Kusatsu (Gunma)

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Kusatsu-machi
草津町
Kusatsu (Gunma) (Japan)
Red pog.svg
Geographical location in Japan
Region : Kanto
Prefecture : Gunma
Coordinates : 36 ° 37 '  N , 138 ° 36'  E Coordinates: 36 ° 37 '15 "  N , 138 ° 35' 46"  E
Basic data
Surface: 49.74 km²
Residents :
Community key : 10426-4
Symbols
Flag / coat of arms:
Flag / coat of arms of Kusatsu
Flower : rhododendron
town hall
Address : Kusatsu Town Hall
28 Ōaza Kusatsu
Kusatsu - machi , Agatsuma-gun
Gunma  377-1792
Website URL: www.town.kusatsu.gunma.jp
Location Kusatsu in Gunma Prefecture
Location of Kusatsu in the prefecture

Kusatsu ( Japanese 草津 町 , - machi ) is a small town in Agatsuma County ( 吾 妻 郡 , -gun ), in Gunma Prefecture , in central Japan.

geography

Kusatsu is about 1200 meters above sea level. In the west of Kusatsu there is the active volcano Shirane-san ( 白 根 山 , 2,160 meters high) as well as the mountains Motoshirane-san ( 本 白 根 山 , 2,171 meters high) and Tengu-yama ( 天狗 山 , 1,385 meters high).

climate

Due to the altitude , the annual average temperature is 7 degrees Celsius, with maximum temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius in summer and minimum temperatures of −14 degrees Celsius in winter. The main rainy season is from June to September .

Population, as well as economic and infrastructure

Around 7,400 people live in Kusatsu, with a slight decrease. The city lives from tourism (approx. 90% of the workforce are employed in the tertiary sector ), there is hardly any industry and very little agriculture . In terms of infrastructure , the city is well developed: In addition to expressway 292, there is a bus connection from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi station ( 長野 原 草津 口 ), as well as another bus connection from Shinjuku ( 新宿 ) in Tokyo . In winter the streets are kept free of snow by water from the onsen .

history

Yayoi time

The legendary origins of Kusatsu go back to the 2nd century AD in the Yayoi period . According to legend, either Yamabushi ( 山 伏 ) or Yamato Takeru no Mikoto discovered the hot springs around Kusatsu at this time . However, there is no historical evidence for this. However, there are indications in the village annals of Tsumagoi for settling places near Kusatsu, namely Agatsuma and Tsumagoi , which Yamato Takeru no Mikoto is said to have named after his wife ( tsuma is a way of expressing the word "wife" in Japanese) .

Kamakura time

There are no specific records of Kusatsu as a locality until the 12th century. During the Kamakura period Minamoto Yoritomo came to the hot springs of today's Yubatake ( 湯 畑 ) and bathed there in 1193 while searching for fled warriors of the Taira clans, according to oral tradition . You can still see the Gozaishi ( 御座 石 , English: “illustrious stone”), on which Yoritomo is said to have sat, or the Yoritomo-gū ( 頼 朝 宮 , English “Yoritomo palace / shrine”), in which he is said to have bathed, visit the Yubatake. Since the story also mentions that weeds grew around the hot spring, which Yoritomo chopped off, it can be assumed that Kusatsu did not exist yet. The first reliable information about Kusatsu is in the annals of Kusatsu and comes from the year 1200, when the Kōsen-ji ( 光 泉 寺 , dt. "Temple of the light of the hot spring") was founded near the Yubatake ; so began the story of Kusatsu.

Sengoku time

Almost 400 years later, in the Sengoku period , there is another reference to Kusatsu, which had meanwhile become an onsen health resort where wounded samurai in particular tended their wounds.

In Tōdai Shiryō Hensanjo Eishabon ( 東 大 史料 編纂 所 影 写 本 , dt. "Book with reproductions of the historiographical institute of the University of Tokyo ") there is a correspondence that has survived to this day, from which the following anecdote is fed: In the year 1595 ( Bunroku 4) Toyotomi Hideyoshi Tokugawa Ieyasu recommended that he go to the miraculous springs of Kusatsu. However, Ieyasu was sick and could not travel to Kusatsu. Instead, he had water brought to Edo from the hot springs .

In contradiction to this, it can be assumed that Ieyasu did not refrain from traveling to Kusatsu because of illness, but because the Sanada clan, with whom Ieyasu was enemies, resided near Kusatsu, in Ueda Castle .

