Kusatsu Onsen Ryokufutei Ryokan

The rooms were clean and had their own toilet and basin. I really liked the indoor and outdoor onsen, too. It’s set away from the main street, so the area feels quiet and peaceful. They offer a shuttle if you ask, but we usually walked into town to take in the scenery. It took less than 10 minutes.

Room 1 was lovely for my three-night stay, with windows on two sides, views of the trees, and a small enclosed balcony where I could sit. It was spacious and the nicest ryokan room I had during my two weeks in Japan. The ryokan itself is old and could use renovation, and I wished there were a comfortable shared sitting area. Still, its indoor and outdoor onsen, with natural views, were great. The two young women at check-in were very nice and spoke a little English. I later learned they were from Nepal. They couldn’t tell me about the town’s big three onsens, and surprisingly, couldn’t find their own ryokan on a map. It’s a 15-20 minute walk from the bus station and a shorter walk to town center. For the price, it was the best place I stayed in Japan. The guests made it seem like a budget favorite.

Getting back to the inn means walking uphill, so keep that in mind. It’s still within walking distance of the main sights around town. The room was very spacious, and the place felt quiet and peaceful. Both the private onsen and the gender separated public baths were clean and pleasant, with indoor and outdoor areas.

The staff who were there were very kind and accommodating. They even lent us geta when we wore our yukata out one day. The place was nice, though it seemed they were still having trouble getting staff back after covid. They aren’t serving food at the moment, and there’s nowhere nearby to buy any. A free bus to the town center starts at 9:00am. If you’re not used to traditional Japanese pillows, you might want to bring your own.