先週の週末は待ちに待っていた、なぜかまだ行ったことのない草津へいま日本に来ている母を連れて行ってきた。
夫は温泉ファン。ちびっ子が生まれる前はよくよく温泉へ二人で行き、夫は友達ともよく行っている。大学卒業旅行も西日本旅で目的地は九州の別府やそこらじゅうにある温泉。が、なぜか草津は、まだ行っていない。おかしいでしょ。
今回は母が日本に来ているということで、それを口実に自分が行きたいところを選んだ夫が大興奮。こっちも半分興奮半分恐怖。もうチョイで七ヶ月になる赤ちゃんとまだ日本国内を旅行したこともなく、東京より寒いところにつれてったりすることも不安。また、ホテルで寝てくれるかどうかも不安。だったけど、実はこの一泊二日の旅を一番楽して楽しんでくれたのはチビ青虫君かも 笑
草津はすばらしい。西の河原公園も楽しかったし、温泉の湯気が空へ舞い上がる景色もまたよかったし、写真もパシャパシャ。
草津の観光スポットである湯もみも観察できた。途中うちのちびっ子がおばさんたちの草津湯もみ唄で盛り上がっちゃって歌い（？）始めたこともあって、夫が湯もみ体験もしたし、ああ、これって本当に観光客がやる事だな！うふふ
夜の湯畑も神秘的だったけど、草津はやはり温泉！温泉は一年間半ぶり？に入れた自分、幸せで泣きそうになった。これはいい。これは毎日できる。冗談半分で、草津で別荘買うかって夫と笑う。冗談にはとても聞こえないことにも笑う。
今回泊まっていたホテルらんぶるもペンションタイプで、小さくてかわいいところ。食事もフレンチ・イタリアンの美味しいもので、貸切チビ温泉もあり。なんて最高。調理しなくていい主婦の幸せ 笑
草津は行きたい温泉が多すぎてまた戻るしかない。温泉饅頭も、温泉たまごも食べたけど、まだ食べてないものもたくさん。待っててね、草津！
次の旅は一週間半後の箱根！ああ、ワクワク★
Last weekend our family of 3 took my mom who is currently visiting us in Japan to little hot springs trip. Oh we were waiting for this one for so long! Besides it was the first Japan trip with the Little One (I still can’t name our Back-to-Russia visit a trip, it was more of relatives gathering as it always is). I was excited and terrified at the same time, with 6 months old kid traveling in car with us (he is not used to cars at all), sleeping in hotel with us (no idea on what bed it would be and how it would be), and with lower temperatures (what to put on kid? will he be cold? or not?) at the place we were to go. The funny thing is, as usual, the Little One was feeling most comfy, this kid seriously.
The destination. My hubby is onsen (which stands for hot springs in Japanese) hardcore fan. We loved going to different ones pretty much before I got pregnant, plus hubby does gatherings with his friends exclusively in hot springs. How fancy is that, right? With all this love for hot springs and hot springs culture in Japan neither me, no hubby has never been to one of the most famous hot springs, Kusatsu Onsen. So when we were discussing where to take my mom when she is in Japan for her enjoy-the-time-with-grandson vacation, hubby named Kusatsu right away. And thank gods he did.
Kusatsu is perfect for a trip. Sainokawara Park with hot springs bubbling through in rivers was a good kick off, followed by Kusatsu center with its Yubatake pond full of streams of hot water flowing powerfully and smelling like hot springs just about right. We also went to watch traditional ritual called Yumomi, during which in old times women (not necessarily) were stirring hot water to cool it down so people could actually go in. As the women started the song during the show our Little Caterpillar decided he wants to join and began singing (?) with them, taking laughs of the audience. Oh this kid!
We were staying at cozy and nice place called L’ambre. The owner and his wife were so friendly, and the food (something in between French and Italian) was delicious, plus we even had a small hot spring tub in basement, so what else to wish for?
Of course we tried some local foods, like onsen eggs (eggs poached in hot spring water) and japanese sweets onsen manju, and there were so much more things we could not accomplish this time we decided we are definitely coming here to Kusatsu again! Or we could buy a villa here hahaha. This joke about villa was so funny yet it sounded so serious when hubby was saying it.
Kusatsu, we left our heart with your fabulous hot springs and we are so returning to fetch it in some time!
My spicy kitchen 