Kusatsu × Highly rated Hotel·Ryokan

From the moment I was picked up, the staff made a great impression, and as soon as I stepped into the Hotel, I was soothed by a wonderful aroma scent. I was shown to a private Room to check in. The Room had a simple design and was very comfortable to stay in. I also enjoyed choosing my favorite scent with the aroma diffuser in the Room. This time I joined the 1-night, 2-day fasting course. Since it wasn’t a water-only fast, I had carrot juice, homemade umeboshi (pickled plum), bancha tea, and more for dinner and again the next morning. After checkout, they treated me to rice porridge, miso soup, handmade umeboshi, hana ingen beans (runner beans), and bancha tea—everything was very satisfying. Personally, the hana ingen beans slowly simmered over two days with beet sugar were so delicious that I couldn’t help asking if they were available for purchase. After check-in, I also received a brown-rice onigiri with umeboshi, which I enjoyed on my long-distance bus ride home. There is no TV in the Room, but Wi‑Fi is available so you can use your smartphone. However, since it was such a good opportunity, I tried not to use my phone during my stay as much as possible. Time flew by as I read health magazines in the lounge with herbal tea in hand; opened the window in my guest room to read my own book while listening to birdsong; and reviewed personal finances that had been put off due to everyday busyness. From the Onsen bath area in the morning, you can see Mt. Asama—the view was truly wonderful. If there’s one thing to mention: since exercise is part of my routine personally, having showers in every Room would have made it even more comfortable by allowing me to rinse off quickly after working out. Other than that minor point, everything exceeded expectations—the staff were lovely throughout—and it was a stay I would definitely like to repeat.

Thank you for the wonderful service—it made our stay truly exceptional. First, I accidentally made a Reservation with the wrong gender, but you quickly brought us yukata in different sizes, which was very helpful. With fewer guests staying, the attentive, personalized service really stood out. We also enjoyed the complimentary pudding—it was delicious. The Onsen was available at night as well, so we could relax and take our time. The bed felt a bit firm and slightly uncomfortable to sleep on, but other than that we had no complaints at all. Also, it was pouring rain at checkout, and you kindly handed us towels—this helped us so much. We truly appreciated your thoughtful attention to detail. We would love to stay here again when we visit Kusatsu.

On my first trip to Kusatsu Onsen, I stayed for two nights in the private open-air bath guest room “TAKASAGO.” Guest Room (TAKASAGO) The layout is wonderfully spacious, with the bedroom and tatami-style living area separated, creating a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Personally, I felt the room was a little dim due to limited natural light depending on its orientation, and I would have loved a larger sofa where you can really sink in rather than a low table—but overall it was an expansive, truly luxurious space. The tatami room with the low table faces a private garden and had a lovely sense of traditional charm. The maisonette-type rooms looked brighter and seemed to have more comfortable sofas as well, so I’d like to try one next time. Onsen Two different hot spring sources—Jizo Gensen and Bandai Kosen Gensen—are supplied here, making for an indulgent bathing experience. In addition to enjoying high-quality spring water anytime in the in-room open-air bath, the three private reservable baths each had their own distinct character and conveyed refined Japanese aesthetics. I thoroughly enjoyed soaking in Onsen throughout my stay. In particular, I loved “AWASE,” where three tubs are lined up from low to high temperature so you can experience a traditional bathing method—I went back again and again. Breakfast As dinner service was suspended during my stay, breakfast was the only meal offered—but its quality was outstanding, easily on par with dinner. I often stay at cuisine-focused Ryokan, and this was among the best I’ve experienced: creative composition of dishes, cooking that brought out the best of each ingredient, and thoughtful selection of tableware that elevated every course. Hospitality & Service The staff’s attentiveness and perfectly balanced approach—present when needed but never intrusive—left a strong impression and made my stay very comfortable. While there are a couple of minor preferences regarding the guest room setup, overall I was extremely satisfied with every aspect: Onsen, food quality (breakfast), and hospitality. I would absolutely love to return when visiting Kusatsu again.

This was our first stay here on a trip with four friends. The Room, the meals, and above all the service from all staff were outstanding. Every staff member was courteous and kind, and we truly felt first-class hospitality—worthy of a five-star Accommodation. Thanks to you, we were able to relax throughout our stay and enjoy a special time. The clean and comfortable Room, the wide variety of delicious and thoughtfully prepared buffet dishes, and the wonderful Onsen—all exceeded our expectations. Everyone in our group was very satisfied with this trip. When we visit Kusatsu again, we would definitely like to stay at Hotel Ichii again.

