We had a very good overall experience at this onsen hotel. The atmosphere was relaxing, and we enjoyed our stay very much.
We especially appreciated having an English-speaking staff member available — it made communication much easier and helped us feel more comfortable during our visit.
Very nice Japanese style room overlooking the river and the tree filled riverbank hill. It was very private. Breakfast and dinner was served at the table and was excellent. Much variety of fish, chicken, pork, tofu, and vegetables. The overall atmosphere was very elegant and relaxed. The ryokan is located right on one of the bus stops for easy access from the train station. It is a short 10 minute walk to the main area of town. There are several onsen pools. Some rotate between men and women at different hours. Very clean with good amenities. Overall a very memorable stay.
We stayed here during a two-day ski trip. I found this inn very appealing, especially since I had never seen it on social media. There are only a few rooms, so it was quiet and very comfortable. We were worried about which one to choose, but we stayed at ”Kiri,” which has an open-air bath in the room, and it was better than we expected, so we took a bath five times (lol). We'll definitely come back here again! We've been saying that ever since we got back. However, we didn't get a plan that included dinner, so we were hoping to eat at a nearby restaurant, but all the restaurants closed early, so we were left without food, which was a bit of a downside^^; Next time we stay, we'll make sure to make a reservation for meals!! The inn itself was really nice and the best. Thank you for your hospitality.
A very good hotel with a free shuttle bus to Yubata, the train station, and the ski resort. The hotel is large and has comprehensive recreational facilities, including bowling, karaoke, and billiards.
The receptionist speaks excellent English, making communication completely seamless. It's a long walk from the reception to the rooms, but you'll pass a large gift shop with prices the same as the gift shop next to Yubata, and you can even get tax-free shopping. There are also many art exhibitions in the hallways.
The rooms are spacious, with two beds and one tatami room, and underfloor heating. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi. The open-air bath in the large public bath is very comfortable, allowing you to enjoy the snow while soaking in the hot spring. The hot spring water is piped from Yubata Genyu, and the temperature is quite high.
The hotel's most unique feature is its series of walking/hiking activities, with three sessions in total. I participated in the 7:00 AM forest hike with a professional guide. The hotel provides rain boots, but I recommend wearing thick socks as the rain boots are quite thin. We will walk into the forest and reach the ski resort. We will hike in the snow for about an hour. It will be cold, so be sure to dress warmly.
A relax and nice view in Kusatsu. The hotel is located a bit far from bus terminal. However, there is a free shuttle bus service which connected with bus service.
I strongly encourage the private onsen package where we can taste three different type of onsen in the hotel.
My platinum ring changed colour, may be due to the acidity of onsen water😂.
The dinner and breakfast inspired and it is good for family trip with a number of accessible service for elderly with physically limitations.
Stayed for 2 nights in early Dec 2024. Booked the mountain view twin room with cypress bath which comes with both dinner and breakfast.
The ryokan styled hotel is located diagonally opposite from the shibukawa bus stop and about 5 mins walk (turn right from the hotel) to the Ikaho stone steps around the mid section of the steps.
The hotel is old ryokan style but well maintained and does not see much wear and tear. The lobby which is on the 3rd floor (ground level) is big. No shoes allowed in the hotel, guests have to deposit their shoes at the entrance. Staff were all friendly and polite though not all can speak well in English. They do go much more to make you feel at home. Yutaka is provided at the lobby.
My room which is located on the 4th floor corner is considered big. Old styled ryokan kind of design but with western bed. Though the room is laid with tatami on the floor but can still hear people walking if they area heavy or run. Corridor noise does filter in as well but muffled. Unblocked view of the mountain as the hotel sits on an elevated hill. I would recommend to stay with mountain view. The cypress bath can fit 2 person but takes a while to fill, I rather go to the public onsen. Besides the usual amenities, they even provide face wash, face moisturiser, etc in the room. Safe box is provided in the room as well. Wifi seems weak. No place in the bathroom however to hang your clothes or towel.
There is an indoor onsen on the first floor and an outdoor one on the 8th floor. The onsen are gender separated. They rotate the male and female onsen on the first floor though both has the same look and facilities. The onsen on the 8th floor has a nice view of the city but no shower facilities. There is a massage chair on the first floor as well.
Breakfast and dinner are served on the 2nd floor. I would not say that this is the best, but definitely delicious and sufficient.
Check in at 3 pm and check out at 10am which I find a bit too early. Hope they can consider to extend.
Overall I would recommend this place to stay if you are coming to ikaho.
