Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen is a hot spring district located in Gunma Prefecture, with the largest volume of high quality hot spring water in Japan. A well-known hot spring resort, Kusatsu is also known as a skiing destination in the winters, with picturesque hiking trails for the rest of the seasons. The town is also considered the best hot spring resort for the last ten years, according to the “Top 100 Hot Spring Resorts in Japan'' by Kankokeizai News Corporation. In addition, the town also boasts many restaurants that breathe life into the town’s nightlife.
The steaming hot springs flows freely around the town, making hot spring hopping a recommended activity for visitors coming for the experience. There are about a hundred hot springs in Kusatsu--the most notable being Yubatake, which flows like a waterfall in the town center.
Kusatsu Onsen has a specialty snack that is a must-try for the area--Onsen Manju. A traditional Japanese steamed sweet bun that’s filled with red bean paste, but what makes it special is its use of hot spring water for the dough and cooked with the steam from the hot springs. One can buy this special treat in any confectionery shop in the area. Visitors can also enjoy a Yumomi Performance that is held everyday where a local group comes in costume to stir and cool the hot spring water--accompanied by folk songs and a dance.
Nearby, there is the Kusatsu Kokusai Ski Resort which offers courses for beginners and families. The ski resort also offers a free shuttle bus ride from Kusatsu Onsen area. More adventurous tourists can also take a hiking trip around Mount Shirane, also called Kusatsu-Shirane, which is a series of volcanic peaks. It is also home to the world’s most acidic lake in the Yugama Crater.

Kusatsu Ski Resort

Famous Onsen Ryokans

The many accommodations around the town are clustered closely together, making it an ideal place to explore, as everything is a short walk away. Fortunately, getting to Kusatsu is very convenient from Tokyo, where many direct buses are en route per day. Travelers can also take the train or bus from Naganohara and Karuizawa.

Osakaya

Osakaya is a historical and luxurious ryokan with a history spanning over 150 years. It was designed with traditional Japanese architecture that utilizes geometric patterns and black and white motifs.
Seasonal meals are served in the guest rooms, with dishes featuring Echigo Seafood, Tsukiji Tuna, and Kyoto vegetables. Sukiyaki kaiseki featuring Joshu beef is also offered for the guests in the teahouse.
The ryokan features multiple hot-spring baths with the waters sourced directly from the nearby “Yubatake” or water field with a choice of open-air and indoor baths.
Osakaya also features a tea room and a gallery that displays works and the inn’s history over the years. A snack and souvenir shop is also available, as well as a banquet hall.

Tokinoniwa

Tokinoniwa is situated on a hill, a short distance from the center of Kusatsu Onsen, the inn features multiple hot spring baths, spacious rooms, and tatami flooring throughout the building. The guest rooms come with private open-air hot spring baths and wooden bathtubs.
In addition to the private baths in the suites, guests can experience spa hopping at the large public baths with the 23 types of bathtubs and open-air baths wherein the waters are sourced from two springs.
Multi-course kaiseki dinner is served to the guests in the private dining room along with Japanese and Western cuisines in the restaurant. Other facilities also include a spa, a sauna, and a souvenir shop. Guests can also pick something to munch on at the snack bar, or a drink at the sake bar.

Naraya

Naraya is a prestigious ryokan that has a history that spans over 130 years, from its foundation in the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Naraya offers 35 unique guest rooms that feature modern Japanese decors with a sitting area fitted with tatami mat flooring, and low furniture.
Guests are invited to relax in the large communal baths with hot spring waters sourced nearby. Alternatively, there are private indoor baths that can be reserved in advance. Other facilities include a bar and cafe.
A kaiseki dinner is served to the guests in the dining room, each dish featuring fresh local ingredients sourced around Gunma, same as with breakfast with a healthy helping of vegetables.

Tsutsujitei

Tsutsujitei is a Japanese-style accommodation that fuses traditional ryokan ambiance with resort-hotel elements. The hotel boasts of a 17,000 square meter garden, and 10 luxurious guest rooms. It also has a special accommodation in the form of a separate villa on the property that comes with its en-suite open-air bath.
Japanese kaiseki dishes are served to the guests, delicately prepared by the chef with featured seasonal ingredients from Tsukiji, and unique to Tsutsujitei. A Japanese breakfast is also served to the guests either in the dining room or the guest room, depending on the chosen accommodation.
Guests are invited to relax in the large communal bath, “Urara no Yu” and the private bath “Tama no Yu”.

Hotel Sakurai

Hotel Sakurai is a modern accommodation overlooking the mountainside. Some guest rooms will have a private hot spring bath. The building and the rooms are also accessible to people with disabilities.

Hotel Sakurai serves seasonal kaiseki dishes with ingredients sourced locally in Gunma Prefecture. The restaurant offers Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisines, as well as a multi-course kaiseki dinner.

The dishes feature homemade “Asama brewing tofu”, local vegetables, Joshu Beef, and Rainbow Trout Ginhikari.