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Kusatsu Onsen is a popular hot spring resort near the Tokyo metropolitan area.

This hot spring resort used to be bustling with group tours, but the clientele has changed over time. These days, it’s rare to see company trips here.

But did you know that tourism to Kusatsu by businessmen is gradually increasing? This could be seen as a new way to enjoy hot spring resorts in this day and age when “workation” and “teleworking” are becoming more widespread.

In this article, we will introduce the current situation regarding teleworking in Kusatsu Onsen, the ease of workation, and whether or not there are remote work spots.

Strengths and benefits of “telework” and “workation”

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the spread of flexible working styles, such as “telework” and “workation.”

Telework is a portmanteau of Tele (away) and Work (work), and has emerged as a style of work that differs from the traditional way of working by going to the office.
Workation is a type of telework, but it is also a portmanteau of Work and Vacation, and refers to taking a vacation while working at a resort or tourist destination.

The development of the Internet and the emergence of various IT tools to support business operations have likely contributed greatly to the environment that allows people to work remotely.

Teleworking in tourist areas (hot spring areas) is quite difficult

If you live in a city center, you can easily work remotely. No matter which public transportation station you get off at, there is a cafe or family restaurant in front of the station, which is equipped with power outlets and Wi-Fi. There are also “co-working spaces” everywhere that are equipped with an environment suitable for remote work and can be used immediately.

However, care must be taken when teleworking in tourist areas.

Many of the restaurants are cafes run by locals (not chains) and aimed at tourists. Staying in such places for a long time with your laptop open can be a nuisance. There are few places where you can use power or Wi-Fi, so there are not many places where you can telework comfortably.

You might think, “I can work from a hotel or inn,” but that’s not so easy. There aren’t many rooms with desks and chairs that are comfortable for computer work, so you might get tired from working in a cramped position. Also, it’s a gamble that you can’t know until you go, such as whether the Wi-Fi is slow or whether it can withstand data communication such as online meetings, so if the speed is slow, it will be very stressful.

What is the remote work situation like in Kusatsu Onsen?

So, what is the remote work environment like in Kusatsu Onsen? I have set up a coworking space in Kusatsu Onsen and used the local inns and restaurants. Here are my impressions.

My impression is that it’s extremely difficult to find a place in town where you can work remotely.

Kusatsu Onsen is a very popular hot spring resort, with the number of tourists reaching a record high of over 3.7 million in 2023. There is almost no off-season, and the town is full of tourists all year round. As a result, restaurants are crowded and there are not many spots where you can relax and work on your computer. If you try to “go in and work somewhere” without much information, you will become a remote work refugee and will be quite exhausted.

In 2024, the library at the bus terminal will be closed for construction. This convenient location that anyone could easily use will no longer be available. For these reasons, we recommend that people who may work outside of hotels and inns research potential locations in advance.

Kusatsu Onsen: a great spot for remote work

We have compiled a list of places in Kusatsu Onsen where you can work remotely in this article.
Please feel free to take a look.
A list of places in Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma where you can use power and Wi-Fi

In order to work remotely safely, power sources and Wi-Fi are essential, so this is information on places where you can use them.

Reasons why we recommend “Kusatsu Onsen Coworking”

This article is being written at Kusatsu Onsen Coworking, which opened in Kusatsu Onsen in 2024.
This is the first coworking facility in Kusatsu Onsen, and it offers the perfect environment for remote work.

Besides Wi-Fi and power outlets, let us introduce some reasons why we recommend Kusatsu Onsen Coworking from the perspective of the environment and facilities.

High speed and stable internet environment

The most important thing is Wi-Fi (internet environment), but we believe that simply having Wi-Fi is not enough for remote work. It is important that it is “fast” and “secure.”
This actually requires specialized knowledge and is difficult to achieve.

When using the Internet for business purposes, there are many opportunities to send and receive large files and hold online meetings that place a high load on the network. If you work remotely in an environment with a slow connection speed, you may encounter problems such as audio or video cutting out during an important online meeting.

In addition, Wi-Fi that is freely available to the general public in places where only a router has been installed after signing up for an internet contract is actually full of security holes, and there is a risk that malicious people will steal your data. For businessmen, it is not recommended to use such Wi-Fi in town for business transactions or data communications.

At Kusatsu Onsen Coworking, we have engineers with specialized knowledge stationed on-site. In addition to setting up security for Wi-Fi, we also handle communication speeds, such as distributing the communication load when the number of simultaneous connections increases. We have built an internet environment that allows remote work with peace of mind, and we maintain and improve it on a daily basis. We may be a little biased, but this is a very unique system for a facility in a tourist area, and it is our greatest feature that allows you to use the facility with peace of mind.

Tools and items that make teleworking easier

Kusatsu Onsen Coworking has different seating arrangements. Kusatsu Onsen does not have private rooms for online meetings that are available to the general public.
For those who do not want others to hear their conversations (for confidentiality reasons) or who want a quiet space for important meetings, we have fully private meeting rooms available.

There are mouse, keyboard, monitor, charger and other equipment, so you can create a comfortable work environment with only the bare necessities. There are also whiteboards, making it an effective facility for team meetings and development camps.

The appeal of workcation in Kusatsu Onsen

We have explained the precautions to take when teleworking in a tourist destination, but we hope you understand that there are co-working facilities in Kusatsu Onsen so you will not have any problems with your work environment.

However, even though I understand that you can do the job, I would like to finally tell you about the reasons and appeal of going all the way to Kusatsu Onsen to work there.

Kusatsu Onsen is famous for the quality of its water, so much so that it advocates “spring quality ideology.” The acidic water has a tingling sensation on the skin and soothes the body.
This large hot spring resort, located in the mountains, is characterized by some of Japan’s best hot springs and abundant nature. You can enjoy relaxation in the hot springs and traditional hot spring culture, and there are plenty of tourist attractions, including the popular Yubatake, known as the symbol of Kusatsu.

Many of the visitors are those who want to enjoy famous hot springs, experience traditional hot spring culture, relax in nature, or spend a special time at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).

We believe that inspiration can only come from here.

Businessmen who work hard can take a toll on both their mind and body.
You’re not getting work done. You can’t come up with any good ideas.
When that happens, why not take the plunge and get out of the city and visit Kusatsu Onsen?

There are many other hot spring resorts that can be reached from central Tokyo, such as Atami and Hakone.
Compared to those, Kusatsu Onsen takes nearly three hours one way, so it might seem a little difficult to access.
But that’s what makes it so good.

Accommodations and facilities are clustered in one area, centered around the Yubatake, and the smell of sulfur fills the air.
There is no nearest train station. Once you enter by car or bus over the mountain path,
you’ll find yourself in a truly “out of the ordinary” place.

We think of workcation as a way of working that allows you to go beyond your normal boundaries and broaden your imagination in an extraordinary environment.

Relax your tired body in the famous Kusatsu Onsen hot springs, then retreat to a space where you can concentrate and think.

As your imagination expands, ideas that you would never have thought of in your usual environment will begin to bubble up one after another like water in a pot. Every time you encounter new scenery or people, you’re sure to make a new discovery.

Workcation at Kusatsu Onsen allows you to take in a variety of information and get the best souvenir of all: inspiration.

Please come visit Kusatsu Onsen for workcation purposes.
We look forward to providing you with a comfortable remote work environment.