4-Star Hotels in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

My stay at Kamenoi Hotel Kusatsu was excellent. The onsen was very clean and quite spacious, making it a relaxing experience. The hotel also has a convenient shortcut that leads directly to the Yubatake pedestrian area, which is a big plus. Both breakfast and dinner were buffet-style with a wide variety of dishes — plenty of options and all very enjoyable. The service was great, and the room was comfortable to sleep in. The only downside is that there were a bit too few power outlets in the room, but it wasn’t a major problem. Overall, a fantastic stay and highly recommended for anyone visiting Kusatsu.

Charming ryokan with excellent service! After renting a car near Karuizawa station, we arrived at Kusatsu onsen town to find the narrow roads packed with holidaymakers. It was quite harrowing finding our way to the ryokan after circling around. On arrival the front office people were very helpful and led me to a free parking area some distance away. Our experience was very much as described by past reviewers...a traditional ryokan right in heart of the hot spring attraction centre. The room was very spacious. Dinner and breakfast were good enough but no wow factor. What was most delightful for our stay was the very friendly and attentive Nepalese front-end staff named Khadka, who made it easy for us with his good English. He was almost always there to attend to our every need and we enjoyed our conversation with him when he served us at the bar. I would highly recommend having drinks at the bar with its cosy ambience and enjoying the front seats facing the window where we can see people walking by as well as a view of the pagoda. Our stay there was memorable!

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 location is superb, right by the Yubatake, the most popular attraction. There's also a souvenir shop on the first floor. Although it's an older hotel, the facilities are well-maintained and don't feel dated at all. Both breakfast and dinner are buffet style, with a wide variety of dishes, including some Chinese options, but predominantly Japanese.

Everything about our stay at Kusatsu Boun Hotel was perfect. The room appeared to have been very recently renovated—it looked brand new, yet still retained a strong sense of traditional Japanese charm and essence. It was also clean, modern, and very comfortable. The only mild minus point is that the 2 TVs using inside the suites are of the same model and brand thus they share the same remote signal. The service was outstanding throughout our stay. The staff were consistently friendly, attentive, and welcoming. They also accommodated our limitations and requests with great care, which made us feel truly appreciated. One of the highlights was the onsen facilities. The hotel offers three spacious public baths sourced from two different hot springs (Nishi-kawara and Bandai), making the bathing experience both unique and relaxing. In addition, our room included a private bath of a very good size, allowing us to enjoy the onsen in complete privacy. The food was also excellent, adding another highlight to an already wonderful stay. Overall, an exceptional stay. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Kusatsu.

This onsen ryokan in Kusatsu has a public bath and rooms with private hot springs. The add-on wagyu beef set was also of good quality. You can also walk to the nearby sister ryokan to use their public bath.

I visited this hotel based on a friend's recommendation, but I was sorely disappointed. There was absolutely no trace of the Japanese-style service I was expecting; it felt just like any other ordinary hotel. Both dinner and breakfast were terrible, and the light meal options were incredibly sparse. My friend mentioned that when it first opened two years ago, the service was excellent. I'm not sure if they started taking tour groups, but it was very crowded, and the soundproofing in the rooms was poor. I had to call the front desk twice in the middle of the night because of noisy neighbors before it was resolved. Given that it was Valentine's Day, the price was exorbitant and definitely not worth it. Plus, one of the three private onsens was under maintenance that day. I would have been much better off staying at one of the high-concentration sulfur hot spring hotels in Manza instead.

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 a bit of a drive from Karuizawa JR Station, about 35 minutes, and there's a toll fee. However, the scenery along the way is beautiful. Shiraito Falls is about 10 minutes away. The hotel parking lot is ample and very convenient. The hotel rooms are very spacious and comfortable. The hot springs are both indoor and outdoor, with an orange-brown color and a mild odor. Unfortunately, the outdoor hot springs don't allow for a view of the sky. The breakfast and dinner buffets offer a wide variety of options and are delicious. This hotel has a very resort-like feel and I'd definitely return if I had the chance. Figure 1: Scenery along the way Figure 2: View from the hotel window Figure 3: Nearby attractions (Shiraito Falls)

Kanemidori is a short walk from the bus depot. The staff at the reception and restaurant in the hotel were all very nice and helpful. The futons and bedding in the room are very comfortable and warm for winter. You can also control your own in room heater. The hotel onsen is well maintained with full amenities: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, face pack, hair treatment, and multiple types of lotion. We booked the room only but added on a dinner and breakfast at the hotel. Both meals were carefully prepared and delicious. The main tourist area is within walking distance of the hotel and you can go around in the yukata paired with the long and short kimono jackets provided by the hotel in the winter.