Okay, so Akina and I are on our way to Kusatsu Onsen, a hotspring resort in the mountains, ~3 hours from Tokyo. We've arrived and here's our lunch: nabeyaki udon (noodles).
We've dropped off our luggage and now we're on our way to a zoo / botanical garden. It's roughly -10°C and snowing here.
But here's the main river downstream of the hot springs, the water is still quite warm and steamy.
The zoo / botanical garden was a nightmare of animal cruelty and ethical violations, but there was this neat plant that looks like lighting.
In the center of town is Yubatake, which is like "hot water field". Kusatsu's hot spring waters are too hot for people to bath in, so traditionally the water is piped into these long channels to expose them to ambient air and cool it down.
The hotels rent out molds you can use to create snow creatures. Here's some ducks that someone made.
Upstream, the river is allowed to flow openly through this hot spring park, where you can walk around (and in) the water itself. This was a main highlight for me.
Another view of Yubatake.
Yubatake is surrounded by small shops and traditional food and snacks.
It gets lit up at night.
Dinner and breakfast were buffet style in our hotel. Here's my first selection.
Breakfast, first selection.
On the second day, we tracked through the snow to see this shrine.
And then spent over an hour creating artwork in this studio.
Mine on the left; Akina's on the right.
Kusatsu's waters are known for being extremely acidic (pH around 2). The above paint is enamel and the backing is limestone. By dipping the art into the hot spring waters, the limestone will dissolve, creating "3d art".
Anyways, I won't know what that looks like until we receive them back (they're either still soaking or they're in the mail).
The same park, but in the morning.
Akina and I found the source of the hot spring waters; just posting it here as evidence.
Making our way back from the hot spring source... Some pretty deep snow drifts.
We tried some unique wide-noodle udon.
Like this, but... the picture doesn't show the noodles, so...
Another shrine in the snow...
We also trekked a bit outside of the center; this is the car entrance to Kusatsu; they've set up some hot spring waters here.
Finally, I leave you with Akina's heart... made with rented snow shoes in a field of snow.