The Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture is a renowned hot spring in Japan. This hot spring’s abundance and natural flow are known to be the best in Japan, having overtaken Ozeki in the east when the hot springs were optimal during the Edo period. Yubatake is the symbol of the Kusatsu Onsen, and this all-season tourist spot is also popular for its cool weather during the summer and skiing during the winter. Kusatsu Onsen has a wide variety of inns, ranging from traditional, old-fashioned ryokan (Japanese inn) built during the Edo period, to trendy inns in the present day! If you want to explore deeper, check out Yumomi (water stirring) performance while you are in Kusatsu. Designed especially for the indecisive traveler, get ready to experience the best accommodation with our curated list of top ryokans and hotels in Kusatsu Onsen.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 06, 2024.
1. Soumeian (from USD 189)
Reasonable pricing for spacious, well-equipped rooms and private onsen access.
Complimentary yukatas, cozy homestay feel, and attentive, helpful service.
Quiet, scenic outskirts of Kusatsu with easy access to onsen and local dining options.
Delicious, meticulously crafted breakfast with varied options; nearby charming yakiniku restaurant and 7-11.
Discover Soumeian, a traditional Japanese inn featuring futon beds and tatami mat flooring in Kusatsu. This serene ryokan boasts a peaceful garden, a hot spring bath, and modern amenities like free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, and a safety deposit box. The spacious rooms are adorned with cozy bed linen and soft towels, and an Asian breakfast is included in your stay. Additionally, guests can take advantage of free private parking, a shared lounge, and luggage storage space.
Discover the stunning views of Mt. Kusatsu Shirane, located a mere 15.1 kilometers (9.38 miles) from Soumeian, while the charming Jigokudani Monkey Park awaits you 46.7 kilometers (29.02 miles) away.
The hot spring has acidic water from the Bandaiko source, which reinvigorates the skin and body. You can visit any of the two private baths without making any reservations.
Soumeian
Address: 633-19
844 meters (0.6 ft) from Yubatake
2. Tokinoniwa (from USD 416)
Good value for money, with free shuttle buses to Kusatsu and Karuizawa.
Variety of hot springs, private hot springs, and beautiful garden. Free ice pops and Yakult at the common area.
Remote location with mountain views, accessible via public transportation. Shuttle bus to Yubatake bus station.
Incredible and authentic Japanese cuisine, with noodles served as a night snack. Breakfast was Japanese only and satisfying.
Tokinoniwa, a 4-star ryokan, offers a serene atmosphere that combines traditional Japanese culture and modern amenities. Flat-screen TVs and free internet access complement the spacious rooms with tatami flooring and futon bedding.
The highlight of Tokinoniwa is the indoor and outdoor hot springs, along with a sauna and massages. The hotel also provides free yukata rental. A gift shop offers a variety of souvenirs, while the restaurant serves a choice of Western or Japanese breakfast and traditional multicourse Japanese dinners - complemented by the hotel’s sake bar.
Nestled in a tranquil location, the hotel is conveniently located just a short drive from Kusatsu’s city center and bus station, making it the perfect escape for those seeking peace.
Tokinoniwa
Address: Kusatsu Shirane 464-214
942 meters (0.6 ft) from Yubatake
3. Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya (from USD 221)
Reasonable pricing with complimentary amenities like private onsens and retro games.
Spacious rooms, private onsens, vintage video games, foot massage, massage chair, and free coffee vouchers.
Walking distance to Yubatake and Sainokawara Park, convenient parking, and close to city center.
Delicious half board dinner, generous Japanese-style breakfast, and accommodating to dietary restrictions.
If you’re looking for a place where you can book a suite with a private hot spring bath, then choose Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya. Accommodations range from traditional Japanese-style rooms to twin rooms with hot spring baths and futon beds. Enjoy a relaxing dip in the onsen before bed, and in the morning savor a delicious Asian breakfast on site. You can arrange a walking tour for an additional fee and book a full body massage after a day of exploring.
If you wish to ski, Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is 1.3 km (0.81 mi) away from the accommodation. Plus, this accommodation offers ski-to-door access and storage space for your equipment.
Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya
Address: Kusatsu 464-285
465 meters (0.3 ft) from Yubatake
4. Kusatsu Hotel (from USD 72)
Kusatsu Hotel is a traditional inn built at the entrance of Kawahara Park, and it has been in operation for more than a century. The Kataoka Tsurutaro Art Museum is located on-site as well.
