Kusatsu is 200 km from Tokyo in the Northwestern part of Gunma Prefecture. It has been a leading hot spring resort of Japan for centuries, with its 1,200-meter-high mountain weather and climate. It takes about 4 to 4.5 hours from Tokyo and there are various ways to get Kusatsu town.
Shinkansen / Train
・Shinkansen ‘Asama’ or ‘Hakutaka’ + Bus from Karuizawa station (Fastest travel option; 3.5 hrs for whole travel)
・JR Express ‘Kusatsu’ from Ueno station + Bus (Faster access option from Ueno station)
+JR Express ‘Kusatsu’ (from Ueno station to Naganohara Kusatsu guchi)
+Bus (Naganohara Kusatsu guchi – Kusatsu onsen bus terminal)
+The bus runs to Kusatsu when JR Express arrives at the station.
Bus
・JR Express bus ‘Joshu Yumeguri-gou’ (Straight travel to Kusatsu town )
+From Shinjuku station bus terminal to Kusatsu bus terminal.
+Schedule for the JR express bus: http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp.e.wn.hp.transer.com/
Kusatsu town website shows transportation options and sightseeing information
http://www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/(There are other language selections for auto translation)