Kusatsu, Shiga

Kusatsu, Shiga (草津市; Kusatsu-shi)
Kusatsu Shukuba Matsuri More Kusatsu photos here.
Location	Shiga Prefecture, Kinki region, Honshu island, JAPAN
Population	136,826 (1,879 foreigners) (2014-06-01)
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	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

by Philbert Ono, updated: Nov. 11, 2022

Tokaido and Nakasendo Crossroads

Kusatsu (草津市; -shi) is a city in southeastern Shiga Prefecture.

Famous for:

• Kusatsu-juku post town's authentic Honjin VIP lodge on the Tokaido and Nakasendo Roads.
• Lake Biwa Museum with freshwater aquarium of endemic lake fish.
• JR Kusatsu Line going to Ritto, Konan, and Koka cities.
• AEON MALL Kusatsu, mega shopping mall.

Adjacent to Otsu and a former post town (shukuba) at the crossroads of the Nakasendo Road and Tokaido Road. 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 Lake Biwa Museum 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. It is Shiga Prefecture's busiest train station in terms of ridership (people boarding trains).

Sights

Kusatsu-juku Honjin	Shukuba Matsuri	Karasumasan Lotus (no longer growing)
Yabase lakeside park	Ubaga mochi	Lake Biwa Museum

• Lake Biwa Museum - Shiga's best museum and lake aquarium when you can learn about the lake's history, environmental sociology, and aquatic life. The museum restaurant also serves Biwa salmon (tastes like salmon) and invasive species black bass. On Karasuma Peninsula (accessible by bus from Kusatsu Station). See video below. Map

• 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. Map

• Kusatsu-juku Kaido Koryu-kan 草津宿街道交流館 - History museum with various exhibits showing Kusatsu's post town history. Admission 200 yen. You can buy a set ticket good for both the Honjin and this history museum. Map

• Oiwake Guidepost road marker 追分道標 - Old road marker at the intersection of the Tokaido and Nakasendo Roads. The left side says "Left for Nakasendo Road" and the right side says "Right for Tokaido Road." Map

• Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden 水生植物公園みずの森 Until 2015, there was a breathtakingly huge lotus pond at Karasuma Peninsula blooming in July-Aug. Sadly by summer 2016, the lotus field was decimated by sandy soil and an increase of methane gas. Water lilies and other aquatic plants are displayed inside the greenhouse. Adjacent to Lake Biwa Museum. Map

• AEON MALL Kusatsu イオンモール草津 - One of Shiga's largest shopping malls which opened in Nov. 2008. It stretches 400 meters long with over 180 shops on three floors and the AEON Cinemas movie theater complex. Buses most often run from JR Minami-Kusatsu Station.

• Yabase Port 矢橋港跡 - Site of the old Yabase Port where sail boats would return, as depicted by Hiroshige's woodblock print of Boats Returning to Yabase from his "Omi Hakkei" (Eight Views of Omi) series. Map

Event Calendar

• April 29 - Kusatsu Shukuba Festival 草津宿場まつり - 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 such as samurai and kimono ladies. Map

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.)
• Current weather warnings/advisories for Kusatsu here (Japan Meteorological Agency).

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

• JR Tokaido/Biwako Line: Kusatsu Station, Minami-Kusatsu Station
• JR Kusatsu Line: Kusatsu Station

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 turnstile. 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

Click on upper right icon to enlarge.

Photos

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.

Additional Reading

At Lake Biwa Museum, the Baikal seal tank is too small. The 2 seals can hardly swim around. Very shy, couldn't see their faces. #バイカルアザラシ pic.twitter.com/fD50f95XKM

— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) August 18, 2017

Huge lotus pond at Karasuma in Kusatsu decimated since summer 2016. Expert says, "Sandy soil is bad, very little chance of recovery." Sad! pic.twitter.com/HVEdRB1ohq

— Shiga Headlines (@ShigaHeadlines) May 31, 2017

• Lake Biwa Museum - January 12, 2014
• Failed Karasuma Peninsula resort development - April 23, 2009

More Kusatsu news here.

Miscellaneous

Weather forecast provided by tititudorancea.com

Famous People

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Description

Related Articles

• Shiga Prefecture
• Shiga Prefecture Sights
• History of Shiga Prefecture
• Shiga Prefecture Transportation

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.