This place is also known for its open-air bath, which provides a gorgeous escapade from the hustle and bustle of the hot spring district. It has many picturesque views throughout the season with its lush greenery, autumn leaves, and snowy landscapes. Other than that, you can also soak in the indoor bath!
This accommodation is ideal if you wish to live in a traditional ryokan. The floors are covered with tatami mats. Other features include a low table with seating cushions and shoji sliding paper screens. You can use the futon beds to sleep comfortably after a long day. Besides, ski enthusiasts will have an easy time getting to Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort, just a three-minute drive away.
Kusatsu Hotel
Address: Kusatsu 479
392 meters (0.3 ft) from Yubatake
5. Ryokufutei (from USD 72)
Want the full ryokan experience? Book a Japanese-style room at Ryokufutei, where you can enjoy a dip in the hot spring and walk out in a yukata. For an additional fee, you can even throw in a Japanese breakfast and dinner to complete the experience! If you’re commuting to the property, Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station is about a 25-minute bus ride away, but free parking is also available if you’re driving. Do note that the ryokan has a curfew, and guests cannot leave or enter after midnight.
You can also enjoy a relaxing soak in the open-air or indoor baths, which have healing waters from the hot springs of Kusatsu Onsen.
ELE Hotel Onsen Ryokufutei
Address: Kusatsu 524-8
545 meters (0.4 ft) from Yubatake
6. Hanaingen (from USD 77)
Established in 1887, Hanaingen is located near the Yubatake and has its own source of water, which is rare among the accommodations of Kusatsu Onsen. You can also enjoy its famous Shirahata hot spring, which comes with a valuable private hot spring source known as “Wakanoyu.” The hot springs are very close to the source, so they have fresh hot water. There are four free private baths you can choose from, and the best part is that you need not make any reservations!
Book Hanamame’s room if you wish to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle, as it features futon beds and tatami floor mats! If you wish to ski, you’ll be delighted to know that Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is a short five-minute drive away!
Hanaingen
Address: 92
131 meters (428.6 ft) from Yubatake
7. Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Village (from USD 94)
Kusatsu’s Hotel Village is as huge as seven Tokyo Domes put together! Its vast site allows you to enjoy a wide variety of activities such as skiing, golf, and athletics, and has amenities such as a huge maze, and an indoor heated pool called “therme therme”! This place is also famous for its morning forest bath walk which is offered to guests for free. If you are looking for more than just a simple hot spring trip, this place will satisfy all your needs!
The Japanese-Western-style room has tatami flooring and extra futon beds will be provided if there are more than three guests.
Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Village
Address: Kusatsu 618
840 meters (0.6 ft) from Yubatake
8. Hotel Yamamotokan
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Aside from being a registered tangible cultural heritage with its Taisho period architecture, Yamamotokan is a well-established traditional inn that was mentioned in one of Jippensha Ikku’s works (a writer from the late Edo period). It has a retro Japanese interior that exudes a romantic atmosphere and boasts a bath drawn from the Shirahata Gensen. Its dining area has a panoramic view of the Yubatake! We recommend that you try their homemade wine.
The rooms feature traditional Japanese-style interiors with screened partitions, low seating and tables, and comfortable tatami mats.
Hotel Yamamotokan
Address: 404 Kusatsu, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture 377-1711, Japan
9. Hotel Sakurai (from USD 300)
Kusatsu Onsen’s oldest, large-scale hotel, Hotel Sakurai, is a splendid place that is fully equipped with game rooms, karaoke rooms, and a summer-limited pool, allowing people of all ages to enjoy the hotel. For meals, you can choose between a dinner plan or an all-you-can-eat buffet. They also hold “The Yumomi Show” (cooling the onsen water) and “The Taiko Show” (traditional Japanese drums) every day! This place is recommended as a vacation spot for the entire family.
The accommodation features a 30 m (98.43 ft) long bath, which is one of the largest in Kusatsu. Other than this, you can also soak in the open-air bath, which has a rustic decor and bath water from three different springs.
Select rooms have floors covered with tatami mats, offering a glimpse into traditional Japanese living. You can also engage in a meaningful conversation or relish delicious tea on the table with low seating and cushioned chairs!
