Kusatsu Onsen: The Riverbed of the Underworld & Onsen Town Exploration
We're in Kusatsu Onsen again, one of the best onsen towns in Japan, in Gunma Prefecture to take a relaxing stroll through Sainokawara Park, and Sainokawara Street - two scenic spots in the onsen town.
SAINOKAWARA PARK (Riverbed of the West) As you walk through Sainokawara Street, you will eventually come up to a large open park of the same name with a beautiful emerald green hot spring river running through it. Due to the (1) high acidity levels in the water and it's 50°C temperature, causes the soil to be unfertile and virtually impossible for plantation to flourish, and hence has earned the nickname of Riverbed of the Underworld, or Demon's Pond - park visitors were advised not to talk loudly to not wake up the demon. The Riverbed of the Underworld is the river before the Sanzu River (equivalent to the River Styx).
The legend goes that children that pass away before their parents do are transported to Sainokawara. The children stack rocks upon another - the first rock is for the father, the second the mother, the third for their hometown. If successful, the child will be able to enter Heaven. The only problem is, is that the demons like to come out and knock the stones down. You will notice little Jizō statues (Kshitigarbha; bodhisattva who looks after children, travellers and the underworld) placed around the park to ward off the demons.
A B O U T U S The KON'CHA! team is a small crew of 4 people dedicated to showing you all the fun things you can see & do while on your trip in Japan! We try to feature unique experiences that you may only find on Japanese travel blogs and websites.