Climbing Mount Shirane

A visit to Kusatsu demands for a hike up to Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, the area’s active volcano. With just a 30-minute, ¥2000-bus ride to the 2,160-meter summit, visitors have the choice of hiking up to the observatory, around the swamp, or taking one of two paths (or both, if one is not closed due to volcanic activity) to see the icy blue crater lake called Yugama. After, visitors can kick back and relax in the shop and restaurant area or take a bus back to the bus terminal.