Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal Explained

Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal
Native Name:草津温泉バスターミナル
Native Name Lang:ja
Borough:Kusatsu, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture
Country:Japan
Operator:Kusatsu Bus Terminal Co. Ltd.
Platforms:9 bus bays (2nd floor)
Map Type:Japan Gunma Prefecture#Japan
Map Dot Label:Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal
Website:Official website (in English)

, or, is a bus terminal located near Kusatsu Onsen in the town of Kusatsu, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. It is managed by Kusatsu Bus Terminal Company in a joint venture between JR Bus and the Kusatsu municipal government. JR Bus, Seibu Bus, and Kusakaru Kotsu operate bus services at the terminal.

History

From the Taishō era until World War II, many railway lines were constructed around Japan, though the country's acute topography led many bus routes to substitute train lines. The Joshu Kusatsu Line was one of many bus lines connecting Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station with Kusatsu Onsen, Yudanaka Station, Karuizawa Station, and Mount Kusatsu-Shirane.

The bus terminal was opened on 11 December 1935 as with the commencement of bus service on the to in Naganohara.[1] The "Joshu" in the name was intended to avoid confusion with Kusatsu Station in Shiga Prefecture on the Tōkaidō Main Line.

The bus terminal was renamed to Kusatsu Onsen Station on 1 June 1962, following the closure of the Kusatsu Onsen train station.

Station layout

The main concourse and gates (of which there are 9) are on the 2nd floor, along with a ticket office, internet terminals, vending machines, and a coffee and souvenir shop. There is a restaurant and tourist information desk on the 1st floor and a hot spring library on the 3rd floor.

There is a MARS ticket office operated by JR East, which sells railway tickets (including limited express tickets) for use at the nearby Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, as well as tickets for the bus service that connects the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal with Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station. The ticket office also sells tickets for Seibu Bus and Kusakaru Kotsu bus services.

Bus services

Gate No.NameIntermediate stopsTerminalCompanyNote
1Charter and express buses
2, 3, 4Kusatsu LineJoshu OtsuNaganohara-Kusatsuguchi StationJR Bus KantoPassengers with a valid Japan Rail Pass are able to ride for free.
5Joshu Yumeguri expressway busIkaho Onsen, Nerima Station, Shinjuku Highway Bus TerminalTokyo StationJR Bus
Tokyo Yumeguri expressway bus
Shibuya-Karuizawa/Kusatsu Line expressway busFutako-tamagawa StationShibuya StationUeda Bus, Tokyu Transsés, Keio Bus
Yokohama/Shin-Yokohama - Karuizawa/Kusatsu Line expressway busShin-Yokohama Station, Yokohama StationTama-plaza StationUeda Bus, Tokyu Bus, Sotetsu Bus
Tamagawa-josui/Tachikawa Line expressway busTamagawa-Jōsui StationTachikawa StationChikuma Bus
Blue Liner Kusatsu Onsen expressway busTakasaki Station, Kawagoe StationŌmiya Station (Saitama)Koei Kotsu
Dts Line expressway busYashio Station, Ōsaki StationBus Terminal Tokyo YaesuDts creationAt Yashio Station, passengers are able to transfer onto Shirakobato (bound for Narita International Airport and operated by Tobu Bus Central), or Tsukuba (bound for Tsukuba Station and operated by Kantō Railway).
6Shirane-kazan LineSesshōkawaraShirane-kazan[2] Kusakaru Kotsu, JR Bus KantoSuspended during winter. Passengers with a valid Japan Rail Pass are able to ride for free, with the exception of Kusakaru Kotsu-operated services.
Express BusShirane-kazan,[3] Shibu TogeNagano StationNagano Electric RailwaySuspended in winter.
Asama Shirane-kazan LineManza-Kazawaguchi StationKaruizawa StationSeibu Kankō Bus
7Karuizawa Sennoiri Kusatsu LineShirane-kazan, Manzaonsen, Manza-Kazawaguchi Station, Onioshidashi-enKaruizawa StationSeibu Bus
Express Kusakaru LineKita-Karuizawa StationKusakaru Kotsu
Kusakaru Hospital LineNishi-Agatsuma Welfare HospitalBound for Kita-Karuizawa Station during winter.
Asama Shirane-kazan LineManza-Kazawaguchi Station, SennoiriSeibu Kankō Bus
8, 9Kusatsu Onsen town buses[4] Circular routeKusatsu Onsen Bus TerminalJR Bus KantoFares at a flat rate of 100 yen.[5]

Former train station

Kusatsu Onsen Station
Native Name:草津温泉駅
Native Name Lang:ja
Borough:Kusatsu, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture
Country:Japan
Operator:Kusakaru Electric Railway
Line:Kusakaru Electric Railway Line

Located approximately 400m (1,300feet) south of the current Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, the original was a train station on the Kusakaru Electric Railway Line that operated from 1926 through 1962. The site of the former station has since been turned into a park, with a monument dedicated to the station.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1935-12-09 . Ministry of Finance Printing Bureau . ja:官報 . Kanpō (Japanese government gazette) . 2023-02-21 . Japanese: 日本マイクロ写真 . ja . . 10.11501/2959160 . free.
  2. At the bus stop, passengers are able to transfer onto Nagaden Bus for Yudanaka Station via Hasuike and Shiga Kogen.
  3. At the bus stop, passengers are able to transfer onto Nagaden Bus for Yudanaka Station via Hasuike and Shiga Kogen.
  4. Web site: ja:ワンコインバス . One Coin Bus . 2023-02-21 . Kusatsu Onsen Tourism Association . ja.
  5. Web site: 2017-07-07 . ja:草津温泉町内巡回バス【路線図・時刻表】 . Kusatsu Onsen Round Bus (Route Map - Timetable) . 2023-02-21 . Town of Kusatsu . ja.
  6. Web site: 2015-07-29 . ja:草軽電気鉄道 草津温泉駅跡 . 2023-02-21 . Kusatsu Skyland Hotel . ja.