Hanaingen

For a solo traveler, one night was enough to see how good this place is. The service, private onsen, and location were excellent, and it’s seriously underrated. The ladies, who I assume were the owners, were sweet right from check-in. Since I had no onsen experience, they took time to explain everything. Their English wasn’t very good, but they had pre-printed questions in English for me to answer, so communication was no problem. There are several private onsens to choose from, open 24 hours. I only tried one, and it was fabulous and clean. The room was spacious enough for me, the bed was comfortable, and it was very quiet. There’s no shower in the room, just a toilet and sink, so bathing happens in the private onsen area. It’s a short walk to the city center and bus station. I’d recommend staying here, and I’d definitely come back. Thank you so much!

The private baths were a highlight: clean, warm, almost always open, and with several to choose from. The heart-shaped one was our favorite. If you’re a foreigner, be sure to check the bathing rules. The staff were incredibly welcoming and patient with my broken Japanese, repeating things and helping when needed. Breakfasts were another favorite, though be warned, they’re massive. Each plate had a variety of things, and the meals changed from day to day. I’d happily stay multiple nights just to try them all. Kusatsu was lovely to explore and hike around, but returning here was always the best part of the day. I’d come back to Kusatsu Onsen just to stay here again.

The hosts were wonderful, and after living in Japan for over 6 years, we’d count this among our favorite stays. The location is handy too, less than a five-minute walk from downtown, with lots of good dinner choices nearby and parking next to the hotel. We liked the welcome treats and our room, which had a private toilet, fridge, and two very comfortable beds. The private shower and bath rooms are downstairs. There are only 4 shower rooms for 6 guest rooms, so they might all be in use. We were lucky to wait only a short time, and the water felt great. We were unsure about a shared bath, but it was clean and the locking-door system worked well. Breakfast was especially good, and there was plenty. We were offered more rice or miso soup, but were already satisfied.

We loved the hotel and had a fabulous stay. They welcomed us with matcha tea at check-in, and the staff were very friendly. The mattress and duvet were high quality, and having a private onsen was a big plus. Breakfast was great too. Highly recommended.