Around Mt. Yokote × Stays Popular For Snow-View BathsHighly rated for customer service and hospitality at Hotel·Ryokan

After seeing photos, I had long wanted to visit this Accommodation at least once, and this was my first stay. The real view was even more magnificent than the photos; while enjoying matcha in the lobby, the full glass wall opened up, removing any obstruction from sight, and I was deeply moved by the sensation of being completely filled with the lush green valley right before my eyes. Although the weather that day was unfortunately poor—perhaps due to a typhoon—the drifting rain mist added atmosphere like a sea of clouds, creating a truly ethereal world. Perhaps thanks to traditions passed down over many years, the hospitality was exceptionally polished; from being escorted to and briefed on our Room at check-in to every aspect of dining service, it was flawless with nothing to criticize. While traditional in spirit, the Facility is kept impeccably clean in a modern style (every faucet in both the Room and bath areas gleamed so much that it felt beyond mere cleanliness—I could almost sense the staff’s dedication), and we enjoyed every dish while also appreciating the presentation of their signature specialties. This is purely my personal impression, but it reminded me of a well-known culinary Ryokan in Yugawara (back before it was acquired by Hokkaido-based capital), and it has been a long time since I felt so strongly that I had found an outstanding “traditional Japanese Ryokan” with all three elements—service, cuisine, and location (including Facilities and Onsen)—perfectly aligned. It soothed both body and mind. Wanting to see snowy scenery through those windows, I went ahead and made a Reservation for December as well. With global warming reducing snowfall these days, there may not be much snow yet in December… (laugh). The only reason my rating for “Onsen / Baths” is 4 out of 5 is simply my small wish that the open-air bath were a bit larger.

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.

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.

The building and Rooms are certainly old, but the view from the lobby, the delicious meals made with care using local ingredients, the hot Onsen, and above all, the pleasant hospitality of the staff made our stay very comfortable. Thank you for taking such good care of us. I would like to visit again during the autumn foliage season.

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.

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 is my third year traveling to Kusatsu Onsen in summer, and I was finally able to stay at Naraya as I had long hoped. The free-flowing Onsen from Shirahata Gensen was wonderful, and I enjoyed it many times. The Room was clean, and the meal was excellent—especially the sushi served at the end, which was so delicious that I left completely satisfied. I felt there were many younger staff members, but everyone greeted me with a smile, making it a great trip. I would definitely like to stay 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.

We stayed in two Rooms with a total of seven people—my daughter’s family and my son. We have stayed here before, and it remains a favorite because we can truly relax, and both dinner and breakfast are served in private dining rooms so we can enjoy our meals at a leisurely pace. The grandchildren enjoyed not only the Onsen but also the pool, and they even wrote in their summer vacation diary that they want to come again. The staff also left a very positive impression with their courteous service.

We were blessed with great weather and were glad to have chosen a stunning Japanese-style room with a view of Karabuki from the window. The Onsen's open-air bath was around 39–40°C, perfect for a long soak. The indoor bath was also about 40°C and very pleasant. Unlike many women

We stayed for one night and two days with our grandchild. As mentioned in Reviews, the building and the Room itself are indeed old, but everything was properly cleaned, so 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 illuminations, and I was surprised by how many tourists there were. 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 to treat them to street food and a yumomi experience. I had only ever visited Kusatsu in winter before, so this was my first summer visit. While news reported 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—if anything, it felt slightly chilly. Summer in Kusatsu is great. The meals were delicious, and everyone at the front desk and each reception counter as well as the shop—especially the international staff—were very polite and pleasant; every staff member provided excellent service and I was truly impressed. This Hotel is highly recommended for families with children as well. We would like 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 did get lost after all. Still overall it was a wonderful Hotel. Thank you very much.

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 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.

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.

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.

The free-flowing Onsen water pours vigorously from the wall into the indoor bath, and in the open-air bath it cascades like a waterfall from the rocks—something Onsen lovers will truly appreciate. This was my father’s favorite place, and he was very happy. The meals were delicious and just the right amount. On the way to the large public bath, it was fun to see carp gathering where the spring water flows and bathing under it like a waterfall shower. The Room felt refreshingly cool with lush green trees outside. Thank you very much for your hospitality.

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.

It was really great!

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.