AREAKusatsu City Website Production
- Regions of Shiga
- Kusatsu City
About Kusatsu City
Located on the southeastern shore of Lake Biwa, this town flourished as a post town where the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads divide. Today, universities, corporate research institutes, and factories gather here, making it a town with many workers and students.
Around JR Kusatsu Station and Minami-Kusatsu Station, condominiums and new shops are increasing, making it one of the towns in the prefecture with a growing population. It is also chosen as a residence for people commuting to Kyoto and Osaka.
Industry
Near Minami-Kusatsu Station is Ritsumeikan University's Biwako and Kusatsu Campuses, which serve as a place for joint research between universities and companies. There are also many factories in the city for electronics and machinery.
Around the station, there are restaurants, beauty salons, cram schools, and clinics catering to students and young households.
Culture
During the Edo period, Kusatsu was a post town where the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads converge. At the point where the two roads diverge, the 'Oiwake Road Marker' still stands today.
The Kusatsu-juku Honjin, where the daimyo stayed, is one of the largest remaining honjin in Japan, and you can tour it inside. Nearby, the Kusatsu-juku Kaido Exchange Center introduces life and travel experiences during the post town.
Tourism
On the Karasuma Peninsula, which juts out of Lake Biwa, you'll find the Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Museum, which introduces the origins of Lake Biwa and the lives of the lake and its people, the Aquatic Botanical Park Mizu-no-Mori, and the roadside station Kusatsu.
The wisteria at the three major shrines in Shina Town is called the 'Sunazuri Wisteria,' and its flower clusters grow so long that they reach the ground. Many people visit during the spring viewing season.
The site of the Kusatsu River, which was once a tenjo river, has been developed into a park, serving as a place for walks and events.
Local Specialties
The flower of Kusatsu City, 'Aobana,' is 'blue flower paper,' which is made by soaking flower juice into washi paper, and has been used to create Yuzen-dyed sketches. This is because its ability to fall with water makes it ideal for sketches.
Nowadays, they also make products such as tea and sweets using Aobana (green banner). The mochi confectionery 'Ubagamochi,' beloved by travelers since their days at the post town, is also a specialty of Kusatsu.
Lifestyle
According to the 2025 national census (finalized figure), Kusatsu City's population is 148,660. This is an increase of 4,747 people compared to five years ago, making it the largest increase in both the number and proportion in the prefecture. While the overall population of the prefecture is declining, this town continues to grow.
The Special Rapid Service stops at Minami-Kusatsu Station, and it takes about 20 minutes to reach Kyoto. The area near the station is a new residential area, while the old Tokaido area has old townscapes, so the atmosphere of the town varies by region.
Until Aobana turns into blue-and-white paper
The 'blue-and-white paper' used for Yuzen-dyed sketches is carefully crafted from aobana (blue banana) grown in the fields of Kusatsu.
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Picking flowers in the morning
Aobana blooms on summer mornings and wilts by midday. While the flowers are still open, I pick them one by one.
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Squeeze flowers
Squeeze the picked petals to extract the green juice.
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Apply to washi paper and dry
They repeatedly apply the blue juice to washi paper and dry it.
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Finished blue-and-white paper
Washi with deeply infused colors is blue-and-white paper. When soaked in water, the blue color dissolves and is used to draw Yuzen sketches.
The effort required to create something can be conveyed as a unique reason when shown through photos and brief words.
Kusatsu City by the Numbers
- Population
- 148,660 people Second place in the prefecture
- Number of people increased over five years
- +4,747 people Number one in the prefecture
- Number of people per household
- 2.08 people The fewest in the prefecture
- Percentage aged 15 to 64
- 65.2% Second place in the prefecture
Kusatsu Station and Minami-Kusatsu Station
Kusatsu has two large stations with different surroundings. Depending on which store is located, customers will want to share their information on the website in advance.
Kusatsu Station
This is the station where the JR Biwako Line and Kusatsu Line separate. On the east side of the station are the old Tokaido post town and shopping street, surrounded by large commercial facilities where shoppers and commuters come and go.
What I want to communicate first on the website
- Directions from post towns and shopping streets
- Can you stop by while shopping?
- Parking lots and bicycle parking
Minami-Kusatsu Station
Since 2011, the Special Rapid Service has stopped here, and it is the nearest station to Ritsumeikan University Manabu Wako Kusatsu Campus. There are many apartment buildings and new shops around the station, and students and young households often use it.
What I want to communicate first on the website
- Can you see the price at a glance?
- Can you book right away from your smartphone?
- Evening and holiday business hours
For tourists and tourists,
Nearby customers
Kusatsu has the lowest number of people per household in the prefecture and a high proportion of working adults. Students and working adults living alone often search on their smartphones and decide which shops to visit on the spot.
There are many new shops, and several similar ones near the same station. When searching, whether you can immediately tell the differences from other shops affects how easy it is to choose.
What tourists see
- Proximity to the highlights of the post town
- Business Hours and Regular Holidays
- Is there parking available?
- Whether you need a reservation
What people living nearby are seeing
- Menu and Prices
- Can you go with children?
- Proximity to the station
- Differences from Other Shops
A Year in Kusatsu and a Time to Review Your Website
Kusatsu has periods when people's movements change dramatically. If you prepare information a little before that, it will be easier for those searching to find you.