An oasis of calm in a stone’s throw away from Yubatake. Getting up here can be tricky if you drive but the staff are standing by to direct your car to the reserved parking lots. Breakfast and dinner were exquisite Kaiseki sets. The indoor/outdoor onsens were spacious and clean, with zen greenery surrounding the baths. Traditional rooms are spacious and cosy, with staff setting up the futons while you have dinner. Great place to stay with delicious food.
The staff was very good.
I am very satisfied that I can enjoy the food and eat various dishes little by little. I didn't get tired of watching the murals in the bath.
The staff was very happy to serve and it was a fun trip.
There are few inns that I want to use again, but Tatsumi Kan wanted to use it again!
Thank you.
The Dormy Inn brand is guaranteed. With a room rate of less than $500, you can enjoy a bath, soba noodles and popsicles in the evening, and the room is also large, with enough space for three large suitcases. It is very worthwhile.
The inn is located at the highest point of the stone steps of Ikabo Onsen, and the room offers a view of the scenery down the mountain. Although old, but still well maintained, staff service attitude is good, the lobby has free coffee, tea and other drinks. It's a pity that I went to the wrong open-air hot spring because I didn't listen to the staff's introduction.
Very Good
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8.6/10
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MmathemathusMy stay at Kamenoi Hotel Kusatsu was excellent. The onsen was very clean and quite spacious, making it a relaxing experience. The hotel also has a convenient shortcut that leads directly to the Yubatake pedestrian area, which is a big plus.
Both breakfast and dinner were buffet-style with a wide variety of dishes — plenty of options and all very enjoyable. The service was great, and the room was comfortable to sleep in.
The only downside is that there were a bit too few power outlets in the room, but it wasn’t a major problem.
Overall, a fantastic stay and highly recommended for anyone visiting Kusatsu.
JJoeTmStayed for 2 nights in early Dec 2024. Booked the mountain view twin room with cypress bath which comes with both dinner and breakfast.
The ryokan styled hotel is located diagonally opposite from the shibukawa bus stop and about 5 mins walk (turn right from the hotel) to the Ikaho stone steps around the mid section of the steps.
The hotel is old ryokan style but well maintained and does not see much wear and tear. The lobby which is on the 3rd floor (ground level) is big. No shoes allowed in the hotel, guests have to deposit their shoes at the entrance. Staff were all friendly and polite though not all can speak well in English. They do go much more to make you feel at home. Yutaka is provided at the lobby.
My room which is located on the 4th floor corner is considered big. Old styled ryokan kind of design but with western bed. Though the room is laid with tatami on the floor but can still hear people walking if they area heavy or run. Corridor noise does filter in as well but muffled. Unblocked view of the mountain as the hotel sits on an elevated hill. I would recommend to stay with mountain view. The cypress bath can fit 2 person but takes a while to fill, I rather go to the public onsen. Besides the usual amenities, they even provide face wash, face moisturiser, etc in the room. Safe box is provided in the room as well. Wifi seems weak. No place in the bathroom however to hang your clothes or towel.
There is an indoor onsen on the first floor and an outdoor one on the 8th floor. The onsen are gender separated. They rotate the male and female onsen on the first floor though both has the same look and facilities. The onsen on the 8th floor has a nice view of the city but no shower facilities. There is a massage chair on the first floor as well.
Breakfast and dinner are served on the 2nd floor. I would not say that this is the best, but definitely delicious and sufficient.
Check in at 3 pm and check out at 10am which I find a bit too early. Hope they can consider to extend.
Overall I would recommend this place to stay if you are coming to ikaho.
BbrianchuThe ancient charm and the hard work of the staff in maintaining it allow visitors to experience the charm of 140 years. The daily meals are so exquisite that you can't bear to eat them. The exquisite menus are taken home for storage. Although the hot spring area is not large, the number of guest rooms is not large, but it is still very comfortable. There are also single hot spring rooms that can be reserved for families.
SSettasilp PoonbumphenPros:
+ Stunning outdoor onsen: The outdoor bath is the highlight. The natural scenery is beautiful, especially with the surrounding mountains and snow.
+ Tourist-friendly onsen: The resort provides special underwear so guests can comfortably enjoy the onsen without needing to be fully nude, which makes it much more accessible for international visitors.
+ Excellent kaiseki dinner: The traditional multi-course meal is well-prepared and delicious. Definitely one of the highlights of the stay.
+ Great atmosphere: The entire setting feels very authentic and relaxing, especially in winter.
+ Service meets expectations: Staff are professional and the hospitality is solid throughout the stay.
Cons:
- Outdoor bath is quite far from the main building: You need to walk through a snowy path wearing the traditional yukata, which can feel very cold and slightly inconvenient.