This is a perfect Ryokan with meticulous attention to every detail. The building is beautifully maintained, and the finishes and Facilities feel refined. The Onsen is excellent, and the amenities are well stocked. The meals are delicious, served on beautiful tableware, and satisfy both taste and presentation. Drink prices are reasonable as well. The location is close to Yubatake, making it easy to enjoy a stroll around the area. I would definitely like to stay here again. Thank you very much.

Choosing Naraya for our stay in Kusatsu Onsen was truly the best decision. The Onsen, so carefully maintained by the bath masters, was exceptional, and the atmosphere of the traditional baths was wonderful. It was so relaxing that I soaked in the Onsen five times during my stay and enjoyed a slow, luxurious time. Each dish was delicious, and thanks to the thoughtful explanations about the cuisine, I enjoyed the meal even more. The sushi prepared right in front of us was also excellent and left a lasting impression. Above all, the hospitality from all staff members was outstanding. Everyone was courteous and kind, and it was clear they paid close attention to every detail to ensure we were comfortable. In every situation throughout our stay, we were warmly cared for and felt completely at ease. From the ambiance of the Accommodation to the Onsen, dining, and service—everything was superb. It is an Accommodation that made me sincerely feel glad I stayed at Naraya. Thank you very much for such a wonderful time. When I visit Kusatsu Onsen again, I would love to stay at Naraya again.

Only 10 Rooms on a spacious property. The grove garden right in front of you is a private view (guests cannot enter), giving you the true feel of a vacation home. We were completely satisfied with everything—the Room, the semi-open-air bath in the Room, the open-air bath at the large public bath, and dinner featuring an array of premium ingredients considered luxurious in Japanese cuisine, as well as breakfast with just the right portion size. If we had to make one small request, it would be that the bath towels were a bit thicker.

It was really great!

It was a very beautiful Hotel with great service, and I felt the staff’s hospitality and attentiveness were wonderful. The in-room open-air bath was also excellent! I think guests would be even happier if there were direct access from the shower room to the open-air bath. The distance is short, but I couldn’t help worrying about water dripping while moving around when wet, so with a little improvement it would be perfect. For guests, dining is also an important point, and it was very good! I also posted photos—late-night ramen was delicious, especially the tomato ramen recommended by the staff. It’s a Hotel that made me want to visit again after a long time. To all staff members (including makeup and bed-making), thank you very much for such a wonderful time.

We stayed for one night and two days with our grandchild. As mentioned in the Reviews, the building and the Room itself are indeed old, but everything was properly cleaned and there were no issues. With the all-you-can-play passport, we fully enjoyed bowling, the pool, craft-making, festival-style games, quizzes, a stamp rally, and more. The free shuttle bus from the Hotel to Yubatake at night was extremely helpful; it was my first time seeing the Yubatake illumination, and I was surprised by how many tourists were there. Even though it was summer, walking around Yubatake felt pleasantly cool—almost a little chilly—which was wonderful. The next day we used the Hotel bus again because I wanted my grandchild to enjoy street food and try yumomi (hot spring water stirring). I had only ever visited Kusatsu in winter before, so this summer trip was a first for me. While news reports talked about extreme heat in Tokyo, I was amazed at how cool and comfortable Kusatsu is in summer. At night we didn’t need air conditioning in our Room; it even felt slightly chilly. Summer in Kusatsu is great.\nThe meals were delicious, and everyone at the front desk, each reception counter, and the shop—especially the international staff—was very polite and pleasant. Every staff member provided excellent service; I was truly impressed. This is a highly recommended Hotel for families with children as well. We would love to visit again. One drawback is that the Hotel is so large that it’s easy to get lost—especially when trying to find the baths; as noted in Reviews, we got lost too. Overall though, it was a wonderful Hotel. Thank you very much.

We stayed for one night during the Obon holidays with my daughter’s family. My son-in-law was visiting Kusatsu Onsen for the first time, and he really enjoyed the delicious meals and the yumomi experience at the Ryokan. All of the staff were kind, and even our 9-month-old grandchild was able to enjoy it, making it a wonderful trip. We would like to stay at Sakurai Ryokan again.

We stayed for two nights and had a wonderful time. In addition to the Onsen, we were soothed by two different types of baths. During the day, we enjoyed soba in Tsumagoi Highlands and made the most of our trip from Shiga Highlands to Yamba Dam. The proprietress kindly shared tips on how to enjoy Yubatake and suggested nearby scenic drives, which helped us have a truly fulfilling holiday. We also thoroughly enjoyed the TsuruTaro Art Museum on site. Everything was perfect, and we were completely satisfied.

