Located right by Yubatake in the Kusatsu Onsen (hot spring) district, Netsu no Yu is noted for its buildings in the Taisho Roman style of the 1910s and 1920s, and is the perfect place for tourists to get a true Kusatsu Onsen experience. The open, two-level atrium interior is flooded with light and has a real sense of natural wood construction.
One special feature of this facility is that you can experience Japanese yumomi, a tradition handed down since the Edo period. The water from the source of the Kusatsu hot springs is too hot to use immediately, so it is gently stirred with big wooden paddles to cool it. This is done because adding cold water, while it would cool the baths down, would also dilute the hot spring quality. In the past this was done by hot spring guests themselves, and this was considered also to have the effect of preparing the body for its bath. So as to maintain the rhythm, the Kusatsu Yumomi Uta (“Kusatsu Yumomi Song”) was sung, becoming a well known folk song of the Kusatsu hot spring, and today you can enjoy a show that combines yumomi with dancing.
If you want to try your hand at yumomi yourself, be sure to have someone snap a photo. Aside from yumomi, the facility frequently hosts events like jazz concerts and acoustic guitar performances by famous musicians. If you're coming to Kusatsu Onsen, you really can’t afford to miss this!