Edo period

In the Edo period , especially in Bakumatsu , Kusatsu enjoyed an economic boom and became one of the most famous onsen health resorts in Japan. This was due to the fact that in Japan at that time, apart from bathing in mineral-containing onsen, there was neither medicine nor treatment methods for venereal diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis , while Edo's entertainment districts such as B. Yoshiwara infected more and more patients with it.

The phrase Kusatsu sengen Edo gamae ( 草津 千 軒 江 戸 構 え ), which means: "in Kusatsu [there are] 1000 shops, like [the shopping streets] in Edo" comes from this period .

Meiji period

In 1869 ( Meiji 2), Kusatsu burned down completely. The city was rebuilt within a few years, but many residents of the city got into debt as a result. Since they were also often unable to pay off their debts, there were many bankruptcies over the next 20 years, especially of ryokans (hotels). Many residents of Kusatsu ended the previously practiced custom of Fuyuzumi ( 冬 住 み ), during which they returned to their lower home villages in winter - especially to Kuni ( 六合 村 , -mura ). They sold the houses in their home villages and moved to Kusatsu for the entire year.

Erwin Bälz , a German internist , came to Kusatsu for the first time in 1876 (Meiji 9) . Balz is one of the fathers of modern western medicine in Japan and was the family doctor of the Tennō . He was convinced of the healing properties of the hot springs in Kusatsu. Therefore, he began scientific research into the sources and convinced the citizens of Kusatsu of the need to train doctors to use the sources correctly. In addition, he made Kusatsu known abroad, for which the residents of Kusatsu are still grateful today.

In 1900 (Meiji 33) Kusatsu received city rights after it had already taken over the administration of eight neighboring villages in 1899.

Taishō period

In 1914 ( Taishō 3) the Kusatsu Ski Club was founded.

1926 (Taishō 15) a railway line between Kusatsu and Karuizawa was set up, the Kusakaru Denki Tetsudō ( 草 軽 電 気 鉄 道 ). Construction began in 1908 (Meiji 41).

Shōwa time

In 1948 ( Shōwa 23) a ski lift was built on Tengu-yama near Kusatsu. It was the first ski lift in Japan and Kusatsu became one of the first winter sports resorts in Japan.

In 1964 (Shōwa 39) the railway line was discontinued because it had become unprofitable due to the closure of the nearby sulfur mine.

Heisei time

In 1992 ( Heisei 4) and 1994 (Heisei 6) a son of the city, Kenji Ogiwara , won Olympic gold and in the years 1993–1997 three times the overall World Cup as a Nordic combined athlete (two times singles, one time with the team). His brother Tsugiharu won the world championship once with the Japanese team in 1995.

Attractions

Kusatsu is one of the most popular onsen spas in Japan and is regularly among the top spots in national polls. There are around 100 hot springs in Kusatsu with a total water output of around 34,000 liters per minute. The water is sulphurous and acidic . The hot springs are said to have a healing effect on the following ailments: joint pain , rigid shoulders, paralysis , induration, bruises , sprains , chronic digestive disorders , hemorrhoids , colds, hardening of the arteries , burns, chronic gynecological diseases .

In addition to bathing, the water from the onsen is also used to heat primary and secondary schools, the municipal welfare center, the streets in winter, many private households and the swimming pool.

Yubatake

The Yubatake ( 湯 畑 ), one of the largest hot springs and the city's main attraction, is located in the center of Kusatsu. The spring water comes out in the open air and then runs through several rows of wooden boxes. Yu no Hana ( 湯 の 花 ), one of the specialties of Kusatsu, is grown in these wooden boxes . The name Yubatake also aptly means hot water field. Around the Yubatake there are nameplates of 100 famous personalities who have visited Kusatsu. Internationally known are: Erwin Bälz ( internist ), Julius Scriba (doctor / surgeon), Bruno Taut (architect), Ernest Satow (Japanese specialist), Kakuei Tanaka (Prime Minister from 1972–1974), Rikidōzan (Korean-Japanese wrestler ).

At the lower end of the Yubatake there is a small waterfall, the rock there has taken on a blue-green color due to moss and mineral deposits and the waterfall is one of Kusatsu's most popular photo opportunities.