- TV lacks modern app support: The in-room TV does not support apps like Netflix or other streaming services.
- Tight schedule for check-in and check-out: The first shuttle bus arrives at the resort around 2:00 PM, leaving only a few hours before dinner at 5:45 PM. After dinner you can enjoy the onsen again until midnight, and it reopens at 5:00 AM. However, breakfast starts at 7:00 AM, and guests must check out by 9:00 AM to catch the 9:15 AM bus. This makes the morning feel rushed and limits the time you can spend enjoying the onsen. The rest of your day might be feeling tired.
Despite a few inconveniences - mainly the walking distance to the outdoor bath and the tight check-out schedule. Takaragawa Onsen is still a highly enjoyable experience. The stunning outdoor, beautiful scenery, and great kaiseki dinner make it a memorable stay. If you're visiting Japan and want to experience a famous outdoor onsen, this place is definitely worth it and shouldn't be missed.
SShuiyonglexiaotuzaiziI booked two rooms. In one of them, even with the heating set to 28 degrees, it was still freezing cold, and I shivered through the night. In the other room, with the heating set to just 20 or 21 degrees, it was unbearably hot. For a hot spring hotel, not having a private in-room hot spring bath and only a shower is a bit of a letdown. I booked three hot spring hotels for this trip, and this one was the least comfortable. Overall, it was just okay.
BBohanhanThe hotel's location is superb, right in the heart of the onsen town, making everything walkable. I booked a half-board plan, and both dinner and breakfast were quite good, with a wide variety of options. The restaurant staff were also very enthusiastic. The only downside is that the hotel feels a bit old, probably due to being open for a long time, so the facilities are a bit dated.
GGuest UserRoom & vibes
Stayed in a traditional tatami room and it was so Japanese in the best way – futon, tatami smell, the whole ryokan fantasy.
Super cosy, perfect if you’re here to soak, chill, and live your best onsen‑town main‑character life.
Buildings & facilities
Hotel has three blocks, all connected via the main building, so you’ll always pass through it anyway.
Most of the good stuff – hot springs, buffet etc. – is in the Annex building where I stayed, so it was really convenient, just no Yubatake view (that’s only for the main building rooms).
Location & mini shopping zone
They literally have their own shopping area on the first floor of the main building, right by Yubatake and the hot spring street, so you can roll out of the hotel in yukata and start browsing.
Super easy to snack, shop, then hop back into the onsen without feeling like you “went out”.
Transport & walking in snow
There’s a shuttle bus to the nearest public transport stop, so luggage days are easy.
You can walk it in under 10 minutes, but in snow season the road gets icy and crazy slippery, so honestly not recommended unless you trust your shoes (and your balance).
Staff & service energy
Hotel staff are amazing – super friendly and actually proactive.
Besides Japanese and English, some staff speak Mandarin and will just switch to it to help you out, and they’ll even offer to take photos for you before you have the chance to ask, which is perfect for solo or shy travellers.
SSRL13064Excellent service. I will give 10 out of 5 if I could.
There was a staff who rushed out to us and asked if we were going to stay at the Ryokan. Very helpful for lost travelers overwhelmed by the cold weather. Greeted us warmly when we arrived. Explained the important information to us as best as they could in English, which is perfectly fine.
Room was big. Decorated meticulously in the traditional Japanese style. Yukata and Obi provided added on to the immersive experience.
Dinner was exquisite. Dishes gave us a taste of what traditional Japanese cuisine was like. The food was sincere (didn’t feel like frozen / canned / ready made food), served and plated meticulously.
There were 2 onsens, indoor and outdoor. They were clean and spacious enough. Water (I believe) is from the hot spring nearby and was immensely therapeutic.
Ryokan was near the heart of the town and everything was within walking distance.
Kindly shuttled us to the bus terminal when we checked out (we didn’t have to wait for fixed timings) and carried our (heavy) luggage.
All in all, we enjoyed the one night stay very much and they set a high bar for Japanese hospitality.
GGuest UserA relax and nice view in Kusatsu. The hotel is located a bit far from bus terminal. However, there is a free shuttle bus service which connected with bus service.
I strongly encourage the private onsen package where we can taste three different type of onsen in the hotel.
My platinum ring changed colour, may be due to the acidity of onsen water😂.
The dinner and breakfast inspired and it is good for family trip with a number of accessible service for elderly with physically limitations.
GGuest UserExcellent value for money, with a half-board package that included dinner and breakfast. Dinner was very generous, though the aftertaste was just average; the Jōshū beef was the highlight. Breakfast quality was superb. Very satisfied with the cleanliness and comfort.
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