Seasoning the Seasons S02E13 · Kusatsu: A Town that Warms the Body and Soul

Overview

Kusatsu has the largest natural spring water flow of any spa in Japan. It is popular among tourists, attracting 2.7 million visitors annually. Waters are extremely hot and strongly acidic. For centuries, people have traveled to Kusatsu to benefit from the water's medicinal properties. The town which developed around the spa, includes numerous inns for long-term recuperation. Even today, people still follow the rules of jikan-yu, a unique bathing method introduced in the Edo Period. Our story focuses on the spa water, natural surroundings and people of Kusatsu.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Ice Monsters: The Mountains of Zao2013-01-16The stark, beautiful, volcanic mountains of Zao are a natural wonder of the Tohoku region. They have brought great blessings to the local population and also fostered fierce endura
2. 2 2. Koreatown: Ikuno, Osaka2013-02-20Osaka's Ikuno district has one of Japan's largest Koreatowns - one in every five Ikuno residents is an ethnic Korean and the town is full of Korean delicacies, too. We visit an old
3. 3 3. Tokyo by Night2013-03-06Tales of the Tokyo Night. Some 15 million people are said to come and go daily in the great Tokyo metropolis. Evening is a particularly brilliant time and the Japanese people have
4. 4 4. Following the Sakura: A Journey of Cherry Blossoms in Japan2013-04-03Cherry Blossoms... People wait eagerly for their blossoms, love the famous scenes of cherry trees in bloom, sense the transience of things as the petals flutter down and then look
5. 5 5. Tokyo in Springtime: The Taste of Tradition2013-04-10Tokyo's old downtown district, where the TOKYO SKYTREE tower was opened last year, has always been a welcoming place for strangers and novelties. It also retains an old human warmt
6. 6 6. Spring in Kyoto: A Trip on a Little Local Train2013-04-17The Randen is the Kyotoites' pet name for a little, well-loved streetcar service. The Keifuku Electric Railroad's Arashiyama and Kitano Lines are more than a 100 years old and have
7. 7 7. Asakusa: Celebration and Devotion2013-05-01The Asakusa district has a long history. It grew up around Senso-ji Temple, and still retains much of the flavor of Tokyo back in the days when it was still known as Edo.
8. 8 8. Japan in Full Bloom: The Flower Gardens2013-05-08Japan has many sorts of flower garden. They are a place of relaxation, solace and encouragement through the changing seasons. One lone gardener spent half a century planting flower
9. 9 9. The Shrine of Konpira-san: Answering Everyone's Prayer2013-05-15Konpira-san, the Kotohira-gu Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, is a place to pray for anything from good health to success in exams or love and draws 3 million visitors a year.
10. 10 10. The Forest of Myths2013-06-05The Chugoku mountains of western Japan were the setting for various stories about the Japanese gods in Japan's ancient chronicle, the Kojiki, which was compiled 1,300 years ago. Th
11. 11 11. Iya: Living in the Mountains2013-06-12The mountain hinterlands of Shikoku are dotted with tiny, almost hidden communities. One such place is the Iya Oboke district of Tokushima Prefecture, where the houses cling to the
12. 12 12. Wild Shiretoko: World Heritage Site2013-06-19Listed as a Natural Heritage site, Shiretoko is a treasure trove of flora and fauna. A remote land, closed by snow and ice in winter, it was embraced by pioneers who came to find n
13. 13 13. Kusatsu: A Town that Warms the Body and Soul2013-07-03Kusatsu has the largest natural spring water flow of any spa in Japan. It is popular among tourists, attracting 2.7 million visitors annually. Waters are extremely hot and strongly
14. 14 14. Shonan: Good Vibrations on the Beach2013-07-10Only an hour away from Tokyo, Shonan is a popular place where people like to visit and live. For over a century, Shonan has been the best seaside resort and birthplace of public be
15. 15 15. The Miracle Mile: Kokusai Street, Okinawa2013-08-07At the center of Naha City lies Kokusai Street, a symbol of modern Okinawa Prefecture as it was one of the first areas to reemerge after the grueling battles of the war. Stretching
16. 16 16. Gujo Hachiman: 400 Years of All-night Dancing2013-08-14On summer nights, the residents of Gujo Hachiman throw themselves into the o-bon dance. Dances are held on 33 nights from July to September, but for 4 nights during o-bon, everyone
17. 17 17. Sakurajima: Volcanic Island2013-09-04Sakurajima, an active volcano. Each year, around 900 eruptions occurs. Yet despite the risks and the ash falling each day, Sakurajima is a special place in the hearts of the 600,00
18. 18 18. Kiso: The Forest of the Japanese Cypress2013-09-11Located in the center of Honshu, Japan's main island, the Kiso region is known for its countless towering Hinoki, or Japanese cypress trees, some of them more than 300-years-old. T
19. 19 19. Nikko: World Heritage and Mountain of Prayer2013-09-18With awe-inspiring shrines and temples ranked as a World Heritage Site, Nikko is a sacred place. Its history dates back 1,200 years, but it was not until the creation of Tosho-gu,
20. 20 20. Autumn in Tohoku2013-10-02Tohoku is at the northern end of Honshu. Autumn is the region's richest season. Forested hillsides are a blaze of red and yellow and trees bear bountiful fruit. Salmon swim upstrea
21. 21 21. Yokohama: A Harbor Town Full of Spirit2013-10-09Since it opened up its harbor in 1859, Yokohama has been the gateway to Japan. Along with beautiful scenes of Yokohama, we tell the story of Japanese people living in a city with s
22. 22 22. Fireworks2013-10-16In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we go on a journey of fireworks all over Japan, contemplating their beauty and the story behind their creation. A collection of the latest
23. 23 23. Kumano Pilgrimage Routes2013-11-06The Yoshino and Kumano regions lie in the 200km-long ranges of the Kii Mountains in the southern Kii Peninsula. Here, raw nature - deep forests, gigantic trees, awe-inspiring water
24. 24 24. Nara: An Ancient Capital Filled with the Sound of Prayer2013-11-13Nara, with a history of 1,200 years, is Japan's first capital city. The city is home to many temples, even older than the city itself, where people pray for the peace and prosperit
25. 25 25. Karatsu: A Harvest Festival from a Turbulent Sea2013-12-04Close to the Asian continent, Karatsu has long been early to adopt mainland culture. Its bright, open atmosphere is still going strong, supported by the many blessings of the Genka
26. 26 26. Life with Japanese Dogs2013-12-11In Japan, there are 6 breeds of dogs that are protected species. These are the Hokkaido Dog, the Akita Dog, the Kai Dog, the Kishu Dog, the Shikoku Dog and the Shiba Dog. Bones of