Neil Duckett

National Foundation Day - Kenkoku Kinen-no-hi 建国記念日or 建国記念の日

Early Saturday morning a group of us, 17 Friends in all, left on the yearly National Foundation Day long weekend Onsen trip. This years destination was Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. Kusatsu Onsen is one of Japans most famous hot spring resorts, blessed with large volumes of high quality hot spring water, said to cure every illness but lovesickness …. a big claim and i’m sure some believe it.

Regardless of the Onsen, weekends away like this consist of pretty much lots of the same … drinking, eating and relaxing in the Hot Springs. This trip, after a good 4+ hour bus ride and my fair share of beer, i managed to get out and about for a few photo opportunities.  

Literally ever few metres as we got closer to the town square the locals were offering tasty treats, this particular one is Manju. 

Find out where Kusatsu Onsen is on a Map Of Japan

Manjū (饅頭, Manjū) is a popular traditional Japanese confection. There are many varieties of manjū, but most have an outside made from flour, rice powder and buckwheat and a filling of an (red bean paste), made from boiled azuki beans and sugar. They are boiled together again and kneaded. There are several varieties of bean paste used including koshian, tsubuan, and tsubushian

A short walk from our accomodation we found lots of the natural streams and lakes that feed the baths everyone loves so much.  The water is exceptionally clear and every bit as hot as the steam suggests.

At first i didn’t realise what was going on here, then on closer inspection i noticed they were boiling eggs in the hot water and selling them to passers by for a tidy profit.

A very high sulphur content in the water here, as i found out later when i got some in my eyes.

After a few hours bathing and relaxing it was time to head to dinner with the rest of my group.

Another party enjoying the long weekend at Kusatsu Onsen was a group of 70 interesting individuals. As the night rolls on the individual room parties spill into each other and everyone becomes Friends. Being only 1 of 2 gaijin at the resort we generally attract some attention … funnily enough this trip we weren’t the novelty we often are.

A little Karaoke and a little whipping, all good clean fun.

It takes all sorts and this party certainly had a good selection, this one lass insisted on a photo, how could i refuse.

Sunday morning and with a few hours to kill before the ride home we braved the snowy morning and head down for a few beers and some lunch. This young fella was rugged up head to toe in a sheep skin jump suit.

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