Kusatsu, Shiriyaki, Hanashiki | Hotels and Ryokan (Japanese inn) that are popular based on reviews!

For a graduation trip with a group of 5, especially if you're looking for great value (or what we call "cos-pa" – cost performance – in Japan!), you really can't go wrong with Itoen Hotel Kusatsu. They have spacious rooms that can actually fit up to 8 people, so your group of 5 will have plenty of space to hang out. The real highlight for many groups, especially students, is the dining: Dinner: It's an all-you-can-eat buffet with a huge variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. Plus, it includes unlimited soft drinks AND an all-you-can-drink alcohol menu (beer, sake, shochu, wine, etc.) – perfect for celebrating your graduation! Breakfast: Also a generous buffet with both Japanese and Western options, including fruits and fresh juices to start your day right. Now for the onsen – which is what Kusatsu is famous for! They have fantastic large public baths with gensen kakenagashi (100% pure, free-flowing hot spring water directly from the source). These public baths also feature an outdoor bath (rotenburo), a sauna, and a cold water bath (mizuburo) to cool down. A huge plus for groups, especially if some members are new to onsen culture: They offer free private reservable baths (kashikiri buro)! This is a fantastic option if anyone in your group feels a bit hesitant about the communal bathing culture (being nude with strangers). You can enjoy the onsen experience just with your friends. And for more group fun: The hotel offers free table tennis. There are also karaoke rooms you can use for free (usually for one hour per group). These are super popular, so if you want to belt out some tunes, make sure to book your karaoke slot as soon as you check in!

 I have never seen a hotel buffet with this much variety. And what's more, it's all delicious. The second you walk into the dining hall, the sheer selection is almost dizzying. Then, there’s the bathing area—which is just as overwhelming in its size and the number of baths available. They offer several different water temperatures, so you can choose whatever suits you best. It's like a "buffet of baths," too. On top of all that, the staff are clearly well-trained and very pleasant.

This is a European-style resort hotel located at an altitude of 1,200 meters. Surrounded by the "Baelz Forest," it’s a place where you can spend a truly healing time immersed in nature. They offer an attractive Japanese, Western, and Chinese buffet, featuring menus centered around local Gunma ingredients. They hold seasonal fairs with different themes, so you'll never get bored no matter how many times you visit. The buffet isn't just for dinner; they offer it for breakfast as well. The fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth omelets, cooked one by one right in front of you, are very popular. The onsen includes indoor baths and open-air baths with free-flowing spring water (gensen kakenagashi), and there is also a sauna. Furthermore, there are five different types of private, reservable open-air baths. A free shuttle bus is available to get to the "Yubatake" (Kusatsu's symbol) and the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal.

If you're going with your friend's family, I really recommend "Hotel Village"! The dinner buffet has an incredible variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese food—it's so much fun just deciding what to get. You can also get freshly prepared steak and sushi from the live kitchen. They also have plenty of kid-friendly favorites like french fries, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and desserts, so it's a huge relief even if you have picky eaters. I think it's the kind of buffet where everyone, both adults and kids, can truly eat their fill of all their favorite things.

 If you're looking for a quiet place to stay in Kusatsu Onsen, I highly recommend Boun. It's a 'shinise,' a long-established ryokan (traditional inn) with a rich history, so it has a wonderfully calm and sophisticated atmosphere. It's not loud or chaotic at all; it's the perfect place to truly appreciate some quiet, 'adult' time alone. But the main highlight, without a doubt, is the onsen (hot springs). They have baths drawing from two different spring sources, "Sai no Kawara" and "Bandai-ko," which is actually quite rare, even for Kusatsu. With six different baths right in the ryokan, you can enjoy 'yu-meguri' (onsen hopping) without ever leaving the building. The outdoor bath (rotenburo) is especially tranquil. It's the perfect spot to just relax and gather your thoughts in peace.

 If you're looking for a hotel with a buffet in Kusatsu Onsen, I recommend "Hotel Ichii." It's in a prime location, standing right in front of the "Yubatake," Kusatsu Onsen's famous symbol. It was super easy to just step out for a quick walk at night to see the Yubatake all lit up. The buffet hall just had its grand opening in 2024, so it's very clean. And, of course, the food was delicious with plenty of variety. If your main priority is strolling around the onsen town, I highly recommend it.

This onsen(hot spring) inn is located in the heart of Kusatsu's onsen(hot spring) town, right next to the Yubatake. It boasts a Japanese and Western dinner buffet, with a wide variety of dishes made with seasonal ingredients, from Japanese dishes like sushi and tempura, to tempura fried right in front of you by the chef, and sukiyaki made with local brand beef. This is a recommended inn where you can not only fully enjoy the atmosphere of onsen(hot spring) town, but also enjoy delicious food.

This hotel is not only fully equipped with a sauna, but also has a cold bath, which is essential for a sauna, so you can alternate between hot and cold baths. You can enjoy the hot and cold baths of Kusatsu Onsen and the sauna. For dinner, you can enjoy creative kaiseki cuisine, and for breakfast, you can enjoy a Japanese meal while looking at the ever-changing garden scenery.

This hotel can accommodate 5 people per room and is reasonably priced. There is a free shuttle from the bus terminal to the hotel and from the Yubatake to the hotel, so it is perfect for students who travel by train or bus. The meals include local Gunma delicacies, and you can also eat Joshu beef Shabu Shabu（Japanese hotpot）(or steak). The all-you-can-drink option is also good value for money, so it is recommended.

