is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 6,255 in 3407 households, and a population density of 130 persons per km2. The total area of the town is . Kusatsu is one of the most famous hot springs resorts in Japan. Geography Kusatsu is situated about 1,200 meters above sea level. The active volcano Kusatsu-Shirane (2,160 m) and the inactive Mount Tengu (1,385 m) and Mount Motoshirane (2,171 m) are located west of Kusatsu. Surrounding municipalities Gunma Prefecture Higashiagatsuma Tsumagoi Nakanojō Nagano Prefecture Takayama Climate Kusatsu has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kusatsu is 3.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1711 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.4 °C. During the winter season the streets are kept free of snow using onsen water. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kusatsu has declined over the past 40 years. History Yayoi period The legendary origin of Kusatsu goes back to the second century during the Yayoi period. According to the legend, either Yamato Takeru or Yamabushi discovered the hot springs around Kusatsu; however, there is no historical evidence for either claim. Per legend, Yamato Takeru named Tsumagoi and Agatsuma after his wife ("tsuma" means "wife" in Japanese). Kamakura period Up to the 12th century there is no specific record of Kusatsu. Local folklore recounts that Minamoto no Yoritomo came to Kusatsu in 1193 in pursuit of fleeing Taira clan warriors. He then bathed in the Yubatake. The on which Yoritomo sat, and the in which he is said to have bathed, still exist. Kusatsu's history began in 1200 when the temple of Kōsenji was founded. Sengoku period Almost 400 years later, during the Sengoku period, there is more evidence for the existence of Kusatsu, which had grown into a hot-springs resort popular with wounded samurai. The contains correspondence during the year 1595 (Bunroku 4) between Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi in which Hideyoshi recommended the Kusatsu hot springs to Ieyasu. The latter however, did not go to Kusatsu himself, but sent some servants to fetch some water from Kusatsu instead. Edo period During the Edo period, especially the Bakumatsu period, Kusatsu experienced unprecedented economic growth and