Around Mt. Yokote × Highly rated Hotel·Ryokan

I stayed in a newly renovated Room, and it was wonderful. The in-room perks were excellent. In particular, the all-you-can-eat gelato was an incredibly generous service—perfect after the Onsen—and I enjoyed trying many different flavors. Everything was delicious. The pre-dinner aperitif can be chosen from the menu, and the lounge coffee machine is truly high-quality, so I used it many times. Both the quality and quantity of the meals were very satisfying, and what impressed me most was the staff. There were many young team members, but everyone’s hospitality was outstanding. Some staff members spent a long time chatting with elderly guests because they were approached for conversation, yet they responded without showing any displeasure at all—I was genuinely impressed. You can also enjoy two different types of Onsen water, and I think this Accommodation offers excellent value for money. I will definitely return again. Thank you very much for taking such great care of me.

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.

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.

We visited to celebrate my elderly parent’s birthday. We truly appreciated your thoughtful hospitality, and my parent was delighted. The dishes were beautifully presented and delicious, leaving us energized for the next day. The room was spacious with a wonderful view, and we could feel the arrival of autumn. Elegant flowers were arranged throughout the property, allowing us to enjoy the season as well. Your sense of style is truly wonderful. We’ve been saying we’d love to come again. Thank you very much.

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.

At dusk after arriving at the inn, I noticed one of the rear tires on our rental car was flat. There was no spare tire, and when I called the rental car office, they told me to drive slowly to a service station or similar place and have it repaired. When I asked at the front desk, the owner kindly listened and even arranged a repair through an acquaintance. As a result, it was fixed safely before checkout—and at a friendly price. Car trouble that suddenly strikes in an unfamiliar place can be stressful. For a moment I thought our sightseeing plans for the next day were ruined, but thanks to their help we were able to enjoy our trip as planned. I can’t thank the owner enough. Thank you so much. About the inn: it’s an older building, but it’s very clean and well maintained. There are lovely fresh flowers arranged here and there in the rooms and hallways. We used one of the private open-air baths—the larger corner bath—in the morning. The view was wonderful, and I highly recommend bathing in the morning! Most noteworthy is how excellent the meals were. The Shinshu Premium Beef for dinner had sweet marbling and was absolutely delicious—I strongly recommend choosing the “Luxury Meal Plan” so you can enjoy it! The sashimi included Shinshu salmon and char (iwana). Both dinner and breakfast featured many delicious local specialties. Thank you for such wonderful meals. We chose this inn somewhat casually for sightseeing in Obuse, but it became a truly great memory. Thank you very much.

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.

Among the many inns in Kusatsu Onsen, I had always wanted to stay at Naraya, and my wish finally came true. I’d long been intrigued by its historic exterior, and once I actually stayed there, I found it to be a wonderful building full of history. Our room was on the Comfort Floor and was more than spacious enough, allowing us to relax at ease. I also heard that their signature baths switch between men and women at night and in the morning, so we were able to enjoy both. What especially stands out at this ryokan is the food. Dinner was served course-style in sequence, and there was even a service where sushi was prepared right in front of us, and just as the wall art says, we truly felt “I’m so full.” Breakfast was equally lavish, with freshly baked croissants as well—again leaving us thinking, “I’m so full.” The attendants and staff were all young, giving this long-established ryokan a wonderfully lively atmosphere. If I visit Kusatsu Onsen again, I would definitely love to stay here once more.

