KANOUYASHIMAONSEN

On my Gunma trip, I was hoping to find a hotel with a private open-air onsen. I took a chance on this one because I couldn’t find many photos when I was researching it, just lovely sketches of the rooms and layouts on the website. I later learned the hotel was less than a month old. When check-in day came, everything went smoothly. I forgot the concierge’s name, but he was incredibly friendly, and I appreciated him making the effort to speak English with us. The room took my breath away. Outside, the view looked like a painting, with light snow falling and making everything feel magical. And that private onsen was top-notch, chef’s kiss! Breakfast the next morning was superb, and everyone on staff was warm and helpful throughout. I came for the peaceful open-air bath and the stay was amazing. This was easily one of my best accommodations in Japan. Thank you, Kanouya and staff. I hope the hotel keeps doing well, and I can’t wait to come back. For anyone thinking of staying here, go for it, but plan ahead since there aren’t many convenience stores nearby.

We spent New Year’s here with my wife, and I still miss the place. The setting was so beautiful, with a perfect atmosphere and clean, fragrant surroundings. The staff and crew were kind and attentive, and the food was unbelievably delicious. The rooms were lovely, and the outdoor onsen felt one of a kind and wonderfully relaxing. Kanouya Shima Hotel is such a romantic spot, you won’t want to leave.

We enjoyed the room throughout our stay. It was clean, with high ceilings, and the in-room open-air bath was a standing bath that felt extremely comfortable. Soaking while listening to the river and birds was wonderful. The bath and balcony were spacious, though I did wish there were relaxing things like infinity chairs. I was also disappointed there were no bathrobes, which seems unusual for a stylish hotel like this. The towels were thin and standard too, so perhaps those details aren’t much of a focus. There were a few minor irregularities in the room, but staff helped kindly and it wasn’t inconvenient. Maybe because the hotel is new, a few staff seemed hesitant when communicating. It wasn’t quite the service level I’d expect from a luxury inn or hotel, but they were attentive and helpful, and we had a pleasant stay. Dinner’s steak was delicious, and the staff explained it carefully. They were flexible with small requests, including allergy-related ones, which I appreciated. There was only a set menu, no à la carte, so I don’t think I’d want to eat there for several days. Breakfast was fine for both amount and taste, but nobody explained the ingredients, which made it seem like that wasn’t a particular priority. Room service is available, but only for alcoholic drinks. There aren’t many shops around, so some snacks would have been nice. There’s no large public bath at the hotel. You can use the one at the neighboring hotel, LULUD, but it wasn’t distinctive and could be noisy, so I was happy sticking to my room’s open-air bath. As other reviews say, there are only stairs and the slope is steep, so people with weak legs should be careful. The website does warn about this, so it shouldn’t be a problem if you check in advance. It’s a little far from the nearest bus stop, but close to Shima River Dam and Okushima Lake, which makes it handy for some sightseeing.

I arrived after a morning soak at Kusatsu Onsen, which let me enjoy how different the two waters were. This spring is alkaline, around pH 9, with no color or smell. It felt gentle and left my skin moisturized and toned. I stayed one night with two meals on October 13, 2025. It was a bit chilly at night, and the autumn leaves hadn’t really started yet. Staff were attentive from check-in, and the space felt very comfortable. I was in room 203, a modern and convenient room with a private open-air bath. My one disappointment was that the indoor deck by the window didn’t have the cushions shown in the advertisement, perhaps for hygiene reasons. I was happy with the bath in my room, so I skipped the large bath at the sister hotel and will try it another time. They explained the insects at check-in, but I didn’t have any trouble with them. The forest is close and every room has an open-air bath, so some bugs seemed natural, but none got into the room or floated in the bath. At dinner, they were kind and flexible about my personal requests, which made me happy. The food was delicious too. I’d like to stay here again.