Hotel Sakurai
Address: Kusatsu 465-4
334 meters (0.3 ft) from Yubatake
10. Hotel Ichii (from USD 46)
Established during the Edo Period, Hotel Ichii in Kusatsu is located in front of Yubatake, in a favorable location where you might be able to view the Yubatake from some of the rooms. These units are furnished with traditional tatami mats and low seating. The accommodation serves seasonal dishes for guests to enjoy.
Not only can you bathe in the Shirahata hot spring and the Bandai Mine Source hot spring, but you can also relax and have a body and foot massage!
Hotel Ichii
Address: Kusastu 411
162 meters (0.2 ft) from Yubatake
11. Yubatake Souan (from USD 169)
Offering overnight accommodation, Yubatake Souan is the best hotel in Kusatsu Onsen. It is a well-established, traditional inn from the Meiji era that was refurbished into a fashionable, modern Japanese inn. The overnight accommodation comes with a free breakfast buffet. The inn is popular for its open-air, bath-equipped guest rooms, and make sure to book quickly to get your hands on one because there are only three such rooms in the inn! Moreover, its cafe has a foot bath that serves alcohol and Kusatsu’s gourmet cuisine, which you can enjoy as you admire the view of the Yubatake surrounded by many restaurants.
You can enjoy a relaxing soak in one of the two indoor baths, and guests can even opt for private sessions.
Yubatake Souan Hotel
Address: 118-1,Agatsuma-gun, Kusatsu, Kusatsu, Japan, 377-1711
34 meters (111.5 ft) from Yubatake
12. Kusatsu Onsen Ryokan Yoshinoya (from USD 108)
Kusatsu Onsen Ryokan Yoshinoya is affiliated with the popular traditional inn Tokiwasure no Yado Kamoto in Shima Onsen. It’s just a three-minute walk away from the Kusatsu Onsen bus terminal. Although a bit on the expensive side, guests can expect stylish and modern interiors and free services such as a light breakfast, which tastes great after a bath in the hot springs.
Book the twin or family-type Japanese-style rooms to experience an authentic stay. These units feature tatami mats and low seating and tables. After your outdoor excursions, unwind on the comfortable futon beds. Alternatively, you can soak in the indoor bath, which sources water from the Yubatake spring.
Kusatsu Onsen Ryokan Yoshinoya
Address: 95 Kusatsu, Kusatsu, Kusatsu, Japan, 377-1711
109 meters (358.2 ft) from Yubatake
13. Hotel Kusatsu Onsen Boun (from USD 306)
Boun is an old-fashioned inn that is frequented by many renowned writers, including Kochi Kobayashi, a haiku poet from the Edo period. This place is located on top of a slope, 3 minutes away from Yubatake. While it stands in a favorable location, Boun has a traditional yet modern interior which is accompanied by a quiet and calm ambiance, making it appealing to visitors. They serve dishes made from local and seasonal ingredients. Be sure to enjoy the “Sai no Kawara Onsen” and “Bandaiko Onsen” hot springs.
After a long day of exploring the nearby attractions, unwind in your Japanese-style rooms featuring tatami mats. Select units come with a private outdoor bath or beautiful views of the garden.
Kusatsu Onsen Boun
Address: 433-1, Agatsuma-gun, Kusatsu, Kusatsu, Japan, 377-1711
220 meters (0.2 ft) from Yubatake
14. Hotel Jinpyokaku (from USD 284)
This hot spring inn is very family-friendly because it allows free entry for elementary school students and half-priced tickets for primary school students. With 10 rooms and 3 family baths available for free, this inn will make you feel at home! It is a 1-minute walk to Yubatake and is fully equipped with essentials such as baby baths, baby chairs, toys, and a spacious playroom – almost everything parents would need if they were to bring their children along.
The rooms have traditional Japanese interiors with futon beds and tatami mat flooring to rest comfortably.
Jinpyokaku Honten
Address: Kanbayashi Onsen, Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai-gun, Yudanaka, Nagano, Japan, 381-0401
18.18 km (11.3 mi) from Yubatake
Have a rejuvenating holiday in Kusatsu Onsen
There are various ways to enjoy Kusatsu Onsen, from public baths and foot bath excursions to booking a stay at the famous Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Village. It has a wide variety of accommodation options ranging from inns overlooking the Yubatake to family-friendly inns, to inns that have baths from two different hot spring sources.
If you have no idea where to stay in Kusatsu Onsen, we have carefully selected and recommended the best traditional inns and hotels with onsen in this article. Book one of the above-listed accommodations prior to your trip!
Frequently asked questions about Kusatsu onsen ryokans
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