Soumeian

There’s no tea in the room, and the breakfast was average. The tonjiru soup was too salty, and we had the same breakfast both days. It’s a small ryokan with only four rooms, about a 15-20 minute walk from the town center. There are some places to eat nearby, but no restaurant on site. There’s more to see and do in Kusatsu town than here.

My daughter has lots of food allergies, but each morning she could still enjoy an amazing breakfast. They even made a custom printed menu listing the ingredients. The two of us loved staying here. It’s clean, minimalist and beautiful, with big rooms, comfy beds, and a lovely host. Thank you.

The location may be a drawback for some, since town center is about a 15-minute walk away. I give it five stars anyway, partly because the best traditional BBQ in Japan is just two minutes on foot, and we loved it so much we went two nights in a row (barikiya.gunma.jp). The hospitality was kind and respectful from the moment we arrived. Our rooms were traditional tatami spaces, the doonas were the fluffiest I’ve seen, and the comfortable pyjamas were so good we bought some to take home. Breakfast was outstanding, with a different, very generous traditional Japanese meal each morning. The private onsen was beautifully cared for and fed with pure mountain mineral water. It was quiet and peaceful, with lovely attention to detail, including fresh flowers in our room. The staff were happy to play charades and laugh with us through the language barrier, and we figured things out with Google translate. I have nothing bad to say about Soumein. We’ll recommend it to everyone. It was a wonderfully relaxing holiday.

There’s a convenience store across the street, too. I loved this little ryokan, especially the homey feel and private onsen. The room was big and laid out well, with a nice view. Breakfast was delicious, and the whole stay felt quiet, chill, and relaxing. A great fit if you want somewhere more private.