One of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, Kusatsu Onsen, is crowded with tourists from China, Taiwan and elsewhere for the Lunar New Year holidays.

The resort, northwest of Tokyo in Gunma Prefecture, is bustling with inbound tourists. They have been taking foot baths or snapping photos in front of "Yubatake," a field where mineral deposits left by hot springs are harvested.

The resort's tourist information center provides foreign-language brochures to help visitors with getting around.

A couple from Taiwan who is visiting in a group of 16 relatives said it was their first visit to Kusatsu, and its hot spring is the best they have ever experienced. They also praised the scenery.

A 36-year-old man from China said he visited Kusatsu eight years ago and had now brought five members of his family for their first time. He said they love the hot spring resort and he finds soaking in a bath in Kusatsu has a healing effect.

The local tourism association says hotels and inns have been accommodating more tourists from China and Taiwan since Lunar New Year holidays began.

The association expresses hope that inbound tourists will return home with a pleasant memory of Kusatsu.