My first trip to Kusatsu Hot Spring

Hello everybody! This is my first ever blog post! So, I thought I would tell you all about my recent trip to Kusatsu Hot Spring.

I was invited by my landlady to join her, her friend and granddaughter on a trip to the onsen. I'd never been to Kusatsu before so i jumped at the chance. We left Takasaki on Monday morning and stopped off at a beautiful soba restaurant perched on a cliff over a river. In Kusatsu we stayed in an eleventh floor apartment owned by a friend of my landlady. The air was so fresh and cool in Kusatsu I felt instantly refreshed and relaxed! Almost as soon as we arrived, we went straight to the hot spring. It was so nice! I stayed in the outdoor bath for a long time. That outdoor pool was exactly my image of what a hot spring should be! In the evening we ate out and had another bath before bed.

The following day we woke early (7am?? crazy!) and enjoyed our final hot spring, followed by breakfast. We left the apartment around 10am and our first stop was the Lily park in Tsumagoi. There were so many beautiful lilies in all kinds of colours. The smell was amazing. The park was situated on a ski slope so we rode the ski lift to the top, and walked back down through the flowers. Of course I had to buy a cabbage while I was there as well!

After the Lily park we went to the Onioshidashi (a stream of solidified lava and rocks thrown out of Mount Asama in an eruption) in Karuizawa. We only had enough time to look at it from a distance though before the rain started. I definitely want to go back when I have more time.

Finally, we had a quick look around Karuizawa outlet mall before returning to Takasaki. I had a really good time on the trip. It was really good to get away from the humidity of Takasaki, even for a little while.