Kusatsu

Kusatsu is a city in southern Shiga Prefecture, adjacent to Otsu, the prefectural capital. Despite sharing a name with the famous Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma, this Kusatsu is a modern residential and industrial city, serving as a commuter base for Kyoto and Osaka. It grew rapidly in the postwar period around the JR Kusatsu Station, the junction point for the Kusatsu Line that runs eastward into the southern Shiga interior. The historic core of Kusatsu-juku was a post station on the Tokaido road.

Kusatsu is on the JR Biwako Line (part of the Tokaido Main Line). From Kyoto, rapid trains reach Kusatsu in about 15 minutes. From Osaka, it is about 35 minutes. The Kusatsu Line branches east from Kusatsu Station into the interior of Shiga.

Kusatsu Station is the transport hub. Local buses and taxis serve the new town and industrial zones. The old post station district is about 1 km north of the station, walkable.

• Kusatsu-juku — the preserved section of the old Tokaido post station, with a few reconstructed buildings and interpretive signs.

• Kusatsu Castle ruins — the remains of a castle from the Sengoku period, now a park with stone foundations.

• Kiryu Shrine — a Shinto shrine in the old town with an annual festival featuring mikoshi processions.

• Lake Biwa Otsu — the southern shore of Lake Biwa is a short bus ride away, with a waterfront promenade.

• Walk the old Tokaido — a short section of the historic highway is preserved through Kusatsu-juku.

• Shopping at Aeon Mall Kusatsu — a large shopping centre near the station.

• Cherry blossom viewing — the banks of the Kusatsu River are lined with cherry trees.

Restaurants cluster around Kusatsu Station and the mall. The city's dining scene is functional rather than destination-quality, featuring izakaya, ramen shops, and sushi chains.

Sake from Shiga breweries is available at local izakaya and liquor stores.

Kusatsu has several business hotels around the station for commuters and business travellers. For tourist accommodation, Otsu and Kyoto offer more options.

Kusatsu is primarily a residential city with standard shopping at the Aeon Mall and local convenience stores. There is a small selection of souvenir shops in the old town.

• Otsu — Shiga's capital, Mii-dera temple, Lake Biwa canal
• Kyoto — 15 minutes by train, with endless cultural attractions
• Koka — the ninja village, accessible via the Kusatsu Line
• Ritto — a nearby city with the Shiga Prefectural Museum