Kusatsu Onsen Daitokan

Daitokan is an older-style hotel, but it was clean, well maintained, and had the facilities we needed. The public onsen inside was the highlight, with separate baths for women and men and a relaxing chance to experience traditional Japanese onsen culture. Breakfast was good and satisfying, though the service window is limited to one hour. We also went to the traditional Kusatsu cultural program, which was interesting and worth the ¥700 adult ticket. Bus service to Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is available nearby, handy for winter activities. We booked through the Agoda app and had a smooth experience. We accidentally chose the wrong date, but Agoda handled it without stress and sorted out the problem. We had a very pleasant, comfortable, and memorable stay, and would recommend Kusatsu Onsen Daitokan to travelers looking for a traditional onsen experience.

The location is perfect, and the front desk person was a big help when I dropped an earbud under the heater and needed it retrieved. My Japanese-style room was a little dated, but otherwise good. Breakfast and lunch are buffets, and the food is fairly good. One thing to know: tattoos aren’t allowed in the hot spring, though there are other nearby places that do allow them.

I was very disappointed with the service. When I checked out, I was asked whether I needed a shuttle to the bus terminal. I said no because I wanted to walk around town for a while, so I left my luggage at the hotel. When I came back, they said there was no shuttle and that I could only walk or take a taxi. Other problems started in the room. I had requested non-smoking, but it still smelled strongly of smoke, and the toilet smelled bad. Most TV channels required a subscription, so there was hardly any service. No one had taken our luggage to the room in advance either, which was a first for me at an onsen hotel. I had to carry it myself. The spa facilities were old, broken, and moldy. Many of the non-slip mats were damaged, tiles beneath the bathing area were broken or missing, and there was no armrest in the bath area. The route to the outdoor spa area didn’t make sense. A horrible experience, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

For service and room condition, I’d rate this as a two-star hotel. The staff weren’t familiar with English, so it was hard to discuss the room problem with them. The blankets hadn’t been arranged neatly when we arrived, as if someone had just rushed out. The air conditioning didn’t work, and staff told us it never worked. We spent three nights cold and dry. They provided a “gas radiator,” but it smelled of oil and made noise. I really wouldn’t recommend staying here with family.