Agatsuma District Hotels with Breakfast

Excellent service. I will give 10 out of 5 if I could. There was a staff who rushed out to us and asked if we were going to stay at the Ryokan. Very helpful for lost travelers overwhelmed by the cold weather. Greeted us warmly when we arrived. Explained the important information to us as best as they could in English, which is perfectly fine. Room was big. Decorated meticulously in the traditional Japanese style. Yukata and Obi provided added on to the immersive experience. Dinner was exquisite. Dishes gave us a taste of what traditional Japanese cuisine was like. The food was sincere (didn’t feel like frozen / canned / ready made food), served and plated meticulously. There were 2 onsens, indoor and outdoor. They were clean and spacious enough. Water (I believe) is from the hot spring nearby and was immensely therapeutic. Ryokan was near the heart of the town and everything was within walking distance. Kindly shuttled us to the bus terminal when we checked out (we didn’t have to wait for fixed timings) and carried our (heavy) luggage. All in all, we enjoyed the one night stay very much and they set a high bar for Japanese hospitality.

This was my first and only stay at a ryokan so I don’t have much to compare it to. I chose this lodging because of the cats and good reviews on the food. The cats were really sweet and I enjoyed playing with them. I have 2 cats of my own so it was really nice. The food was so beautiful and delicious - the mushroom soup at dinner was amazing. I really enjoyed it. The private bath rooms were very convenient and open 24 hrs. I thought the facilities were clean and very pleasant. The location was very close to the central area and a quick walk to all the important sites including the bus station. The only comment I have was in the morning someone was smoking and the smell got ****** into the 2nd floor hallway so maybe more care should be taken to be sure the smoke stays outside. The host was so nice and sweet and I used google translate to ask questions. The matcha madeleines are so tasty I bought a box to take with me.

Kusatsu itself is a magnificent place. The hotel is located right in the center. The room type was traditional with futons, and we had a mountain view, which was stunning in the morning. The hotel is well-maintained. We absolutely loved the onsen at the hotel – it was incredibly enjoyable! It was clean, beautiful, and comfortable. I particularly want to highlight the breakfasts and dinners; the selection was absolutely superb. Highly recommended!

It was better than any other inn I've stayed at so far. The futons were fluffy, the bathroom was clean, and the breakfast was full of vegetables. It was the best inn. I was surprised more than anything by how nice the people were.

Overall, Kizunoniwa is definitely better than Konoha. Dinner was a delicious Japanese meal served in a private dining room, and breakfast was also good. My only minor complaint was that the rice wasn't quite up to Japanese standards. The location is quite far out. If you're heading to Ueno Station in the city, leaving the hotel at 9 AM and having a smooth journey, you'd likely arrive around 1 PM. The hotel shuttle takes ten minutes to the bus stop, then it's an hour and a half by bus to Karuizawa, and another hour-plus from Karuizawa to Ueno. The main delays are due to waiting for various connection times. It snowed on our second day, which was truly beautiful. I'd love to come back during autumn leaf season if possible.

The hotel is quite a walk from the bus center, and the uneven roads make it inconvenient for luggage; taxis are also scarce. The room is spacious, and the tatami area with heating was very comfortable. It was handy to be able to pick up yukata (robes) for men and women in the lobby. The service level at the hotel's front desk was generally poor. They didn't even bother with a fake smile, haha 😂. Japanese service is becoming more expensive and the quality is getting worse – a clear sign of decline. The hot spring pool in the hotel is very small and the facilities are quite old, so don't expect too much. My favorite part was still the Nishinokawara露天温泉 (outdoor hot spring) outside the hotel. It's 100% natural mountain spring water, so healing! For 800 yen, there are no services, no showers, and you need to bring your own towel. It was totally worth the trip and instantly made up for the round-trip train ticket from Tokyo.

This onsen ryokan in Kusatsu has a public bath and rooms with private hot springs. The add-on wagyu beef set was also of good quality. You can also walk to the nearby sister ryokan to use their public bath.

We arrived early (about 11:00) at the ryokan and were met by a very helpful young lady receptionist who spoke good English. She accepted our luggage, arranged a ground floor room for us (my wife has difficulty climbing stairs) and recommended us where to eat and what to do. The room was clean and sizeable. The bed was comfortable. The ryokan provided a simple buffet breakfast (much to our surprise and delight).  It is located just a short distance from the Yubatake and is very convenient.  Overall, we are very happy with the ryokan. 

The location is a bit far on the top of the mountain. There is snow when driving up there, but the road is still passable. The traditional Japanese tatami is very clean. The room only has a toilet and a washbasin. There is no bathroom. You have to go to the large bathhouse in the lobby to take a shower. This is a bit inconvenient. The biggest problem is that you have to walk about 100 meters out of the hotel to soak in the hot springs. It is cold outside. The road is dark and slippery, so I don’t recommend it if there are elderly people or children. One night, two meals a night, there was a buffet. It was the worst dining hall I had in Japan. I got up at around 8 o’clock in the morning to freshen up and get ready for breakfast, and went to the dining hall. It’s not open. It turns out that it’s over at 9:00. I haven’t tried the hotel and it’s over at 9:00. I can only drive down the mountain to find a place to eat by myself. The place is good and the scenery is beautiful, but I really won’t go there again.

I stayed with three families! The location is great and the room is pretty clean! Although it is in the mountains, there are about 2 convenience stores about 5 minutes by car, so it is safe even in the event of a chance! It was fun! Thank you!