Snow at Kusatsu Hot Spring 草津溫泉

My friend from Singapore wanted to see falling snow but we had limited budget and don't ski. So the uncle from my university's tour agency recommended Kusatsu Onsen (Kusatsu hot spring) because it's a ski destination with other activities available and closest to Tokyo. Located in Gunma prefecture, there was high chances of snow because the place is located on a mountain. Coach ride (round trip 5000yen) takes around 3.5-4 hours depending on traffic conditions from Shinjuku.
來自新加坡的好友堅持要看正在下雪的雪景，但是我們的預算不高，也不滑雪。所以大學旅行社建議我們去草津溫泉。那裡除了能滑雪以外，還有其它活動或可以觀光的地方。而且距離新宿約3.5-4個小時的巴士車程（來回5000yen）。草津溫泉位於群馬縣。因為在半山腰，所以下雪的機率高。

With great luck, we were able to see snow on 30th Dec 2011 and beautiful snow flakes fell onto my coat!
不知道哪兒來的好運，竟然在12月30日看到下雪的美景。而且是一到那裡就開始下了！美麗的冰雹就掉在我的外套上。

Around the main hot spring were small shops like the one above selling hot red bean buns. Their tactic was to give away hot buns and hot tea, invite you inside, and then psycho you to purchase their buns. Smart.
在主要景點，也就是一個大溫泉池的周圍，有很多小店和旅館。上面這家一直送免費紅豆包給路過的旅客，然後請他們進去裡面喝茶。當然天下無白吃的宴席，在你吃香噴噴的包子和熱騰騰的綠茶時，他們會想盡辦法賣包子給你，真是高明啊～！

We stayed at a small hotel called Ichidaya Ryokan near the main hot spring attraction. I booked this place through rakuten and cost us 12,100yen per person. The price came with an elaborate Japanese traditional dinner and breakfast. We were the only foreigners and the front desk couldn't speak English. Luckily my Japanese was good enough to navigate through.
我通過樂天訂了一家離主要景點很近的小旅館，叫一田屋旅館。一晚是12,100yen。這價錢包括了非常豐富的傳統日式晚餐和早餐。還好我的日語還行，因為旅館的人都不會講英文，而且我們是唯一的外國人。

Night scene near the pool was nice too with tints of sulfur smell.
池邊的夜景也是很好看的。淡淡的硫磺味瀰漫整個空氣。

Our hotel has water filtered direct from the main hot spring source and a private outdoor pool to loan for 30mins each. Very "shiok".

我們的旅館有直接引用溫泉泉源的水，而且也有一個小型戶外溫泉池給客人借用30分鐘。爽！

We found 3 variations of Kit Kat, only sold in tourist attractions. They were blueberry cheesecake, apple and hot spice flavor. Very special, but I prefer the usual dark chocolate ones sold in regular supermarkets.
我們發現只有在旅遊景點才有賣特別口味的Kit Kat。那裡有區域限定的藍莓起司口味，蘋果口味，和辣椒口味，真特別！但是我還是喜歡普通黑色巧克力的口味啦！

This is a boring traditional show called yomomi, where they demonstrate how they cooled down the hot spring water in the past so that the hot spring water temperature is reduced to acceptable levels to dip in.
我們去看了一場叫做Yomomi的傳統示範。話說以前為了把溫泉的水降到適合身體浸泡的溫度，所以用木棍來打水。我們看了之後的結論是...好無聊的表演。

We went to the ski resort not to ski, but to just play with snow =_=
我們還去滑雪場，為了不是滑雪...而是玩雪=_=

My friend insisted to complete her first snowman and wanted me to take a photo with her new friends Mickey Mouse and Duffy from Disneyland.

We had great fun at Kusatsu, a perfect short get away and highly recommend this place to others too!

我的朋友堅持要做她人生中的第一個雪人，所以我也奉陪了。最後假如她的新朋友米奇和Duffy熊。
我們在草津玩得很愉快，值得建議其它人也去泡泡，看看和滑滑喔! ^_<