Kusatsu Onsen Hotel KURBIO

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 have already visited Hotel Kurabio several times. It offers the perfect environment for an easy, stress-free fast. Even though it’s called fasting, you still go to the dining room at breakfast, lunch, and dinner times and slowly drink things like carrot juice. The rest of the time, you can relax by soaking in the Onsen or using the sauna, so it never feels difficult. This time, over a 2-night/3-day stay, I lost just over 3 kg. The Onsen town center around Yubatake is crowded with inns and shops packed closely together, but this Hotel sits a little away from that area on a hilltop. Surrounded by greenery on spacious grounds, it feels like a world apart—you can clearly hear birds and insects. The baths also open out directly to the green outdoors, which feels wonderful. The only disappointment this time was the disposable razor provided in the men’s bath area. Perhaps because there are fewer male guests, the stock is old—it didn’t cut at all. Despite being a triple-blade razor, no matter how many times I went over an area it left stubble behind, and afterward my skin was irritated with razor burn. It’s best to bring your own shaving kit.