GUIDE TO: KUSATSU ONSEN TOWN

Jepang memang populer dengan pemandian air panas atau onsen, namun biasanya kita menikmati onsen yang tersedia di penginapan. Ada satu kota yang menjadi tujuan utama untuk menikmati onsen, alasannya? sumber air panas di kota ini merupakan salah satu air panas alami dengan kualitas terbaik di Jepang, selain itu air panas alami di kota ini pun mengalir terus memenuhi onsen yang tersebar di kota ini.

Japan is popular with hot water bath or onsen, but usually we enjoyed the onsen that is available at the inn. There is one town that is the main destination for enjoying onsen, why? Hot springs in this city are one of the natural hot springs with the highest quality in Japan, and not forget to mention that the natural hot springs in this town flowed continuously to fill up the onsens located all over the city.

 

KUSATSU ONSEN TOWN

Kusatsu Onsen Town, namanya pun sudah menggambarkan betapa onsen menjadi bagian hidup dari warga Kusatsu. Terletak di Prefektur Gunma, Jepang, Kusatsu telah terkenal sebagai destinasi untuk relaksasi dan menikmati onsen di Jepang. Sumber air panas Kusatsu yang berkualitas ditemukan oleh Doktor dari Jerman, Erwin Von Baels pada akhir abad 18 dan ia merekomendasikan Kusatsu sebagai lokasi sumber air panas terbaik untuk relaksasi maupun kesehatan.

Kusatsu Onsen Town, its name had already described how onsen become part of life of Kusatsu's citizens. Located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, Kusatsu has been well known as a destination for relaxation and enjoying onsen in Japan. High quality Kusatsu hot springs were discovered by Doctor Ervwin Baels from Germany, Erwin Von during the late 18th century, and he recommended Kusatsu as the best hot springs location for relaxation and health.

 

GETTING THERE

From TOKYO

Tokyo to Takasaki Station by Shinkansen Hakutaka/ Max Tanigawa/ Max Toki/ Asama (please check the Shinkansen schedule first), waktu tempuh sekitar 50 menit hingga 1 jam, harga tiket mulai dari ¥4.410

Tokyo to Takasaki Station by Shinkansen Hakutaka / Max Tanigawa / Max Toki / Asama (please check the schedule first Shinkansen), takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour, ticket prices ranging from ¥ 4,410

Takasaki Station to Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station by JR Agatsuma Line/  LTD Express Kusatsu, waktu tempuh 1 jam hingga 1,5 jam, harga tiket mulai dari ¥1.140

Takasaki Station to Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station by JR Agatsuma Line / LTD Express Kusatsu, takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours, ticket prices ranging from ¥ 1,140

Very long name, try to memorize it for fun :)

Always check the sign on the bus, "for Kusatsu Onsen"

enjoy the view!

Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal by JR Bus (¥700 one way)

Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal by JR Bus (¥ 700 one way)

WHERE TO WANDER IN KUSATSU

YUBATAKE

Area utama di Kusatsu Onsen Town ini juga merupakan simbol kota Kusatsu Onsen. Yubatake berarti lapangan dengan air panas, dan di area inilah sumber air Kusatsu "didinginkan" melalui penampang-penampang kayu memanjang hingga temperatur air panas tersebut layak untuk masuk ke pemandian air panas (onsen). 

The main areas in Kusatsu Onsen Town is also the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen city. Yubatake means the field with hot water, and in this area, the hot water of Kusatsu is "cooled" by a long cross-sectional woods until the temperature of hot water is eligible to enter the hot springs (onsen).

Setiap menit, sumber air panas Kusatsu Onsen menghasilkan 5000 liter air panas dan merupakan sumber air panas paling produktif di Jepang. Air yang keluar dengan suhu 70°C ini mengalir melalui kayu-kayu Yubatake sehingga suhunya turun dan cocok untuk onsen.

Every minute, Kusatsu Onsen hot springs produce 5000 liters of hot water and are the most productive hot springs in Japan. The water that exits with a temperature of 70° C flows through Yubatake's wood so that its temperature drops and is suitable for the onsen.

Dahulu di area tengah berbentuk kolam ini digunakan untuk pemandian air panas umum, namun kini kolam di Yubatake ini sebagai main tourist attraction, sementara untuk berendam air panas, kita dapat menikmati di berbagai onsen yang tersebar di Kusatsu.

