Kusatsu’s Three Public Baths: Which One Fits Your Day?
Compare Ohtakinoyu’s broader facilities, Gozanoyu by Yubatake and Sainokawara’s large outdoor baths; the pass suits visitors using all three.
The three baths solve different problems. Pick the one that suits your route and what you need after bathing, rather than buying a pass just because it is available.
What each bath offers
| Bath | Adult admission | Current hours | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohtakinoyu | ¥1,200 | 9:00 am–9:00 pm; last entry 8:00 pm | Washing facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, the stepped-temperature Awaseyu baths, sauna and lounge |
| Gozanoyu | ¥900 | Apr 1–Nov 30: 7:00 am–9:00 pm; Dec 1–Mar 31: 8:00 am–9:00 pm; last entry 8:30 pm | A bath beside Yubatake, with Yubatake and Bandai springs in rooms that alternate by day |
| Sainokawara Rotenburo | ¥800 | Apr 1–Nov 30: 7:00 am–8:00 pm; Dec 1–Mar 31: 9:00 am–8:00 pm; last entry 7:30 pm | A very large outdoor bath in the park; allow about 20 minutes to walk from the bus terminal |
Ohtakinoyu is the most self-contained option. It has washing stations, a sauna, an indoor bath, an outdoor bath and a lounge. Its Awaseyu sequence moves through tubs at different temperatures; start with the cooler one and skip a hotter pool if it does not feel right. The private bath costs ¥2,000 per hour, with admission charged separately; reservations are required.
Gozanoyu is easy to fold into a stroll around the centre. The two bathing rooms use different springs and switch between men and women each day, so the source you experience depends on the day. Its private room is a rest room, not a private bath.
At Sainokawara, the outdoor setting is the main event. There are no washing stations, hair dryers or rest area, and towels are sold rather than rented. Shower and change elsewhere if you need to be ready for a long bus ride afterwards.
Does the three-bath pass save money?
The current pass costs ¥2,100 for adults and ¥1,050 for children. It covers one visit to each bath and has no expiry date. Adult single-entry prices add up to ¥2,900, so using all three saves ¥800.
Two-bath combinations work out differently:
| Baths used | Separate adult tickets | Compared with the ¥2,100 pass |
|---|---|---|
| Ohtakinoyu + Gozanoyu | ¥2,100 | Same price |
| Ohtakinoyu + Sainokawara | ¥2,000 | Separate tickets are ¥100 less |
| Gozanoyu + Sainokawara | ¥1,700 | Separate tickets are ¥400 less |
For children aged three through elementary-school age, the three separate admissions total ¥1,450, so the ¥1,050 pass saves ¥400 if all three are used. If you are unsure you will make it to the third bath, decide based on the route and time, not the theoretical maximum saving.
Check the calendar before choosing a late visit
The baths have different hours, and Sainokawara closes earlier than the other two. The association also posts a monthly second-Wednesday cleaning schedule for Sainokawara, when it closes at 5:00 pm with last entry at 4:30 pm. Its 2026 dates after September 27 are October 14 and November 11. Confirm the notice again before travel in case the schedule changes.
Ohtakinoyu’s men’s Awaseyu and outdoor bath reopened on September 5, 2026, after renovation. Normal adult admission is ¥1,200. Older pages showing a renovation-period discount are out of date.
All three facilities state that they do not specially refuse guests with tattoos; this applies to these facilities, not automatically to every inn or bath in Kusatsu.
Sources
- [Ohtakinoyu: admission, hours and facilities](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/ohtakinoyu/guide/) - [Ohtakinoyu: baths and Awaseyu](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/ohtakinoyu/hot-spring/) - [Gozanoyu: hours, admission and spring rotation](https://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/kankou/1090.php) - [Sainokawara Rotenburo: hours, admission and access](https://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/kankou/1091.php) - [Three-bath pass](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/tickets/) - [Sainokawara cleaning and opening-hour notices](https://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/information/1942.php) - [Ohtakinoyu notices](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/ohtakinoyu/) - [Tattoo policies: Ohtakinoyu](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/ohtakinoyu/faq/), [Gozanoyu](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/gozanoyu/faq/) and [Sainokawara](https://onsen-kusatsu.com/sainokawara/faq/)Checked: September 27, 2026
Tags: Kusatsu Onsen, public baths, Ohtakinoyu, Gozanoyu, Sainokawara, bath pass
