Hiking in Kusatsu

Kusatsu is synonymous with onsen and is one of Japan's best-known hot spring towns. A large part of its appeal is the town's proximity to some of Gunma's most dramatic landscapes.

Mononugu Pond is a beautiful spot to hike to, around 3 kilometers from the trailhead at the base of the slope at Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort. Walk the path toward Sesshogawara, an area of volcanic fumaroles, through a forest of Erman's birch trees. From May to June you can see rhododendron species blooming along the trail, and between July and August, cotton grass appears around the pond.

The Yoshigadaira Wetlands, part of Joshin'etsukogen National Park, are located on the north-eastern side of the volcano. Hikers are rewarded with abundant vegetation, forests, and lakes.