Formerly, the pool-shaped area in the middle was used for public hot spring bath, but now this pool at Yubatake is used as the main tourist attraction, while for a hot bath, we can enjoy in various onsens all over Kusatsu.

SAI NO KAWARA PARK

Berkeliling kota Kusatsu Onsen dengan berjalan kaki sangat menyenangkan. Toko-toko menarik, bangunan dengan berbagai style, karena Kusatsu Onsen sejak dahulu menjadi area persinggahan, maka berbagai pengaruh pun meliputi Kusatsu yang terasa hingga kini.

Getting around Kusatsu Onsen on foot is very pleasant. Interesting shops, buildings with different styles, for Kusatsu Onsen long ago has become a transit area, the various influences that come to Kusatsu could be felt up until now.

The green pond matched the trees :)

Dengan berjalan kaki kurang dari 20 menit dari Yubatake, kita sudah dapat menikmati area Sai No Kawara Park, taman dengan sungai dan sumber air panas yang terlihat mengisi "kubangan-kubangan' kecil sehingga memberikan pemandangan landscape yang cukup unik. 

With walking distance of less than 20 minutes from Yubatake, we can enjoy Sai No Kawara Park area, a garden with rivers and hot springs that were seen filling small 'puddles' so as to provide a view of a landscape that is quite unique.

Di Sai No Kawara Park ini kita juga dapat berendam di onsen terbuka, yaitu Sai No Kawara Rotemburo, atau sekedar berjalanan kaki dan singgah di Shrine dengan jajaran torii gate merah yang menarik.

In Sai No Kawara Park we can also soak in the open onsen, namely Sai No Kawara Rotemburo, or just walking around and stop by at the Shrine with a range of attractive red torii gates.

YUMOMI PERFORMANCE

Hal lain yang tidak boleh dilewatkan adalah Yumomi Performance, yaitu cara tradisional warga Kusatsu untuk mengurangi suhu air panas di onsen agar layak untuk berendam dengan mengaduk air menggunakan kayu pipih besar.

Another thing that should not be missed is Yumomi Performance, which is the traditional way of Kusatsu citizens to reduce the temperature of hot water in order to be eligible for the onsen bathing water by stirring it using a large flat wood.

Me & Edna practising our Yumomi skills

Yumomi dilakukan oleh perempuan Kusatsu sambil menyanyikan lagu-lagu tradisional sebagai penyemangat, kita pun dapat ikut mencoba yumomi yang ternyata cukup berat (consider this as sport haha).

Yumomi is done by Kusatsu women singing traditional songs as encouragement, we can also go try yumomi which is quite heavy (consider this as sport haha).

Yumomi Performance

Netsunoyu Building

6 x performance per day: 9.30 AM, 10.00 AM, 10.30 AM, 3.30 PM, 4.00 PM & 4.30 PM

Entrance fee: ¥600, child ¥300

WHAT TO DO IN KUSATSU

ONSEN, WHAT ELSE? :)

Don't enter the wrong place :))

All onsen theme! Kawaii!

Gozanoyu Onsen

Of course, it's onsen town so you have to try it! Ada berbagai tempat untuk berendam air hangat di Kusatsu Onsen, mulai dari pemandian umum yang gratis, public bath dengan entrance fee, hingga pemandian di hotel dan ryokan, you gotta try Kusatsu Onsen famous hot spring, and relax! :)

Of course, it's onsen town so you have to try it! There are a variety of places to hot bath in Kusatsu Onsen, ranging from free public baths, public bath with entrance fee, to bath in the hotel and ryokan, you gotta try famous Kusatsu Onsen hot spring, and relax! :)

 

STAY

Loving the traditional feel at Ichii Hotel, Kusatsu Onsen

Ada banyak penginapan di Kusatsu Onsen, sebagian besar penginapan memiliki onsen (perempuan dan laki-laki terpisah, don't worry!)

There are many hotels in Kusatsu Onsen, most of the inn has onsen (women and men are separated, don't worry!)