Netsu no Yu and Yu-momi

The Netsu no Yu ( 熱 の 湯 , dt. "Very hot spring"), although located right next to the Yubatake, is fed from its own hot spring. The water there has a temperature of about 54 degrees, in which of course you cannot bathe. That is why the practice of Yu-momi ( 湯 も み ), which means something like kneading water, has existed there for a long time . With the help of 1.80 m long wooden boards, the hot water is stirred, beaten, kneaded and thus cooled. The simple variant of filling in cold water is out of the question, as this would reduce the healing power of the water.

The kusatsu song is sung and Japanese dance is performed during yu-momi .

Balz Museum

Another attraction of the place is the Erwin-Bälz-Museum. Located at the entrance to the village, you can find out everything there about the life and work of Erwin Bälz. There is also a shop with souvenirs from mainly Germany and the Czech Republic .

Onsen

There are over 100 onsen in Kusatsu. The largest and best-known three onsen are: Ootaki no yu, Sai no kawara and the Bälz Onsen Center.

The Ōtaki no Yu ( 大 滝 の 湯 ), English "large waterfall source", is named after the spring water that forms a waterfall. The building itself is made of wood and there is both an indoor and an outdoor pool ( 露天 風 呂 , Rotenburo ). The service in this onsen is very extensive: There are massage chairs , foot baths , relaxation rooms , etc.

Sai no Kawara ( 西 の 河 原 , German for "western river bed") is a 500 m² outdoor pool in which over 100 people can bathe at once. In order to separate the sexes, it is separated by a wooden wall. Located in a valley with hot springs, this Rotenburo is one of the most beautiful in Japan.

The Bälz Onsen Center is located on a plateau near the ski area at Tengu-yama. You have a wonderful view of the nature all around. It is especially popular as après-ski relaxation.

Flowers

Another attraction is the mountain flowers that bloom in and around Kusatsu. The best known are Eriophorum vaginatum ( Watasuge ), Simplocarpus foetidus ( Zazensō ), Rhododendron degronianum ( Azuma Shakunage ), Rhododendron brachycarpum ( Haku-san Shakunage ), Rhododendron molle subsp. japonicum ( renge Tsutsuji ) Chamaenerion angustifolium ( Yanagiran ), Sorbus commixta ( Nanakamado ), Gentiana triflora var. japonica ( Ezo rindo ) and Dicentra peregrina ( Komakusa ).

Festivals

Throughout the year there are a number of traditional festivals as well as all kinds of other events. One of the most important is the Summer Music Academy, attended by famous musicians from all over Japan and beyond. There are free concerts all over town. The Japanese empress also comes to the music academy every year.

More traditional is the Kōsen-ji Hanamatsuri ( 光 泉 寺 花祭 り , German "Flower Festival of the Kōsen Temple") on 7/8. May to: The children of the kindergarten at Kōsen-ji ( 光 泉 寺 ) pull a cardboard elephant around the Yubatake to celebrate Buddha 's birthday.

The Himuro no Sekku ( 氷 室 の 節 句 , dt. "Eiskeller-Fest") takes place on June 1st. Ice is being brought in from a cave on Shirane-san that was created by an eruption and is used to make tea. According to legend, anyone who drinks this tea will not get sick for a year.

From the first to the third of August the Onsen Kanshamatsuri ( d 感謝 祭 り , English "Onsen Thanksgiving Festival ") takes place. This traditional festival goes back to Ushiyu Matsuri ( 丑 湯 祭 り ), which according to the ancient Chinese calendar was celebrated on the day of the ox at the hottest time of the year. Tradition has it that those who take a bath at the hour of the ox (1–3am) will not get sick for a year. Nowadays, however, the festival is celebrated very differently: Also for tourist reasons, the goddess of the onsen descends the stairs at Kōsen-ji in the form of an unmarried young woman of the place and symbolizes the descent of the goddess from heaven. Then she collects water from the seven great springs in Kusatsu and distributes it to the individual bathhouses. On the third day she finally climbs the stairs of the Kōsen-ji again and symbolizes the ascent to heaven. This ceremony guarantees the blessing of the gods, who ensure that the springs do not dry up.

In addition, the following events take place every year: Tour de Kusatsu (amateur cycling race in April), Yuki no Kairō Walking ( 雪 の 回廊 ウ ォ ー キ ン グ , on the occasion of the opening of Shiga-kōgen -strasse ( 志 賀 高原 , dt. "Shiga highlands") end April, hiking between meter-high walls of snow), as well as football and ski events.

Specialties

Yu no Hana ( 湯 の 花 ), which roughly means “flower of hot water”, is extracted from the Yubatake and consists of mineral deposits (especially sulfur ), which the city sells, dried and in powder form, and an “onsen” for guests to take away ”.