It's within walking distance of the Yubatake hot springs, so it's a recommended hot spring inn for those who want to enjoy the hot spring town at their leisure. You can also see the "Yumomi (A technique in which a board approximately 180cm long is placed in the hot spring to stir the water and lower the temperature until it is ready to bathe.) Show", a staple of Kusatsu, nearby. With its purely Japanese-style rooms and free-flowing hot springs, this is an inn that offers a truly Japanese experience. There are also private baths, so if you're not comfortable with large public baths, feel free to use those.

As its name "Kusatsu Hotel" suggests, it's one of the classic, historic hotels that truly represents the town. Its most notable feature is the historic wooden building, constructed over 100 years ago (around 1913). This style is called "Taisho Roman," a traditional early 20th-century Japanese design, which gives the entire interior a very classic and serene atmosphere. Unlike the newer, modern hotels, there's absolutely no noisy or chaotic feeling here. For a solo male traveler (like myself), quietly reading a book or soaking in the onsen within this timeless building is the ultimate luxury. I think it's perfectly suited for those who appreciate a quiet, uncrowded atmosphere.

I stayed at Hotel New Momiji during my trip to Kusatsu onsen(hot spring). While it's a little independent guest cottages from the center of onsen(hot spring) town, the Yubatake, there's a frequent shuttle bus, so sightseeing wasn't a problem at all. Dinner was a much-anticipated buffet, featuring a wide variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, including a menu using local ingredients, as well as specially ordered crab and abalone dishes, so I was able to enjoy it to my heart's content. The spacious public bath allowed me to fully enjoy Kusatsu's high-quality hot springs, which seemed to soothe my daily fatigue. The open-air bath was also spacious, so I enjoyed a relaxing soak while admiring the view outside. Apparently, bath to view the snow is available in winter. I was surprised to find such a fulfilling stay at such a reasonable price.

If you're looking for a quiet stay in Kusatsu Onsen, "Kanamidori" is a fantastic choice. It's a traditional Japanese ryokan located right in front of the "Yubatake," the main landmark of the town. The biggest selling point here is the sheer "quality" of its onsen water. It is one of the very few ryokans in Kusatsu where you can experience two different types of spring water, both flowing 100% gensen kakenagashi. This means the water flows directly from the source into the baths, completely fresh and untreated. Even though it’s right in the center and convenient for sightseeing, the interior is pure 'Jun-Wafu' (traditional Japanese style) and remains remarkably quiet. The main bath area is also very tranquil. If you're the type of person who wants to be alone to quietly contemplate and truly appreciate the famous waters, this environment is ideal.

Founded in 1877, this is a long-established Ryokan (Japanese inn) with over 100 years of history. Although it is a long-established Ryokan (Japanese inn) it is clean and you will have a comfortable stay. The inn draws water from Shirahata no Yu, which is said to be the oldest hot spring source in Kusatsu Onsen, and is staffed by "Yumori", a craftsman who looks after the water, to create a mellow bath. The Japanese-modern rooms are spacious and you can spend a relaxing time. There are also rooms with a view of the Yubatake.

Without a doubt, the highlight of this hotel is its charming and atmospheric open-air bath. Surrounded by trees, this quiet rotenburo is the perfect place to relax while admiring the garden and the beautiful scenery before you.The experience is truly exceptional when you soak in the crisp morning air while basking in the sunrise, or while gazing up at a sky full of stars at night. For couples, immersing yourselves in the famous, free-flowing spring waters of Kusatsu while enjoying the view together is the perfect way to refresh after a day of skiing.

While our hotel is proud of its private in-room open-air baths, we highly recommend you also visit the panoramic public bath on the top floor. From this spacious, glass-walled area, the panoramic view overlooking the entire Kusatsu hot spring town and the surrounding mountains is simply breathtaking. Soaking under the starry night sky is also a wonderfully romantic experience.Furthermore, we offer several distinct, private, reservable open-air baths, which are available for you to use free of charge. The ability to enjoy an "onsen-hopping" experience without leaving the hotel is another one of our delightful features.

This hot spring Ryokan (Japanese inn) is located just a short walk from the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. There is a convenience store on the first floor, so it is convenient for shopping during your stay. It is also about a 3-minute walk from the Yubatake hot springs, so it is a convenient inn for sightseeing. The guest rooms are spacious and modern in a Japanese style, with an open feel, so even solo travelers can relax and unwind.

This hot spring Ryokan (Japanese inn) is located just 250m from the Yubatake hot springs. The most attractive feature of this hot spring Ryokan (Japanese inn) is that it has five private open-air baths. Since they are private, I personally like the fact that you can use them without worrying about being seen by others. All of the baths are 100% 100% natural hot spring you can relax and soothe your travel fatigue. However, please note that you cannot make a reservation for the private hot springs if you check in after 6pm. Another recommended point is that they offer a colorful yukata service for both men and women.

At Tokinoniwa, every guest room is equipped with its own private open-air bath, featuring free-flowing water directly from the hot spring source.This means you can enjoy the famous waters of Kusatsu whenever you like, in complete privacy for just the two of you. The experience of soaking in the warm bath on your room's terrace while overlooking the beautiful garden and natural scenery is truly special. In the winter, enjoying a "yukimi-buro" (snow-viewing bath) offers a wonderfully charming and atmospheric experience.