The hot springs record a daily temperature of 50C. Great for boiling an egg but not so good for taking a dip. From the Edo Period onwards a technique for cooling the waters down to an acceptable level has evolved to become the ‘Yumomi Ritual’. This involves using wooden paddle boards to stir the waters rhythmically, while chanting the ‘Kusatsu Yomomi Uta’, a traditional folk song, with the famous refrain:  Yumomi kara yo – choina, choina. Ladies get the paddle job it seems, and put on an energetic show six times per day, finishing with an almighty flip to send the waters cascading upwards.