Kusatsu Hot Spring Trip (Part 4) Kousen-ji Temple, Kusatsu Yubatake, and Sai no Kawara Outdoor Bath / 草津温泉旅行 （パート4）光泉寺、草津湯畑と西の河原露天風呂

Before checking in at our pension (small inn), we parked near the center of town and first went to the main temple in town - Kousen-ji Temple.

草津に到着。でもペンションに行く前に、街の中心に行って、光泉寺でお参りを。

 

 

 

 

Little snowman / 小さな雪だるま

 

 

Temple Bell / 鐘楼堂

 

 

Gyoran Kannon / 魚藍観音

 

 

The sign may be a bit difficult to read so I have provided what is written below:

 

Gyoran Kannon (the "fish basket bodhisattva")

 

Designated as cultural property of Kusatsu town.

 

Chouemon Takahara, owner of the Kiriya, a by then typical Japanese -style high-class restaurant, donated this statue at the Konpira-shrine in the Sensui-district of Kusatsu Onsen in the year 1771.  Now it is standing peacefully at the top of the main stairs which lead to the Kosen-ji temple.  It was built for worshipping "dead" fish.

 

After the issue of a decree that ordered the separation of Buddhism (temples) and Shintoism (shrines) in the first year of the Meiji restoration (1868) the Gyoran Kannon statue was moved from the grounds of the Konpira-shrine in the year 1877.  Many other Kannon stone statues (in total more than 100) were destroyed.  The statue was transferred to the Kosen-ji Temple and thus escaped destruction. A basket filled with fish is revealed where the robe of the statue is open. Its face is graceful, tranquil and beautiful.  Height: about 1 m.

 

 



Fudo-do / 不動堂

 

 

Shaka-do / 釈迦堂

 

 

 

 

Hondo / 本堂

 

 

Prayer boards / 絵馬

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first of one of free baths we enjoyed - Shirahata no Yu.

 

ここが最初に入った無料の温泉 ー 白旗の湯。

 

 

 

 

And the site that Kusatsu is famous for - the yubatake.

 

そしてやっとあの名所をこの目で見た ー 草津の湯畑。

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just love the atmosphere of hot spring areas.

 

温泉郷の雰囲気が大好き。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A manju shop was giving out free samples and tea as well.  Very delcious.

 

まんじゅの店がサンプルを配ってた。お茶まで貰いました。

 

 



Looks yummy but we would be having dinner at the pension.

 

美味しそうに見えましたが、あとでペンションで夕飯食べるから。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop selling onsen tamago.

 

温泉たまごを売ってる店。

 

 

 

 

Of course we snacked there.

 

もちろん、温泉たまごを食べました。

 

 

Colorful post office boxes / 可愛い郵便ポスト

 

 

 

 

 

We were heading to the Sai no Kawara Outdoor Bath.

 

目指してるのは西の河原露天風呂。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What the devil?　Oni no Chagama ("The Devil's Kettle")

 

鬼の茶釜。

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enmusubi Jizoson / 縁結び地蔵尊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People enjoying a foot bath.

 

観光客が足湯を楽しんでます。

 

 

 

As the Sai no Kawara Outdoor Bath is very large and quite popular, I had to borrow a couple of pictures from the web to show you the size of the place.  You can also check out their website at http://sainokawara.com/

 

西の河原露天風呂が凄い広いと超人気なので、その大きさを伝わる為、ネットからちょっと写真を借りました。ウェブを検索するなら、上のサイトで。

 

 



I did say very large!

 

本当に広いと言いましたよ！

 

 



 

 

Kusatsu Anamori Inari Jinja / 草津穴守稲荷神社

 

 

 

 

Getting dark.

 

段々暗くなってく。

 

 

 

 

Kataoka Tsurutaro Museum / 片岡鶴太郎美術館

 

 

A very large shoe.  Where is the other one?

 

大きな靴。片方はどかだ？

 

 





 

 

Yume Jizo / 夢地蔵

 

 

 

And time to go to our abode for the evening - a small pension called Spur.

 

そして、今夜泊まる宿、プチペンションの「シュプール」。

 

 

 



We checked in, then headed to another bath before returning for dinner.

 

チェックインして、また近くのお風呂に入って、一時間後はペンションで夕食。

 

 

And after dinner, we will be heading back into town to enjoy more baths and more fun!  The trip continues...

 

夕飯が食べ終わったら、また街の中心に行く予定。そして、またお風呂に入り、酒を飲み、夜も楽しめるよ。旅がつづく。。。