Kusatsu-Onsen Pension Mitomo

With only four rooms, there weren't many people in the baths, which made them easy to use. They were private, so I could relax, and the water quality was amazing. I ended up bathing six times, lol. The inn is quiet, set in a villa area without nearby shops, but the hill to Yubatake and elsewhere was easy downhill and hellish going back up. It was great to wash the sweat off in the hot springs afterward. I arrived in Kusatsu Onsen around 1 PM and called to ask if I could park and explore first. They said that was fine, which was a big help. I strolled around Yubatake and the other areas, had some Chichiya manju, then returned to the inn. Dinner and breakfast were included. Dinner had all my favorites, including freshly made fries, tempura, and cabbage rolls, and I devoured it. Breakfast was a standard spread, and I even had a second serving of rice. The owners were very kind, and the stay was really comfortable. I'd gladly recommend it.

The inn has been around for more than 20 years, so the rooms are old, but the bath had natural hot spring water and was great. The owners were gentle and kind. Yubatake is about a leisurely 15-minute walk away, mostly downhill on the way there, though the uphill return is quite tough. Dinner came out one freshly fried skewer at a time, piping hot and delicious. The other dishes and breakfast were tasty too.

The hot springs were amazing, and there are toys for kids, so it seems perfect for bringing small children. The landlady and the other guests were incredibly friendly, and the kushiage was delicious. The room was dusty, with spider webs in the corners and dust on the bathroom towels. This may not suit people with germaphobia. Booking through Jalan was confusing: they said it wasn't listed on Jalan, then charged me for air conditioning at checkout, along with a service charge. It wasn't expensive, but I'd already paid a deposit and was surprised. I suppose people may see it differently. As others have mentioned, the side dishes were very salty. The salad dressing was so strong I couldn't eat the bottom part; the Japanese bean sprout dish and morning cabbage with sesame oil were also extremely salty.

R8 2/21: It's been a year since I last visited Mitomo, and the stay was perfect! 🙌 A request for all guests, not the owner: please keep the TV and cell phone volume down. This isn't your home... 🙄 R7 2/2: My first time at Mitomo, after wanting to go for a few years but never finding the right timing. It had been a while since I visited Bandai Mine, and the water was sour and bitter! 😄 It was just the right temperature for brewing without adding water. With vegetables so expensive these days, I was happy to see so many in the pot. The skewers were delicious, and freshly fried ones are a rare treat. Sorry I left some food, I can't eat much. 💦 We'd love to return if the timing works out. We only went to Kusatsu to soak in the hot springs, so we didn't do any sightseeing.