Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Ichii

 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.

How about Hotel Ichii? The buffet here is new and spacious, and above all, the quality of the food is really high. The "live kitchen" is especially amazing, where they make Joshu beef steaks and sushi on the spot. The freshly fried tempura was also excellent. They also have crab and roast beef, which the kids loved. Even among buffets where you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like, I think this is a hotel where everyone will be very satisfied with the delicious food.

Located right in front of the Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu onsen(hot spring), this long-established hot onsen(hot spring) inn has been in business for over 300 years. Its appeal lies in its hospitality backed by years of business experience and its onsen(hot spring) experience that will soothe both body and soul. Meals are available in a buffet-style plan, offering a colorful array of luxurious dishes in addition to Japanese cuisine such as sushi and sukiyaki. Popular dishes include brand-name beef steaks and roast beef, which are served in the open live kitchen, and the hotel's signature meatloaf.

We recommend the Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Ichii, Ryokan (Japanese inn) located in a hot spring area 25 minutes by bus from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station. The tourist spot, the Yubatake, is right in front of the hotel, and although it's limited, you can see it from the rooms. The open-air bath is surrounded by nature, the air is fresh, and the large bath is comfortable. 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.) experience costs 600 yen for adults, so it's perfect for tourists. For meals, you can choose between a Japanese course meal or a kaiseki meal.

There is a 10-tatami Japanese-style room, so even families with children can relax comfortably. Guests can sleep on futons, so it's safe for children who are bad sleepers. The hot springs are a large bath and an open-air bath that are 100% natural hot springs, so you can stretch your legs out and relax. For dinner, you can enjoy colorful kaiseki（a traditional Japanese multiple course meal ）made with plenty of seasonal ingredients.

Before COVID-19, you could have a Japanese Kaiseki meal in your room or in a private dining room, or there was a Japanese and Western buffet. This buffet had over 40 kinds of original Japanese and Western dishes, and soft drinks were all-you-can-drink. Also, for those who like alcohol, you could add 1,580 yen on the spot to get all-you-can-drink alcohol. In the morning, we had a delicious Japanese and Western Buffet and ate to our heart's content. There are two large public baths and two open-air baths for hot springs, which currently draw from the precious Shirohata and Bandaiko springs.

There are two hot springs, and the open-air bath has clear water, while the large bath has slightly cloudy water, but both were very pleasant to bathe in. For dinner, we had a Japanese course meal, and in the morning, we had a Japanese and Western buffet, and everything was delicious. I thought the price was reasonable.

This is an inn where you can use the basic plan with two meals at a reasonable price! In a spacious and beautiful Japanese-style room, we enjoyed delicious seasonal dishes for dinner in a restaurant with a Japanese-Western atmosphere. There is an open-air garden bath where you can enjoy the beautiful seasonal scenery, and I was able to relax in it.

This is a long-established Ryokan (Japanese inn) that has been in business since the Edo period, located in front of the Yubatake, the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen. It is recommended for hot spring lovers, as you can enjoy two 100% natural hot spring in the large stone bath and the atmospheric garden-style open-air bath. Dinner was a Japanese course meal with a variety of dishes, including sashimi platters, a small hot pot of Japanese beef, and dessert.

Located close to the Yubatake, the symbol and center of Kusatsu Onsen. A beautiful inn overlooking the Yubatake. This inn offers a ladies-only plan, where you can rent a stylish colorful yukata for free according to your preference. Other amenities for women are also available, making it the perfect place for a girls' trip. Of course, you can enjoy the beneficial waters of Kusatsu in the large public bath or the open-air bath with a sense of spaciousness.

If you go to Kusatsu Onsen by train, take a bus from JR Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station and get off at Kusatsu Bus Terminal. At Hotel Ichii, the symbol of the area, the Yubatake hot springs, are right in front of you, and the bus terminal is within walking distance. There are only a few plans available, but there is one that includes two meals.

The restaurant serves all-you-can-eat Japanese and Western cuisine. It is also close to the famous Yubatake hot spring, a Kusatsu specialty. The baths use two types of hot spring water, Bandaiko hot spring and Shirohata hot spring, and you can enjoy fresh, flowing water.

Located in the Yubatake area of Kusatsu Onsen, this is a long-established hotel that was founded over 300 years ago in the Edo period. The hotel's head chef prepared a rich menu of over 40 dishes, so everyone could choose what they liked. It was a wonderful buffet where you could enjoy both Japanese and Western cuisine, incorporating Western tastes into Japanese cuisine.

The hot spring waters of Kusatsu Onsen are said to be effective against skin diseases. At Hotel Ichii, you can bathe in the milky white waters of the Shirahata hot spring in the large public bath, and in the open-air bath, you can bathe in the clear waters of the mineral hot spring. After bathing, you will feel the smoothness of your skin. As it is an acidic spring, it may be good for acne, but if you have a serious skin disease, you may not be able to bathe in it. You can also bathe on a day trip. I recommend staying overnight, relaxing in the hot springs, and strolling around the Yubatake. You can also try a foot bath at the Yubatake. If you have time, it's a good idea to stretch your legs and go to the Yugama to relieve your fatigue. The cobalt blue Yugama is amazing. I had the hotel's buffet for breakfast and dinner, and it was delicious.

I recommend Ichii Hotel. It is located in the center of Kusatsu Onsen, right in front of the Yubatake, so it is very convenient for exploring the hot springs. I think you will be satisfied with both the room and the food. If you choose the cheaper plan, you will not have dinner in your room, but you will have dinner at the restaurant, which I think is more relaxing. I always have dinner at the restaurant and have no complaints. The hot springs at the hotel are nice, but if you go to Kusatsu, you should also try visiting the public baths!