You can enjoy the gentle Yubatake Onsen in the calm, refined atmosphere of a long-established Ryokan. The food is delicious, but above all, the staff are exceptionally kind. Every visit leaves me impressed by their outstanding service. At check-out, the gracious proprietress sees you off with great care, and you can truly feel how her attentiveness is reflected throughout the entire team.

This was our first stay at this Accommodation, and we really liked it—the atmosphere was great, and the Room was spacious and very relaxing. It’s also close to Yubatake, so getting to Yubatake in the daytime and when it’s lit up at night, as well as shopping for souvenirs or grabbing a quick drink or meal, was no problem. Since it isn’t right around Yubatake, we were able to spend the nights quietly. We’ll definitely stay here again the next time we visit Kusatsu.

Although the building is historic and compact, the cuisine—and even the tableware it is served on—are outstanding. The hot spring water comes from both the Yubatake source and the Ryokan’s own private source, each offering a distinct bathing experience. The staff are wonderful and exceptionally attentive. This is an Accommodation you will want to stay at again and again.

This Accommodation’s Onsen was simply outstanding. The large public bath is divided into “Toki-no-Yu” and “Inishie-no-Yu,” and there are so many options—including indoor baths and open-air baths—that you can’t enjoy them all in just one night. There’s also a sauna, so it’s highly recommended for anyone who wants to sweat and unwind. Another small delight is the complimentary drink (Yakult) provided after your bath. Our Room had twin beds. It wasn’t huge, but it was calm and relaxing. When we opened the window early in the morning, we could hear birds singing—an experience you don’t usually get in the city center. It was such a wonderful Accommodation that we wanted to extend our stay.

The welcome drink and free parking at Nao Resort Hotel were great, and the staff were absolutely amazing throughout our stay. The Naraya Group staff are consistently outstanding. We booked during a time sale at this price, and even breakfast was included—I almost felt bad. I was also happy that the card payment included the Hot Spring Tax. We had a wonderful time around Yubatake. Unfortunately, I couldn’t use the Onsen for personal reasons, but my sister and mother were truly impressed by Ichinoyu’s waters, several nearby baths they could enjoy many times, and Soan’s private bath. Thank you again—everything was perfect.

We stayed in a guest Room with a sauna. The sauna, open-air bath, cold-water bath, and the Room were all spotless down to every detail, and we had an amazing time. Meals were buffet-style for both dinner and breakfast, and we were very satisfied with both the variety and the taste—everything was delicious. The staff’s service was also excellent. We look forward to staying again next time.

Because it is located a little away from Yubatake, we were able to spend a very quiet and relaxing time. The interior has a refined, design-forward atmosphere, yet since the building was originally a cottage and has been renovated, it also feels wonderfully cozy with the warmth and scent of wood. The guest-room bath with free-flowing Onsen water direct from the source was a bit hot at first, but once we got used to it, it felt amazing and allowed us to fully enjoy Kusatsu’s Onsen. After bathing, we felt warmed through to the core and our skin felt pleasantly moisturized. Even the amenities such as lotion were high quality, and we could sense attention to detail throughout. Both dinner and breakfast were truly outstanding, and each dish reflected great care in ingredient selection. The vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, and Joshu beef grilled over a wood fire had an especially fragrant savoriness that left a strong impression. The octopus rice at dinner and the white rice cooked in an earthenware pot at breakfast were also exceptional—perfect with grated yam and bonito flakes. It was a meal where you could really appreciate how delicious the rice itself is. We are not very knowledgeable about wine or sake, but there was an impressive selection, and the well-informed master recommended options tailored to our preferences—making this Accommodation particularly appealing for those who love drinks. Some past Reviews included harsh comments, but after staying ourselves, we could clearly see sincere efforts to improve; it felt like this Accommodation continues to evolve into something even better. Even understatedly put, it was an exceptional stay. We were completely satisfied with everything—the Facility offerings, Onsen baths, cuisine, and hospitality. It was such a wonderful Accommodation that we would absolutely want to stay again when visiting Kusatsu.

Among the many Accommodations, we chose Taira no Ie because of the breakfast and a Room with a view of Yubatake. It wasn’t a typical breakfast—suiton, chimaki, and dessert waffles were available for seconds, and we were completely full. Everything was delicious. The Room was spacious and clean even for four adults, and it was great to have two sinks. The staff were young foreigners, but their service was excellent; they spoke Japanese earnestly and it was charming. The Onsen water was very hot, but it left our skin feeling smooth. It was right in front of Yubatake, so it was convenient for walking around, but getting up to the Accommodation by car was difficult because of the steep slope and crowds. Still, we’re glad we chose Taira no Ie. We fully enjoyed Kusatsu Onsen. Thank you very much.