ENJOY THE NIGHT

Saya selalu menyarankan teman untuk menginap di Kusatsu Onsen, dan bukan hanya one day trip saja karena Kusatsu Onsen di malam hari sangat cantik! Yubatake di malam hari terlihat mengepulkan asap dari air panas yang mengalir, asap yang terlihat semakin jelas karena terpapar sinar lampu-lampu bangunan di sekeliling Yubatake membuat pemandangan semakin indah!

I always recommend a friend to stay at Kusatsu Onsen, and not just for a one day trip because Kusatsu Onsen at night is very beautiful! Yubatake at night looks puffing of its hot running water, the smoke is seen more clearly because of exposure to the lights of the buildings around Yubatake and it makes the scenery more beautiful!

Onsen is one experience you gotta try in Japan, but this city is trully a nice onsen trip!

@marischkaprue - her adventure is in Indonesia's warm sea water, then she relax in Japan's hot spring water

NOTES

List of hotels in Kusatsu Onsen Town
1. Kusatsu Onsen Boun www.hotelboun.com
2. Oosakaya Ryokan www.osakaya.in
3. Kusatsu Hotel www.kusatsuhotel.com
4. Hotel Ichii www.hotel-ichii.co.jp
5. Hotel Sakurai www.hotel-sakurai.co.jp
6. Kanemidori www.kanemidori.co.jp
7. Takamatsu www.h-takamatsu.com
8. Yuyado Tokinoniwa www.hotespa.net/hotels/tokinoniwa
9. Kusatsu Skyland Hotel www.skylandhotel.jp
10. Yoshinoya Inn www.yoshinoya932.com

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Let's GO DOMESTIC: and GET LOWEST Flight Tickets Domestic Price

Domestik, domestik, domestik, mengapa saya sering menyarankan teman-teman menikmati destinasi domestik? Tentu karena Indonesia punya berbagai spot terindah, terutama pantai dan laut. Namun tidak hanya itu, ada banyak pegunungan menarik, danau indah, historical places, hingga shopping spots. Bingung menentukan mau pergi ke mana di trip berikutnya? Here are some options for you

BALI

Bali never failed, and always a good idea

WHY BALI? Too many reasons, here some spots for you:

Menjangan, Bali Barat

Area ini cocok untuk yang ingin kabur sejenak dari hingar bingar dan keramaian Kuta dan Seminyak. Di sini kita dapat menikmati keindahan alam bawah laut, entah dengan snorkeling, freedive, scuba dive, atau bahkan hanya "leyeh-leyeh" di pantai, it's always good in Menjangan

Sanur

Watersports or just laying around on the beach? Sepedaan dan menikmati es krim di Sanur? Why not?

Dapatkan tiket murah ke DENPASAR di sini  

From Yogyakarta mulai dari Rp. 1 juta PP

From Jakarta & Bandung mulai dari Rp 1,2 juta PP

BANDUNG

A weekend getaway untuk warga Jakarta, namun bagi warga kota lain, Bandung bisa jadi destinasi dengan itinerary selain hanya berbelanja. Apa saja spot di Bandung dan sekitarnya? ini dia..

Kawah Putih

Picturesque crater ini selalu jadi objek menarik untuk foto, di perjalanan menuju kawah putih pun kita selalu ditemani udara sejuk khas Bandung

Selasar Sunaryo

  

Selasar Sunaryo

Setelah puas berbelanja di factory outlet, Selasar Sunaryo yang terletak di area utara Kota Bandung dapat menjadi tempat bersantai menikmati kehijauan, dan melihat-lihat artwork bagi anda pecinta karya seni!

Dapatkan tiket murah ke BANDUNG di sini 

From Denpasar mulai dari Rp. 1,2 juta PP

YOGYAKARTA

Prambanan

Whatever "mainstream" some might think, I always love temples, dan Prambanan adalah salah satu Hindu temple compound yang sangat indah untuk dinikmati di sore hari :)

Cheap Foods Galore

Yap, Yogya adalah satu satu lokasi terbaik untuk menikmati berbagai kuliner (dan makan sampai puas) tanpa "melukai" dompet haha, enjoy Yogyakarta delicious (and cheap) food!

Dapatkan tiket murah ke YOGYAKARTA di sini

From Jakarta mulai dari Rp. 876.500,- PP

ANOTHER GO DOMESTIC, WHY NOT?

