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 such a large Buffet in a hotel. And it was delicious. As soon as I entered Buffet area, I was dazzled by the variety. I was also overwhelmed by the size and number of baths. There were various water temperatures, so I could choose according to my preference. It was like a bath Buffet. The staff were well trained and it was very comfortable.

This European-style resort hotel is located 1,200 meters above sea level. Surrounded by the Belt Forest, you can spend a relaxing time surrounded by nature. The hotel offers a Japanese, Western, and Chinese buffet with an appealing menu centered on ingredients from Gunma Prefecture. They hold seasonal themed fairs, so you'll never get bored no matter how many times you visit. They offer a buffet not only for dinner but also for breakfast. The fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth omelets, cooked one by one right before your eyes, are very popular. The hot springs include an indoor bath with free-flowing hot spring water and an open-air bath. There is also a sauna. There are five types of private open-air baths. A free shuttle bus is available to the Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, and the Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal.

This resort hotel has vast grounds. You can enjoy Kusatsu's hot springs, nature, and activities to your heart's content. Shuttle buses run from the hotel to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal and the Yubatake, so you can easily access the hotel even without a car. Check-out is at a leisurely 11:00, so you can enjoy the hotel to your heart's content. There are also plans where you can rent colorful yukata. This hotel is also one of Ryokan (Japanese inn) that cooperated in the sound recording of the Ghibli film "Spirited Away," and it appears that scenes such as serving food at the bathhouse, walking scenes, the sound of the hot water, and the sound of cleaning the bath were recorded here. This is a popular spot among fans as a place where you can experience the world of Spirited Away.

This is a historic Ryokan (Japanese inn) that was founded in 1599. There are six baths, including an open-air bath, with two hot springs, so you can enjoy the hot springs to your heart's content. Please note that the washing area can be cold in winter due to the high altitude. The famous Yubatake, pictured here, is within walking distance, making it convenient for sightseeing. There are rooms with open-air baths, so you can enjoy a private open-air bath with free-flowing natural hot spring water. There are both Western-style and Japanese-style rooms, so you can choose the room that best suits the people you're going with. The food is delicious, and is served in 4-5 portions so you can eat freshly cooked water.

Located right in front of the Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, this is a long-established hot spring inn with over 300 years of history. Its appeal lies in its hospitality backed by years of business experience, and its hot spring experience that will heal both body and soul. Meals are available in a buffet style, and in addition to Japanese cuisine such as sushi and sukiyaki, a colorful array of extravagant dishes are available. Brand beef steaks and roast beef served in the open-plan live kitchen, as well as the hotel's signature meatloaf, are also popular.

This hot spring inn is located in the center of Kusatsu's 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 cuisine such as 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 the hot spring town, but also enjoy the 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.

I stayed at Hotel New Momiji during my trip to Kusatsu Onsen. While it's a little independent guest cottages from the center of the 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.

It is a three-story wooden hot spring Ryokan (Japanese inn). The long, narrow hot spring is divided into two, so you can easily experience the difference between the Nishinokawahara hot spring and the Bandai hot spring. The meal is a kaiseki meal with 11 different dishes. The wild vegetable urui and apple with white sesame sauce, bluefin tuna sashimi, and grilled abalone were all delicious.

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.

「金みどり」の客室は和モダンなテイストで統一しており、一部屋一部屋家具や素材にこだわった素敵な宿です。お風呂は男女別に大浴場と露天風呂、さらに離れには貸切の露天風呂があります。大浴場では「湯畑源泉」、露天風呂では「万代鉱源泉」が楽しめます。どちらもかけ流し源泉です。貸切露天風呂は「木づくりの湯」と「石づくりの湯」があり、庭の見えるゆっくりとくつろげる露天風呂です。お食事は地元で採れた食材を腕利きの料理長が美味しく調理してくれます。隠れ家風の個室もロケーション抜群です。

草津温泉バスターミナルから歩いてすぐの場所にある温泉旅館です。1階がコンビニなので宿泊中の買い物も便利です。湯畑にも歩いて３分ほどなので観光にも使い勝手が良い宿ですよ。客室は、広々とした和風モダンで開放感もあるので、一人旅でものびのびと過ごせます。

湯畑へも250mと近いところにある温泉旅館です。この温泉旅館の一番の魅力ポイントは貸切露天風呂が5つもあるところです。貸切なので人目を気にせず利用できるのが個人的に良いと思います。すべて源泉かけ流し100％で旅の疲れをゆっくりと癒すことができます。ただ貸切温泉はチェックインが18時を過ぎてしまうと予約ができないので注意が必要です。色浴衣サービスが男女どちらにもあるのもおすすめしたいポイントです。

色浴衣のレンタルサービスがあるので浴衣を着て温泉街散策が出来ます。お風呂も広くゆっくりと草津の湯を楽しめます。また岩盤浴などの嬉しい施設もあります。お料理も地元の食材を使うように意識しており、とても美味しいです。

大阪屋旅館は湯畑から徒歩1～2分ほどの所にあります。創業当時の江戸時代から伝わる「せがい出し梁り造り」の和風旅館です。温泉は湯畑源泉を引き、内湯、露天の他に野趣あふれる洞窟風呂もあります。お料理は京風の懐石料理が頂けます。館内はとても風情があり、和の雰囲気が溢れています。

永田屋は貸切風呂が3か所ありますので、奥様も周りを気にすることなく入浴できると思います。浴室も脱衣場もゆったりした造りになっていますし、洗い場もあるので良いと思います。