, 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. 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 stopsTerminalCompanyNote1Charter and express buses2, 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 BusTokyo Yumeguri expressway busShibuya-Karuizawa/Kusatsu Line expressway busFutako-tamagawa StationShibuya StationUeda Bus, Tokyu Transsés, Keio BusYokohama/Shin-Yokohama - Karuizawa/Kusatsu Line expressway busShin-Yokohama Station, Yokohama StationTama-plaza StationUeda Bus, Tokyu Bus, Sotetsu BusTamagawa-josui/Tachikawa Line expressway busTamagawa-Jōsui StationTachikawa StationChikuma BusBlue Liner Kusatsu Onsen expressway busTakasaki Station, Kawagoe StationŌmiya Station (Saitama)Koei KotsuDts 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-kazanAt the bus stop, passengers are able to transfer onto Nagaden Bus for Yudanaka Station via Hasuike and Shiga Kogen.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,At the bus stop, passengers are able to transfer onto Nagaden Bus for Yudanaka Station via Hasuike and Shiga Kogen. Shibu TogeNagano StationNagano Electric RailwaySuspended in winter. Asama Shirane-kazan LineManza-Kazawaguchi StationKaruizawa StationSeibu Kankō Bus7Karuizawa Sennoiri Kusatsu LineShirane-kazan, Manzaonsen, Manza-Kazawaguchi Station, Onioshidashi-enKaruizawa StationSeibu BusExpress Kusakaru LineKita-Karuizawa StationKusakaru KotsuKusakaru Hospital LineNishi-Agatsuma Welfare HospitalBound for Kita-Karuizawa Station during winter.Asama Shirane-kazan LineManza-Kazawaguchi Station, SennoiriSeibu Kankō Bus8, 9Kusatsu Onsen town busesCircular routeKusatsu Onsen Bus TerminalJR Bus KantoFares at a flat rate of 100 yen.
Former train station
Located approximately 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.
References
External links Official Website