloring of the temples and torii gates as they contrasted beautifully with the whites of the snow.

From here, it was a usual walk towards the Yubatake, still an impressive sight to see no matter how many times I've seen it. I also got a ticket to watch the Yumomi again, hoping to get front seats this time but I had to get the next time slot as the 3:30 PM one was already full. With a bit more time to spare, I noticed a pagoda and steps leading up to another temple. How odd that I've never once noticed this one which was actually one of the biggest temples in the area: Kosenji Temple. After climbing the stairs, I was immediately greeted by a slick black statue of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and there were also tiny Jizo statues on the right side. Right behind them was a giant pagoda which once again was an amazing color while the snow was falling all around it. After exploring the temple, I went back down and saw that there was already a huge line waiting to enter the theatre. I was able to squeeze in at the front and managed to nab myself some front-row seats. Again, super impressed with the dancing, singing, and the actual yumomi.

After the show, it still wasn't over as I still had time to explore Sainokawara Park again. Passing through the sulfur streams with green and yellow rocks and soil was like walking through another planet. The familiar shrine of Inari with numerous torii gates was also there. At the end of the park was the largest open-air bath in the area, one I was happy to partake in for an hour. It was an amazing experience as always to bathe in Kusatsu's waters.

After, I headed to the dinner place where we had a lot of yakitori and some more delicious food. I grabbed an ice cream on the way back to the hotel where I once again partook in another onsen before heading to bed and not getting sleep.Læs mere