Syunmokutei Nakazawa Ryokan

The proprietress was so pleasant, and my parents had such a good time they asked me to write a review, so here I am, haha. The food was all delicious and there was a satisfying variety. The inn was very clean, and the rooms were carefully maintained. After a quick soak in Kusatsu’s hot springs, we came to Shima Onsen for a Sunday night. There was just one other group staying, and we had the baths to ourselves. Apparently that can happen even when the inn is full. It was lovely to relax in the hot springs without worrying about anyone else. Kusatsu has felt a bit noisy lately with so many young people, while this place was quiet and restful. We hardly encountered other guests. I’d definitely like to return when I’m in Shima Onsen.

The four private hot springs were really nice, and the building and rooms were clean, though I wouldn’t call the place super clean. Anyone who’s especially picky might find that an issue. The landlady and the staff serving meals were kind and polite. It’s a very nice inn, and I’d like to come back.

We barely saw other guests during our stay except in the dining area, which made it easy to unwind. The landlady’s plain, kind manner was part of the charm. This isn’t a luxury inn, just a comfortable and relaxing place for adults. There aren’t many rooms, and it’s one street back from the main road, so it’s very quiet. The hot spring water comes directly from the source with no added water. Four private baths are available to use as often as you like when they’re free. The food is home-style, makes use of local produce, and comes in generous portions with lots of vegetables. It might not satisfy younger guests looking for a really hearty meal, but the portions were more than enough for us in our 50s.

We came here for a date and liked the atmosphere. The four private open-air baths were wonderful.