4-Star Hotels in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

The hotel is quite a walk from the bus center, and the uneven roads make it inconvenient for luggage; taxis are also scarce. The room is spacious, and the tatami area with heating was very comfortable. It was handy to be able to pick up yukata (robes) for men and women in the lobby. The service level at the hotel's front desk was generally poor. They didn't even bother with a fake smile, haha 😂. Japanese service is becoming more expensive and the quality is getting worse – a clear sign of decline. The hot spring pool in the hotel is very small and the facilities are quite old, so don't expect too much. My favorite part was still the Nishinokawara露天温泉 (outdoor hot spring) outside the hotel. It's 100% natural mountain spring water, so healing! For 800 yen, there are no services, no showers, and you need to bring your own towel. It was totally worth the trip and instantly made up for the round-trip train ticket from Tokyo.

We stayed in Naraya House for 1 night and it was perfect. The staffs were all very kind and helpful that I am truly grateful for all their assistance given throughout our stay. We had a suite, rm no.206, it was stunningly amazing! I only know I am booking a suite with a beautiful view of the yubatake and private onsen. I didn't know it's a gigantic duplex suite with the best view of the yubatake! The room door opens to a western style living and dining area that fits with a set of sofa for 6 and a dining table for 4 with 2 benches. To the left of this western style area is 2 double beds, a walk-in closet and a toilet. I could see Japanese syle beddings in a cupboard which I believe they would be made when the room is booked for more than 2 persons. Facing the sofa is a TV panel. Behind the TV is a Japanese style sitting area with a coffee table and a view of the yubatake. The view is picturesque. There you can also find a stairs going down to the suite's private onsen bath. It's actually on a balcony overlooking the yubatake, the same gorgeous view as in its Japanese style sitting area above, just without the windows, ie closer and clearer picture of the yubatake without reflections. But be aware ppl on the street can see u too, as you can see the windows r just next to 7.11 The meal provided was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the freshly made sushi. The salmon roe was just so fresh that they were actually shining like marbles. All the ingredients used are high quality. My kid, who is usually picky on food, was pleased with the menu. He already wanted to come back again. Next time, we will stay here for more nights in order to better experience the beauty of Kusatzu. Ps I usually don't bother to write a review, I am doing this one in return to the hotel's great service and hospitality. Thank you and until next time~

Traveling with my best friend, we booked a tatami room with half board (dinner and breakfast included). It had two beds within the tatami setup. The room was compact but very clean, and they provided a basket for each of us with a bath towel and toiletries, which was super convenient for taking to the hot springs. The absolute highlight was the two meals – fresh ingredients like Japanese cuisine and the exquisite presentation of French dishes. Absolutely perfect!

The entire hot spring town is absolutely beautiful. Since it was newly renovated in 2024, there was no musty smell in the room. The staff were professional, polite, and warmly welcoming without being intrusive, and their English was excellent. There's a shuttle service from the hotel to the station, or you can walk there yourself. This hotel is exactly what I imagined a Japanese onsen hotel to be. The hotel's own hot springs are fantastic. The location is truly the best – some hotels are up in the mountains or require a bit of a walk, but Ichii offers direct views of Yubatake. On the first floor, there's also a large souvenir shop with many unique items that aren't available back home. I'd definitely choose to spend a whole day exploring Karuizawa and then stay at Ichii again!

The service was absolutely amazing, and the food was delicious. It's a really quiet place, and the hot springs weren't crowded at all, which made for a super relaxing experience. Plus, it's really close to the town's commercial street, so after dinner, we could easily go for a stroll. It was just perfect, and I'll definitely be back!

Excellent value for money, with a half-board package that included dinner and breakfast. Dinner was very generous, though the aftertaste was just average; the Jōshū beef was the highlight. Breakfast quality was superb. Very satisfied with the cleanliness and comfort.

Overall, Kizunoniwa is definitely better than Konoha. Dinner was a delicious Japanese meal served in a private dining room, and breakfast was also good. My only minor complaint was that the rice wasn't quite up to Japanese standards. The location is quite far out. If you're heading to Ueno Station in the city, leaving the hotel at 9 AM and having a smooth journey, you'd likely arrive around 1 PM. The hotel shuttle takes ten minutes to the bus stop, then it's an hour and a half by bus to Karuizawa, and another hour-plus from Karuizawa to Ueno. The main delays are due to waiting for various connection times. It snowed on our second day, which was truly beautiful. I'd love to come back during autumn leaf season if possible.

Best place we have stayed in Gunma. Walking distance to tourist attractions and shuttle around Kusatsu going to the bus station. Restaurants, souvenir shops, and a 7-eleven around Kusatsu. Some restaurants might close early around 8PM. We love the experience of going around Kusatsu with the Yukata and slippers, just be mindful to have extra clothing underneath because it was cold during our stay and the Yukata might still be not enough. Vegetarian breakfast and welcome drinks available and included. They also have a restaurant wherein you can dip your feet while eating, if you like to experience. You also have a private hot tub. Room is spacious and feels elegant. Staffs are helpful and smiles always. Would definitely recommend for future stays.

The hotel is very popular among the Japanese traveller. Lots of Japanese with very limited foreign traveller. The communication can be a bit difficult at the hotel. The room were cleaned but there is limitation of daily cleaning of the room. They only take trash out and change towels. The policy is to clean the room every 4 days. When the hotel is fully occupied, there is a problem with the scarcity of hot water. We have to wait for hot water to be reproducing 2 out of 3 nights we stayed. The buffet is very crowded and the food are pretty much the same for all 3 nights we stayed for both breakfast and dinner. Our highlights are the crab and the beef station for dinner and the live onigiri station for breakfast.

An oasis of calm in a stone’s throw away from Yubatake. Getting up here can be tricky if you drive but the staff are standing by to direct your car to the reserved parking lots. Breakfast and dinner were exquisite Kaiseki sets. The indoor/outdoor onsens were spacious and clean, with zen greenery surrounding the baths. Traditional rooms are spacious and cosy, with staff setting up the futons while you have dinner. Great place to stay with delicious food.