Kusatsu, Transportation hub in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Kusatsu is a settlement in Shiga Prefecture that lies between the shores of Lake Biwa and the surrounding valleys. Wide streets run through the urban area, while smaller neighborhoods cluster around railway stations and shopping zones.
During the Edo period, the two major overland routes of Tokaido and Nakasendo crossed here, making the place a busy rest stop. Travelers and merchants paused here to recover before continuing toward Kyoto or other regions.
The name comes from the Kusa region, whose rice paddies have shaped the city for generations. Local markets often feature vegetables grown nearby and handmade goods from around the lake.
From JR Kusatsu Station, you can reach Kyoto in less than half an hour by local train. Shops and restaurants line the streets around the station and along the main roads.
At the museum on Lake Biwa, you can observe live fish from Japan's largest freshwater lake, including species found nowhere else. Visitors also learn how the lake water influences farming and daily life in the region.
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