Tsutsuji-tei

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.

This was my first trip to Kusatsu Onsen, and I stayed at Tsutsujitei.All 10 rooms come with their own private bath fed by natural hot spring water—an absolute dream for onsen lovers. Being able to soak whenever I wanted, as many times as I liked after check-in, was truly wonderful. By checking in early, I could relax in the room and enjoy the hot spring at a leisurely pace—it felt like a real luxury.In fact, I came down with a fever the day before and called to ask whether it would still be possible for me to stay.Even then, they responded with such kindness and care, and they even called the next morning to check on how I was feeling. I was genuinely grateful for their warm consideration.Thankfully my fever went down, so I was able to visit as planned.After checking in early, resting in the room, and enjoying a soak in the hot spring, it was time for dinner—the moment I had been looking forward to.Each dining space is a private room, so you can enjoy your meal at your own pace without worrying about those around you.The attendant who looked after us this time was such a delightful person that conversation flowed naturally, making not only dinner but even the next morning an enjoyable time. Thank you very much.Kusatsu Onsen itself—my first visit—was also incredibly charming. As you walk around town you catch that distinctive onsen scent in the air; even without any particular plan, simply wandering around is fun.Tsutsujitei is located slightly away from the lively hot spring town center, in a very quiet and relaxing setting.The beautifully arranged flowers throughout the property were impressive, and the carefully maintained garden is another highlight. Including both the interior spaces and the garden grounds, it felt as though calm time flowed through the entire inn.Out of the 10 rooms, four are separate annex villas (hanare), where meals can also be served in-room.Because this stay was so comfortable, next time I would love to book one of those annex rooms and enjoy both meals and hot springs slowly in complete privacy.With their thoughtful concern for my health as well, this became an unforgettable trip to Kusatsu Onsen.Thank you very much.