Amanattō ( 甘 納豆 ) is a candy made from a variety of highland beans, hanaingen-mame ( 花 イ ン ゲ ン 豆 ). The plant only bears fruit from a height of about 700 meters. First the beans are dried, then put in cold water and finally boiled in sugar. The details of the manufacturing process are a trade secret.

Manjū (ま ん じ ゅ う ), a sweet that is widespread in Japan, usually consists of a shell made of dough (flour, rice powder, buckwheat) and a filling made of azuki bean paste . In onsen spas, they are often steamed in hot spring steam.

Lakes and waterfalls

Around Kusatsu there are a number of imposing waterfalls and beautiful crater lakes . The best known are: The Yugama ( 湯 釜 , dt. "Hot water boiler"), located at 2100 meters above sea level, is the crater lake of Shirane-san with a very high acid content and an emerald-green surface. The Yumi-ike ( 弓 池 , dt. "Bow Lake") at 2,000 meters above sea level extends between the Shirane-san and the Motoshirane-san. The water is crystal clear.

The Ōsen no Taki ( 嫗 仙 の 滝 ) and the Jōfu no Taki ( 常 布 の 滝 ) are waterfalls near Kusatsu.

Ski Area

The now over 90 year old ski area at Tengu-yama ( 草津 国際 ス キ ー 場 , Kusatsu Kokusai Suki-jō ) and at Shirane-san is the main attraction of Kusatsu in addition to the onsen. The ski area extends from 2,100 meters up to 1,300 meters above sea level. The snow is of very good quality and there are ten different routes for all levels of difficulty and a total of twelve lifts. The longest route is 8 km.

Sports

The soccer team Thespakusatsu Gunma , currently playing in the J2 League , has its official home here, but the home games are played in the stadium in the nearby town of Maebashi .

Town twinning

Kusatsu has a number of twin cities at home and abroad.

There are also partnerships with other onsen in Germany:

Outside of Japan there are the following twin cities :

Kusatsu is also a member of the “ Romantic Road Japan” ( 日本 ロ マ ン チ ッ ク 街道 , Nihon romanchikku kaidō ), a partner road of the “Romantic Road Germany” from Komoro in Nagano Prefecture to Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture .

swell

  • 川 合 勇 太郎 、 草津 温泉 史話 、 1966 年 、 群 馬 県 吾 妻 郡 草津 町 、 3－7－2 、 シ ゲ ハ ラ (Kawaai Yūtarō, Onsenshiwa, 1966, Gunma-ken, Agatsuma-Gun, Kusatsu-Shigehara, 3-7-2 Machiara )
  • 草津 教育 委員会 、 草津 温泉 の 文化 財 、 1998 年 、 草津 町 (Kusatsu Kyōiku-iinkai, Kusatsuonsen no Bunkazai, 1998, Asahi Insatsu Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha)
  • ベ ル ツ 記念 館 、 館長 沖 津 弘 良 、 時 の 移 ろ い (出版 無 し) (Erwin von Bälz Museum, director Okitsu Hiroyoshi, Toki no Utsuroi (unpublished))
  • ー 峰 大二 、 漫画 草津 町 誌 、 2000 年 、 草津 町 (Kazumine Daiji, Manga Kusatsu-machi-shi, 2000, Kusatsu-machi)
  • 名 湯 草津 温泉 百科 、 旅館 協会 (Kusatsu Ryokan-kyōkai, Meiyukusatsu Onsen Hyakka)
  • 草津 Style 、 観 光 協会 (Kusatsu Style, Kusatsu Kankō Kyōkai, 2007)
  • Kusatsu - The Kusatsu Guide 2002 年 (2007 年 編 集) 、 草津 町 公 営 事業 部 (Business Department of the Kusatsu City Council: Kusatsu - The Kusatsu Guide 2002 (revised 2007))
  • 草津 ・ 草津 観 光 要 覧 、 草津 町 観 光 商 工 課 (Kusatsu municipal tourism division, Kusatsu - Kusatsu tourism index)
  • 湯 畑 刻 名 ・ に 歩 み し 百 人 、 草津 町 役 場 企 画 開 発 課 、 1999 年 (Kusatsu town hall, special project division, Yubatake VIPs - 100 famous people that visited Kusatsu, 1999)

Web links

Commons : Kusatsu  - collection of images, videos and audio files