Kusatsu Onsen

Autumn Color Report 2009
by japan-guide.com

This are the official japan-guide.com autumn color reports for 2009 from our trips to various autumn leaf spots across Japan. Check our page on Autumn Leaves for general information.

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2009/09/30 - Kusatsu Onsen

by schauwecker

Fog accompanied us along today's report trip...

In the mountains of central and eastern Japan, autumn colors have meanwhile descended into altitudes of around 2000 meters above sea level.

... severely limiting visibility along the route

Today we drove along Japan's highest national route, Route 292, which connects Shiga Kogen in Nagano Prefecture with Kusatsu Onsen, one of the country's best hot spring resorts in Gunma Prefecture. The road climbs to 2172 meters above sea and passes Mount Shirane, an active volcano, along the way.

Brilliant colors appear in pockets of better visibility

Coming from the Nagano side, the colors started to be pretty around Shiga Kogen and seemed to be at their peak along the highest section of the road and around Mount Shirane. However, because of thick fog, our views of the colors and the spectacular mountain landscape was limited considerably.

Fog hides Yugama Crater Lake on Mount Shirane

Down in the town of Kusatsu, autumn colors were not yet as advanced, but we were able to spot yellow and red leaves around Sainokawara Park and its large outdoor bath (rotemburo).