Kusatsu, Shiga
From PHOTOGUIDE.JP
| Kusatsu, Shiga (草津市; Kusatsu-shi) | ||
 Kusatsu Shukuba Matsuri More Kusatsu photos here.
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| [{{{GoogleMapLink}}} Google Map of Kusatsu here.] | ||
| Location | Shiga Prefecture, Kinki region, Honshu island, JAPAN | |
| Population | 116,562 (2006-12-31) | |
| Area | 48.22 km² | |
| City Centers | Kusatsu Station | |
| Major Sights | Kusatsu-juku Honjin | |
| Major Gateways | JR Kusatsu Station | |
| Train Stations | JR Tokaido Line Kusatsu Station, Minami-Kusatsu Station | |
| Claim to Fame | Crossroad stage town on Tokaido and Nakasendo Roads | |
| Products | Ubaga mochi | |
| Neighbors | Otsu, Moriyama, Ritto | |
| Old Name(s) | Kusatsu-juku | |
| Keywords | Tokaido Road, Nakasendo Road | |
| Historical Persons | ||
| Links | Kusatsu Articles | Kusatsu Photos | |
| Kusatsu Tourist Information | ||
| Location | 草津市観光物産協会 〒525-8588草津市草津3-13-30
JR Kusatsu Station | |
| Phone | 077-566-3219 | |
| Tourist Links | City Tourism Tourism Ass. | |
| Int'l Association | Web site
Tel: 077-561-2322 FAX：077-561-2482 | |
| Volunteer Guides | Tel: 077-566-3219 | |
| Kusatsu City Hall 草津市役所 | ||
| Address | 〒525-8588 滋賀県草津市草津3丁目13番30号
Kusatsu 3-13-30, Kusatsu-shi, Shiga 525-8588 JAPAN | |
| Phone/Fax | 077-561-2327 Fax: 077-561-2483 | |
| Official Site | Japanese | English | |
| Symbols | Flower: | オオボウシバナ |
| Tree: | Fragrant orange-colored olive | |
| Bird: | None | |
| Others: | Road markers for Tokaido/Nakasendo | |
| Logo: | [[Image:|50px|]] | |
| Sister Cities | Pontiac, Michigan; Xuhui District, Shanghai, China; Kan'onji, Kagawa; Kusatsu-machi, Gunma | |
This page is 65% complete. Last updated: June 23, 2008
by Philbert Ono
Kusatsu (草津市; -shi) is a city in southeastern Shiga Prefecture.
Adjacent to Otsu and a former post town (shukuba) at the crossroads of the Nakasendo and Tokaido Roads. The city has a well-preserved Honjin lodge where VIPs (including Emperor Meiji) passing through town stayed during the feudal era. The annual Shukuba Matsuri in late April celebrates this post-town history.
The city has other major attractions such as Mizunomori Lotus Pond and Lake Biwa Museum, both on Karasuma Peninsula jutting into Lake Biwa. After Otsu, Kusatsu is Shiga's second most populous city.
Kusatsu Station is also the terminus of the Kusatsu Line which is connected to the Tokaido Main Line/Biwako Line. The Kusatsu Line is the main train line for Ritto, Konan, and Koka cities.
Sights
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| Kusatsu-juku Honjin | Shukuba Matsuri | Lotus |
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| Yabase lakeside park | Ubaga mochi | Lake Biwa Museum |
- Kusatsu-juku 草津宿 - Being the crossroads of both the Nakasendo and Tokaido Roads, Kusatsu was a busy place in the old days. The Honjin was the VIP lodge for feudal lords, emperors, etc. It has been magnificently preserved for all to see. It is Japan's largest remaining Honjin.
- Kusatsu Shukuba Festival 草津宿場まつり, Kusatsu - Annual festival held on April 29 to celebrate Kusatsu's history as a stage town on the Nakasendo and Tokaido Roads. Numerous events and activities are held such as flea markets, street & stage performances, and Japanese dances. The main highlight is the Kusatsu Jidai Gyoretsu procession of people dressed in historical costumes.
- Mizunomori Lotus Pond 水生植物公園みずの森 Breathtakingly huge lotus pond at Karasuma Peninsula. Blooms in summer. More aquatic plants displayed inside the greenhouse.
- Lake Biwa Museum - Also on Karasuma Peninsula (accessible by bus from Kusatsu Station), a great museum and lake aquarium when you can learn about the lake's history, environmental sociology, and aquatic life. The museum restaurant also serves Biwa trout (tastes like salmon) and invasive species black bass (but no blue gill).
Event Calendar
- April 29 - Shukuba Matsuri Festival- Reenactment of a daimyo warlord procession.