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March to April
Season of New Life
Students entering university or those transferring for work start looking for shops or clinics near their homes. It's a time to review business hours, fees, and maps.
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Late April
Kusatsu Posttown Festival
Around Kusatsu Station and at the Kusatsu River Former Park, a procession of the past runs through the town. It's helpful to inform shops near the station of their business hours and crowd levels on the day.
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summer
Aobana and Lake Season
The flowers bloom in Aobana, and more families visit facilities on the Karasuma Peninsula. Be sure to post your summer-only menus and events early.
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December to January
Year-end and New Year holidays
It's a time when your days off and business hours change. If you make it easy to see on your homepage, it will reduce the hassle of making inquiries.
English and German pages are also available.
You can make it
There are many international students at the university, and foreign students and researchers living in Kusatsu sometimes search for nearby shops or clinics in English.
Even without tourist spot guidance, just knowing the business hours and reservation methods in English increases the number of visitors.
Kototsuki Design's website is also available in English and German in addition to Japanese. When creating a shop page, we organize things overseas travelers want to check before heading out, such as directions, how to make reservations, and payment methods.
Recommended for people like this
- People running shops around Minami-Kusatsu Station targeting students and young households
- For those who have many similar shops nearby and struggle to communicate the differences
- Someone running a long-running shop in a post town along the old Tokaido
- For those who want to deliver products made with local ingredients like Aobana to the outside of town
- For those who want a page to gather people working at companies or research institutes
We are receiving consultations like this in Kusatsu City
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Shops and clinics in front of the station
Among many similar shops, we will organize what makes them different, using words and photos.
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For students and young households
Assuming many people watch on smartphones, we make it easy to see the fees and how to make a reservation.
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Company & Research Institute Recruitment Page
Create a page that conveys the work content and workplace atmosphere to attract people.
For meetings, if you are in Kusatsu City, we can visit the shop or company directly. Online is also fine.
Production Examples 
Get a free diagnosis on your current website
Website Design Plans
Putting My Heart into Every Page Mini-Site Plan
Starting at 440,000 yen
A
simple website consisting only of a homepage and blog posts
- Home Page
- Post Page
(WordPress or microCMS): Up to two posts, such as product introductions or announcements - Responsive Design: A design compatible with computers, smartphones, and tablets
- Setting Up a Contact Form
The Most Popular Plan Standard Plan
Starting at 880,000 yen
A
small- to medium-sized website consisting of a home page and about 9 additional pages
- Homepage + 9 subpages
- Post Page
(WordPress or microCMS): Up to two posts, such as product descriptions or announcements - Responsive Design: A design compatible with computers, smartphones, and tablets
- Setting Up a Contact Form
Websites Tailored to Your Needs Multifunctional Plan
Quote
Please request a quote for
multifunctional websites, such as e-commerce sites and sites with language selection features.
- E-commerce Site
- Multilingual Website
- Media Site
- Sites with Other Features
- All prices shown include tax.
- Domain and server fees are not included.
- The prices listed above are estimates. Costs can vary significantly depending on the number of pages and features, so please contact us for a consultation.
Choose by purpose
Website creation in Kusatsu City
Frequently Asked Questions
- If it's within Kusatsu City, can you come to me for a meeting?
- Yes, we will visit. From around Kusatsu Station and Minami-Kusatsu Station to the Karasuma Peninsula, we can visit you directly anywhere in Kusatsu City. By showing you the shops and companies, you often find clues on how to take photos and communicate information. We can also hold online meetings according to your schedule.
- There are many similar shops nearby. What should I say on my website?
- First, it's recommended to write down what customers compare when choosing a shop. This includes price estimates, reservation methods, parking, and whether you can visit with children. Then, along with photos, convey the creator's and owner's thoughts and how they differ from other shops.
- Can I create only the company's recruitment page?
- Yes, you can. We organize and compile information that applicants want to know, such as job details, daily routines, workplace conditions, and voices of workers, into a page. We can also consult with you to add it to your current company's website.
- We create products using local ingredients, similar to Aobana. How should I communicate this?
- It's recommended to briefly mention the origin of the material and how it has been used. For Aobana, simply saying that the flower was used in Yuzen dyeing sketches is a unique reason that cannot be found elsewhere. Having photos of the fields or the work itself also conveys the effort put into the maker.
- Are there subsidies available when creating a website?
- The national 'Small Business Sustainability Subsidy' may include website production costs. The eligible expenses, upper limits, and application period vary by session, so please check the latest information at the Kusatsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry or similar offices at the bottom of this page.
Subsidies available for website production
For creating websites for small shops or companies, the national Small Business Sustainability Subsidy may be available. This subsidy is applied for with support from the local chamber of commerce and industry, and the process is as follows.
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Consultation at the counter
Check with the local chamber of commerce and the timing of reception to see if it can be used.
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Document preparation
You will prepare the necessary documents for application, such as a business plan.
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Application
Applications are submitted after confirmation from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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Confirm the timing of ordering
When you place an order and make payment to qualify for the subsidy is determined by each subsidy. It's reassuring to check at the counter before starting production.
Kusatsu City Consultation Desk
The expenses, limits, and timing of applications may vary depending on the session. Please check the latest information at the counter. Depending on the location of your office, it may be decided whether the Chamber of Commerce or the Chamber of Commerce serves as the contact point.
Contact Form