Find out another destinations, and GOOD DOMESTIC FLIGHT TICKETS PRICE here on AirAsiaGo.com (psst, untuk pembelian di tanggal 5-18 September 2016 bisa dapat discount 5% untuk jadwal penerbangan 1 Oktober 2016 - 4 Januari 2017 dan discount 10% untuk periode penerbangan 5 Januari 2017 - 8 Oktober 2017), LETS!

@marischkaprue - she's flying domestic to get some tan on Indonesia's best beach & sea

NOTES:

Dapatkan juga rate menarik hotel di berbagai destinasi di website AirAsiaGo ini

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CUTENESS OVERLOAD AT FOX VILLAGE, JAPAN

We all know fox, the animal that became mozilla's icon, the creature with soft furry tail and appear on lots of stories, but I never seen one, before I went to this place, a place where more than hundred fox roaming around! Cuteness everywhere!

Saya pertama kali melihat foto-foto fox village dari Instagram, sebuah foto yang menggambarkan lebih dari sepuluh rubah berkumpul dan sangat menggemaskan. Setelah googling, I found out that it's in Japan! another cute place in Japan, selain Bunny Island dan Cat Island yang memang sudah terkenal (meski saya belum pernah berkunjung ke sana juga).
 

I first saw pictures of fox village on Instagram, a photo that illustrates more than ten foxes gather and are very adorable. After googling, I found out that it's in Japan! Another cute place in Japan, in addition to Bunny Island and Cat Island which are famous already (although I've never been there too).

Berada di Prefektur Miyagi, tepatnya di Shiroishi, perlu ekstra effort untuk datang ke fox village. Dari Tokyo saya mesti naik shinkansen ke Stasiun Shiroishizao di Miyagi, dan kemudian naik taksi sekitar 30 menit. Kami menyusuri jalanan di Shiroishi yang dihiasi bunga di kiri-kanan jalan, saat itu musim panas sehingga pemandangan dipenuhi kehijauan.

Located in Miyagi Prefecture, precisely in Shiroishi, need an extra effort to come to the fox village. From Tokyo I had to ride the shinkansen to Shiroishizao Station in Miyagi, and then take a taxi about 30 minutes. We walked the streets in Shiroishi decorated with flowers on the sides of the road, it was summer so the scenery was filled with greenery.

 

Kami tiba di satu tempat dengan gerbang kecil dan (err) patung gorilla persis di sisi gerbang, cukup absurd untuk lokasi yang dipenuhi dengan rubah.

We arrived at a place with a small gate and (err) gorilla statue in right side of the gate, quite absurd for a location filled with foxes.

"Patung itu hadiah dari salah satu tamu," ujar supir taksi kami

"Oooh," saya bergumam, kemudian kami segera turun dan memasuki gerbang

"The statue was a gift from one of the guests," said our taxi driver

"Oooh," I muttered, then we immediately got off and entered the gate

Fox Village bukan desa seperti bayangan saya, dengan rumah-rumah penduduk dan rubah berkeliaran, namun area ini lebih seperti kebun binatang, namun khusus untuk rubah (fox). Oh well, tapi ada juga kambing dan kelinci di area depan :)

Fox Village is not a village like I had imagined, with citizens' houses and foxes roaming, since this area is more like a zoo, but specifically for fox. Oh well, but there are also goats and rabbits in the front area :)

Saat masuk pertama kali kita akan melihat berbagai jenis rubah di kandang, sebagian besar adalah rubah yang masih kecil, serta yang perlu dipisahkan dari kawanannya. Nah, dari sini kita akan melihat papan peringatan yang menganjurkan kita untuk tidak memegang rubah yang ada di balik pintu, di mana rubah-rubah ini bebas berkeliaran!

When first entering, we will see different types of fox in cages, mostly the small foxes which need to be separated from the herd. Well, from here we will see the warning signs that encourage us not to hold or touch the foxes that are behind the door, where the foxes are free to roam!

