Japan - Hot Springs of Kusatsu
Lantern slide of Japan Hot Springs of Kusatsu. There are several theories about the origin of Kusatsu Onsen. One theory, for instance, was that it was discovered by a legendary hero about 1, 800 years ago another says by high priests in the Nara period. There are also a number of anecdotes related to historical figures from ancient times, the civil war (Sengoku) period, as well as the Edo, Meiji, and Taisho eras. Historical records show that Minamoto no Yoritomo, a Shogun of Kamakura period, came for bathing, and additionally, Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th Shogun of the Edo era had Kusatsu's water delivered to Edo (now Tokyo). These anecdotal and factual stories point that the superior quality of the spring water has retained its popularity since early in the country's history. (http://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/foreign/kusatsu_onsen1.html). Part of Box 157 Japan, Boswell Collection, slide no. 34