What I was most satisfied with this time was, of course, the Onsen. The water had a strong sulfur scent—exactly what you’d expect from Manza Onsen. The scenic open-air bath with its incredible views felt amazing, and I ended up going in five times during my stay. I’ve always loved Manza Onsen, and this visit reminded me just how great the water is here. Meals were buffet-style, with roast beef as the highlight. It wasn’t especially luxurious, but considering the Accommodation Fee overall, both the selection and taste were more than satisfying. The all-inclusive plan was also a big plus. Drinks are unlimited, and you can enjoy snacks and ice cream as well. There’s table tennis and other activity corners in the building; on this day, the activity was calligraphy. It was nice to have things to do besides the Onsen, and I could truly relax. The staff were polite and attentive, and the facilities were kept very clean, so I felt comfortable throughout my stay. The Room had both air conditioning and a fan. The refrigerator is empty so you can use it freely. There are vending machines in the building as well, and I appreciated that they also offer a late-night snack service. I stayed in late September, but because of the high elevation it gets quite cold in the mornings and at night. If you’re visiting from now on, bringing an extra layer to throw on will help you feel prepared. If the weather is good, you can also enjoy a beautiful starry sky at night. Rather than coming for luxury dining, I’d recommend this Accommodation for anyone who wants to take their time enjoying Manza’s distinctive sulfur springs, spectacular open-air baths with views, and an all-inclusive stay. Manza’s hot spring water really is outstanding—I’d love to come back again just for the Onsen.

It was a wonderful ryokan. I was very particular about choosing a place to stay, and it took me about 15 hours in total searching across Ikkyu, Agoda, Rakuten Travel, and TikTok. I wanted a ryokan rather than a hotel; kaiseki rather than a buffet; private dining or in-room meals rather than a dining hall; a Japanese-style breakfast; an open-air bath with natural scenery; reservable private baths or hot-spring water in the room; a quiet property without noisy group tours; within walking distance of Yubatake; a spacious room for three people; on-site payment rather than credit-card prepayment, and more. In the end, I was able to stay in an ideal location and it was fantastic. I was especially satisfied with the open-air baths in the morning and at night, and the delicious meals served in a private dining room. Our arrival ended up being later than planned due to our circumstances, but they kindly accommodated us, for which we are very grateful. Since it’s such a major tourist destination, I assumed it would be all hotels, but I’m so glad there is an authentic restaurant-style ryokan like this—thanks to it we had an amazing time and were truly happy.

It was really great!

The in-Room bath was great, and we also loved the four private baths available 24 hours a day with no Reservation required. The skincare lotion in the Room was Sekkisei, and for dinner we could choose rice or cheese. Even though we were full, the matsutake mushroom rice was so delicious that we finished it. In the evening, we were able to take the Shuttle Service bus to see the illuminated Yubatake. It was our first time in Kusatsu, and we truly enjoyed our stay. We would definitely like to stay again. Thank you very much.

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.

It was a trip for two women, and we were able to relax, and the food was delicious. We both ended up like little piggies (oh—meant as a compliment!). We’d love to visit again when we get the chance.

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.

Because it was inexpensive, I stayed one night in a Room without windows. Since there were no windows, it felt a bit humid, but the Onsen was right outside the Room, so I could use the large public bath as if it were part of my Room—it was fantastic. The water at Manza is, needless to say, excellent. If I can enjoy such wonderful water at this price, I would definitely like to stay again.

We stayed for one night and two days with our grandchild. As mentioned in other reviews, the building and rooms are indeed a bit old, but everything was properly cleaned and we had no issues. With the all-you-can-play passport, we enjoyed bowling, the pool, craft-making, festival-style games, quizzes, a stamp rally, and more—plenty to keep us entertained. The free shuttle bus from the hotel to Yubatake at night was extremely helpful; it was my first time seeing the Yubatake illuminations, 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 shuttle again because I wanted my grandchild to enjoy street food and try the yumomi experience as well. We had only ever visited Kusatsu in winter before, so this was our first summer visit. While news reports talked about extreme heat in Tokyo, we were amazed at how cool and comfortable Kusatsu was in summer. At night we didn’t need air conditioning in our room—it actually felt slightly chilly. Summer in Kusatsu is great. The food was delicious, and everyone at the front desk, reception counters, and shop—especially the international staff—was very polite and pleasant. Every staff member provided excellent service; I was truly impressed. This hotel is highly recommended for families with children as well. We would love to visit again. The only downside is that the hotel is so large that it’s easy to get lost—especially when trying to find the baths (as other reviews mentioned), and yes, we got lost too. Overall though it was a wonderful hotel. Thank you very much.

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.

I was truly impressed by the hospitality. The staff were very friendly, which made our trip even more enjoyable! I’d love to stay again!!