Saya dan Reni langsung masuk dan menemukan rubah-rubah yang asik tidur di siang hari, sebagian tidur dengan posisi melingkar, persis seperti logo Mozilla Firefox! :D

Reni and I walked straight in and found foxes sleeping soundly during the day, some sleep with a circular position, just like the Mozilla Firefox logo! :D

Kami menyusuri jalanan setapak dan menemukan lebih banyak rubah lainnya yang berkeliaran. Saat musim panas, bulu mereka rontok, sebagian bahkan terlihat masih terus rontok bulunya dan membuat mereka terlihat "kurus," namun buntut rubah ini tetap fluffy dan menggemaskan!

We walked the footpath and find more other foxes wandering around. In the summer, their fur loss, even some of them still continue to fall feathers and make them look "skinny," but foxtail remains fluffy and adorable!

Di area dekat bangunan kayu, ada puluhan rubah berkumpul. Rupanya pengunjung dapat memberi makan dari "bale-bale" ini supaya aman. Melihat rubah-rubah ini menanti makanan sangat menggemaskan, mereka duduk dan sabar menunggu kami membagikan makanan mereka, ada satu rubah yang sepertinya tidak sabar menunggu, sangat menggemaskan!

In the area near the wooden building, there are dozens of foxes gather. Apparently, visitors can feed from the "bench" to make it safe. Seeing these foxes waiting for food is so adorable, they sit and wait for us to feed them food, there is one fox that seemed impatient to wait, so adorable!

Fox Village Fight Arena

Satu hal lagi yang unik, ternyata suara rubah sangat cempreng! Mereka sangat noisy, selalu berisik dan sering berkelahi karena urusan apapun, makanan, teritori, namun suaranya lebih besar dari pertengkarannya, mereka sama sekali tidak saling gigit saat berkelahi, hanya saling mendorong dan mengancam dengan suara keras, see them on this video:

One more thing that is unique, is that fox's voice is very shrill! They are very noisy, always noisy and often fight for any kind of business, food, territory, but its voice is bigger than the fight, they do not bite each other during a fight, just pushing and threatening with a loud voice, see them on this video:

WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY? :)) *singing*

We can hold them, only on specific area

Anyway, fox village benar-benar memberikan doze of cuteness! I'll surely visit this place again during falls or winter; want to see them in their best fluffy moment during cold season! Amen to THAT!

@marischkaprue - she still don't understand what does the fox said

NOTES

ZAO FOX VILLAGE

Kawarago 11-3 Fukuokayatsumiya, Shiroishi

Miyagi Prefecture

Japan

OPENING HOURS

9 AM - 5 PM

GETTING THERE

From TOKYO

Tokyo to Shiroishizao Station by Shinkansen Yamabiko (Dari Tokyo Station di platform No. 20/ 21/ 23, cek jadwal dan platform terlebih dahulu), lama perjalanan hampir 2 jam, one way shinkansen ticket ¥ 9.830

Tokyo to Shiroishizao Station by Shinkansen Yamabiko (From Tokyo Station at platform No. 20/21/23, check the schedule and platform in advance), almost 2 hours trip, one way shinkansen ticket ¥ 9,830

Tips: Untuk menghemat biaya, gunakan JR East Pass (¥ 20.000), namun dapat digunakan selama 5 hari ke berbagai area

Tip: To save costs, use JR East Pass (¥ 20,000), but can be used for 5 days to various areas

 

From Shiroishizao Station

- Taxi menuju Fox Village (¥ 4.000) one way, tips: sharing dengan pengunjung lain, jika melihat turis asing di Shiroishizao Station, kemungkinan besar mereka menuju Fox Village, bisa sharing 4 orang di satu taksi.

- Bus (hanya ada 2x di hari Selasa: jam 7 pagi dari Shiroishi Station -- berbeda dengan Shiroishizao -- dan jam 2 siang dari Fox Village menuju Shiroishi Station)

From Shiroishizao Station

- Taxi to the Fox Village (¥ 4,000) one way, tips: sharing with other visitors, if you see foreign tourists in Shiroishizao Station, chances are they headed Fox Village, 4 people can share in one taxi.

- Bus (only 2 times on Tuesday: 7 am from Shiroishi Station - unlike with Shiroishizao - and at 2 pm on Fox Village towards Shiroishi Station)

Opsi: Datang dengan taksi, dan pulang dengan bus sehingga menghemat biaya taksi

Option: Comes with a taxi and go home by bus thus saving the cost of taxis

 

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