Key Facts
• Shiga Prefecture’s Kusatsu City created ‘Onsen Thief’ mascot with university students.
• Mascot’s story: steals hot spring water nationwide to turn Lake Biwa into a hot spring.
• Over 100 annual inquiries confuse Kusatsu City with Gunma’s Kusatsu Onsen.
• Some tourists mistakenly travel 300 km southwest to JR Kusatsu Station.
• June 2025: ‘Onsen-less Manju’ parody souvenir gained 13 million views on X.
• Mascot design finalized after monthly meetings since January 2025.
• ‘Onsen Thief’ features a bath bucket on its head and a hot spring-marked furoshiki.
• Crowdfunding launched on August 5, 2025, aiming to raise ¥1.8 million.
• Rewards include photo sessions and event appearances with the mascot.
• Planned debut of mascot costume on November 8, 2025, at a local event.
• Future plans include collaborations, events, and potential picture book adaptation.
Summary
Kusatsu City in Shiga Prefecture, often confused with Gunma’s Kusatsu Onsen, has launched a unique tourism campaign featuring a new mascot, ‘Onsen Thief.’ Created in collaboration with university students, the character humorously ‘steals’ hot spring water from across Japan to turn Lake Biwa into a hot spring. The initiative follows the success of the parody souvenir ‘Onsen-less Manju,’ which gained over 13 million views on X. The mascot’s design, finalized after months of planning, includes a bath bucket and a hot spring-marked furoshiki. Crowdfunding efforts aim to raise ¥1.8 million for a mascot costume, with rewards like photo sessions and event appearances. The costume is set to debut on November 8, 2025, with future plans for collaborations and a potential picture book adaptation.