Travel Tips
- Kusatsu Station is where you can get to most all places of interest, either on foot or by bus (to Karasuma Peninsula, etc.)
Getting There
By Train
The city's main train station is JR Kusatsu Station which is on the JR Tokaido/Biwako Line and JR Kusatsu Line, making it a transfer point between the two train lines.
Train Lines & Stations
Travel Time
- From Tokyo Station to Kusatsu Station: 140 min. via JR Tokaido Shinkansen Nozomi to Kyoto Station, then 18 min. to Kusatsu Station via Tokaido/Biwako Line.
- From JR Kyoto Station to Kusatsu Station: 18 min. via JR Tokaido/Biwako Line.
- From JR Otsu Station to Kusatsu Station: 9 min. via JR Tokaido/Biwako Line.
- From JR Maibara Station to Kusatsu Station: 40 min. via Tokaido/Biwako Line.
- From JR Hikone Station to Kusatsu Station: 35 min. via Tokaido/Biwako Line.
- From JR Kusatsu Station to Minami-Kusatsu Station: 3 min. via JR Kusatsu Line.
- From Kibukawa Station to Kusatsu Station: 24 min. via Kusatsu Line.
Nearest Airports
- Kansai International Airport
- Central Japan International Airport (Centrair)
- Osaka International Airport
Getting Around
The major sights and facilties along the train lines are as follows:
JR Tokaido Line
- Kusatsu Station (草津駅) - A former stage town on the Nakasendo Road. The Kusatsu-juku Honjin is a marvelous example of the luxury accomodations used by feudal lords and emperors when they traveled in the old days. Tourist info booth near wicket. Bicycle rental (phone: 077−565-9052) at east exit street level.
- Minami-Kusatsu Station (南草津駅) -
JR Kusatsu Line (草津線)
- Kusatsu Station (草津駅) - Same station as on the Tokaido Line/Biwako Line.
Buses from Kusatsu Station also go toward Lake Biwa (Karasuma Peninsula) and neighboring city Ritto.
Rental bicycles are available at Kusatsu Station.
Maps
Unless noted otherwise, all maps are in Japanese.
Photos
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| Kusatsu as seen from Mt. Hiei. Karasuma Peninsula (windmill) on the left. |
More photos at Kusatsu Photos. More Shiga Photos here.
Videos
Click on the video image to start playing the video. More Shiga videos here.
History
- 1954 City founded upon the merging of Kusatsu-cho town and neighboring villages.
Miscellaneous
Recent News
- In June 2008, Shiga Prefecture cancelled plans to develop Karasuma Peninsula into a hotel resort when no takers appeared for the project. The peninsula, which is reclaimed land, already has the Lake Biwa Museum and Mizunomori aquatic garden. The remaining tract of land will remain undeveloped.
Trivia
Famous People
- Lastname firstname
- Description
Related Articles
Side Trips
Other sights in neighboring cities/towns within easy reach from Kusatsu.
- Ritto - JRA Training Center for racehorses accessible by bus from Kusatsu Station, taking 30 min.
- Otsu - Capital of Shiga.
External Links
- Mizunomori water garden
- Kusatsu Interpeople Friendship Association In English, Spanish, and Portugese.
| Municipalities of Shiga Prefecture 滋賀県 | ||
| Cities & Towns: Aisho-cho | Azuchi-cho | Higashi-Omi | Hikone | Hino-cho | Koka | Konan | Kora-cho | Kusatsu | Maibara | Moriyama | Nagahama | Omi-Hachiman | Otsu | Ritto | Ryuo-cho | Taga-cho | Takashima | Toyosato-cho | Yasu | ||
| 愛荘町 | 安土町 | 東近江市 | 彦根市 | 日野町 | 甲賀市 | 湖南市 | 甲良町 | 草津市 | 米原市 | 守山市 | 長浜市 | 近江八幡市 | 大津市 | 栗東市 | 竜王町 | 多賀町 | 高島市 | 豊郷町 | 野洲市 | ||
| Prefectures of Japan | ||
| Aichi | Akita | Aomori | Chiba | Ehime | Fukui | Fukuoka | Fukushima | Gifu | Gunma | Hiroshima | Hokkaido | Hyogo | Ibaraki | Ishikawa | Iwate | Kagawa | Kagoshima | Kanagawa | Kochi | Kumamoto | Kyoto | Mie | Miyagi | Miyazaki | Nagano | Nagasaki | Nara | Niigata | Oita | Okayama | Okinawa | Osaka | Saga | Saitama | Shiga | Shimane | Shizuoka | Tochigi | Tokushima | Tokyo | Tottori | Toyama | Wakayama | Yamagata | Yamaguchi | Yamanashi | ||
