Once you go down from Kosenji, you will see onf the largest public bath houses right in the center known as Gozanoyu.
During the Edo and Meiji period there were five communal hot springs and one of them was Gozanoyu.
Gozonoyu features a wooden building similar to what people saw during the Edoo and Meiji area featuring a a beautiful room and cedar plating, one can experience the history and culture of Kusatsu hot springs at this location.
There are different types of hot springs inside Gozonoyu, which one can experience inexpensively for Y2000 (for 1 hour) – which is like under $20US. The business hours is 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., last entry is at 7:30 p.m. From December 1 to March 31st, it is 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
And the rooms are separated for men and women.
Admission free is 600 yen for auldts and 300 yen for children to go inside. There are also sales items such as towels, milk, coffee milk. You can rent a yukata for Y2500 for three hours (reception area to rent is available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
There is shampoo and body soap available and dressing rooms have hairdryers for men and women.
You will spot an area where you can smell the onsen/sulfur portion. This is not for people to go inside but to see and smell the actual spring without the filtration. People throw coins inside it, although there are signs not to.
Some people have different interpretations of the smell of the sulfur, some find it pleasing. To me, it kind of smelled like smelly eggs. But to each their own.
But now it’s time to go the place that I have been wanting to see…Yubatake Onsen!
