Tazawa Station × Business Ryokan Convenient For Business TripsHighly rated Hotel·Ryokan

Obuse, the town of Hokusai and chestnuts, is known for its beautiful streetscape that feels almost like a theme park. We arrived a little early by car, so we visited Gansho-in Temple and Jokoji Temple before heading to Masuichi Kyakuden. The ceiling painting at Gansho-in—Katsushika Hokusai’s “Phoenix Glancing in All Directions”—was truly breathtaking. As soon as we pulled up in front of Masuichi Kyakuden, a staff member came right out and efficiently carried our luggage inside. The highly sought-after “Chestnut Dessert Suzaku,” which is notoriously difficult to secure, will be offered from 9/10 this year. Because guests staying at Masuichi Kyakuden receive priority guaranteed access, it becomes even harder to make an Accommodation Reservation for stays from 9/10 onward. Since our stay was before then, making a Reservation was easy. Stepping inside Masuichi Kyakuden, you’re immediately enveloped by the stately atmosphere of the kura storehouse building. Our Room was on the second floor; we chose the Relax Twin style. Despite being in a kura-style structure, it also has a terrace, with plenty of natural light and an open feel. There are also more traditional, calmer kura-style Rooms available; however, we were told they are designed with high ceilings to avoid any sense of confinement. Designed by architect John Morford, the Room is fully Western-style with extensive use of stainless steel—its glass-and-stainless bath is well worth seeing. Amenities are L’Occitane; the refrigerator includes complimentary drinks; plus coffee and tea—everything you’d expect from a high-end Ryokan-style stay is provided, making the Room very comfortable. For dinner, we walked about three minutes to Obusedo Honten (part of the same Masuichi group). Every dish showcased the head chef’s experience and refined sensibility. The soup course, simmered dishes, and grilled items had a Kyoto kaiseki influence—above all else, the dashi was exceptional. The sashimi was fresh and perfectly seasoned as well. Local ingredients were used throughout for very high satisfaction overall. One note: the first items served—lightly dressed Kurakake beans and Matsumae-zuke—are not part of the course menu itself (just so you know). They’re clearly intended as snacks with alcohol—especially sake brewed by Masuichi Ichimura Sake Brewery within the same group—and both paired beautifully with their sake: firm Kurakake beans soaked in elegant dashi alongside Matsumae-zuke packed with rich seafood umami made each sip even better than before. In autumn Obuse becomes all about chestnuts; while we couldn’t try “Chestnut Dessert Suzaku,” we did get to enjoy “Mont Blanc Suzaku,” a Western-inspired take on Suzaku. It’s available at their affiliated shop “Entotsu.” We nearly gave up due to long lines but learned that overnight guests can make Reservations—so we were able to enjoy it without waiting. If you stay at Masuichi Kyakuden, be sure to indulge in one of their “Suzaku”-style chestnut sweets if you can. Overall it was an outstanding stay—we thoroughly enjoyed Obuse from start to finish.

I stayed for two nights in August and did not experience any major inconveniences. The meals were delicious. The Onsen was spacious, and I was able to relax and enjoy it. The staff were also very helpful. There was only one designated smoking area outside, but it was not particularly inconvenient.

Thank you as always. We were very satisfied. Points we noticed: The sliding door to the men’s bath does not close properly (since earlier this year?). It may need the roller height adjusted or the movement tightened. Some guest rooms have no Wi‑Fi signal or a weak connection, so please check. Even so, we will be back again.

The parking lot was spacious and convenient. The Room was clean and functional! The only slight dissatisfaction was the lack of a nearby convenience store, but while exploring, I found a yakiniku restaurant and enjoyed a delicious dinner. I appreciated the staff's thoughtful gestures, such as the handmade map.

Thank you for taking care of me on this touring trip! I really appreciated being allowed to park my motorcycle under the eaves by the entrance. The staff included many young women from overseas, and everyone served us politely with constant smiles, so I was able to fully enjoy a satisfying Onsen Accommodation—thank you very much. Next time, I’d like to visit with my wife and daughters as a family, and I look forward to seeing you then. If I may make one request: I had a beer in the floor area next to the front desk, but I was disappointed that the glass was at room temperature (it was a hot day, so it felt lukewarm). I would be grateful if you could consider this. Thank you again for such an enjoyable stay at your Onsen Accommodation. This middle-aged rider will definitely be back!

Dinner was at an izakaya using the Hotel voucher. We had a grilled fish set meal and local sake within the voucher amount. It was delicious. In the morning, we had bread and coffee; I would have liked a salad. The bath was very hot, but the water was great. The only drawback was that the parking lot was hard to find. Thank you for your hospitality.

The owner was very kind and gave us a warm welcome. They recommended many wonderful local attractions, such as apple picking, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The Room was spacious enough for one person, very quiet at night, and provided a comfortable stay. Additionally, the **bath (bathtub)** allowed me to relax as if I were at home. I would love to stay here again if I have the chance!

I stayed here during the Obuse Marathon. Despite my early departure, they kindly prepared rice balls and tea for me, which I greatly appreciated. The warm smiles when welcoming and sending me off made for a wonderful stay.

The ski slopes are immediately to the left as soon as you step outside the entrance, so it was great that we could change into our gear in the Room and head straight out. The Onsen was also very relaxing and enjoyable. The staff were wonderful—everyone greeted us with a smile and kindly answered our questions. The building is old, but it was clean and didn’t bother us. It snowed until early morning, then cleared up around 9 a.m., making for perfect conditions.

Excellent access to the Shiga-Kusatsu Road. The Room was spacious and relaxing. The Onsen was very pleasant. The staff were kind and made us feel at ease.