Thermen-Hotels in Präfektur Gunma, Japan

Title: Unforgivable service, ridiculous charges, and total lack of respect for guests. My stay at Kamenoi Hotel Kusatsu Yubatake was a complete disaster from start to finish. The level of unprofessionalism is astounding. 1. Intrusive Wake-Up Call: On the second day, we were jolted awake at 9:00 AM by a phone call from the front desk just to ”confirm” our dinner time. There is absolutely no excuse for disturbing a guest's sleep for such a trivial matter, especially when a simple note under the door or a message on the phone system would suffice. 2. Dinner Reservation Fiasco: We had a confirmed reservation for the 9:00 PM dinner slot. When we arrived at the restaurant on time, we were rudely told we only had 15 minutes left to eat because the restaurant was closing. Why offer a 9:00 PM slot if you intend to close 15 minutes later? Their excuse was that they ”tried to call” to move us to a 7:30 PM slot. This is a lie—we were in our room all day and never received any call or message. Their poor internal communication and lack of a reliable system ruined our evening. 3. Sneaky Late Check-Out Fee: The hotel failed to inform us of the checkout time or the fees for late checkout. We were just 15 minutes late (at 10:15 AM), and they charged us 3,000 yen on the spot. This predatory fee was not mentioned during check-in, nor was it clearly stated in any visible policy. It feels like a scam to squeeze more money out of guests. 4. Useless Luggage Storage: After checkout, we simply wanted to store our luggage for a few hours before leaving town. They told us we had to pick it up by 12:00 PM noon. What is the point of offering ”storage” if it is only for an hour or two? This is an inconvenience, not a service. Overall, this hotel is run by people who seem to care more about collecting fees than providing hospitality. I strongly advise against staying here. --- Japanese (日本語) 評価: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) タイトル: ありえないサービス、理不尽な追加料金、客を無視した対応。 草津湯畑にある亀の井ホテルに宿泊しましたが、最悪の体験でした。プロフェッショナル意識が全く感じられません。 1. 朝9時のモーニングコール: 2日目の朝、なんと午前9時にフロントから電話で起こされました。内容は「夕食の時間の確認」です。就寝中の客を、その程度の用事で起こす行為は論外です。ドアにメモを入れるか、内線電話にメッセージを残すなどの方法があるはずです。 2. 夕食予約のトラブル: 夜9時の夕食枠を予約していました。時間通りにレストランに行くと、「レストランは閉まるので、食べられるのはあと15分です」と言われました。夜9時からの枠を設定しているのに、なぜ15分後に閉店するのでしょうか？ 後で「7時半の枠に変更しようと電話したが繋がらなかった」と弁解されましたが、私たちは終日部屋にいたにもかかわらず、そのような電話は一切ありませんでした。内部の連携不足と杜撰な管理のせいで、夕食の時間が台無しになりました。 3. 説明のなかったレイトチェックアウト料金: チェックアウト時間や延長料金についての説明が一切ありませんでした。そのため、いわゆるチェックアウト時間（10時）を15分過ぎただけで、3,000円を請求されました。チェックイン時にも、明文化されたポリシーにも記載のない不当な料金です。客から金を搾り取るようなやり方にしか思えません。 4. 意味のない手荷物預かり: チェックアウト後、観光のため手荷物を預かってほしいとお願いしました。すると、正午12時までに取りに来るよう言われました。わずか1〜2時間のために預けるのに、わざわざ「12時まで」と制限する意味がわかりません。これはサービスではなく、単なる不便の押し付けです。 全体的に、このホテルは「おもてなし」よりも「料金徴収」を重視していると感じました。二度と泊まりません。 --- Chinese (中文) 评分: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) 标题: 毫无专业可言，乱收费，完全不尊重客人！ 我在草津湯畑的龜乃井酒店的住宿体验简直是一场灾难。酒店的服务水平和沟通方式令人难以置信地糟糕。 1. 早上9点的“叫醒服务”: 入住第二天早上9点整，前台竟然打电话到房间把我们吵醒，目的只是为了“确认晚餐时间”。为了这种小事打扰客人休息，简直不可理喻。明明可以留便条或通过客房电话留言，他们却选择了最扰民的方式。 2. 晚餐预约的闹剧: 我们提前预约了晚上9点的晚餐时段。当我们准时到达餐厅时，工作人员却告知我们餐厅即将关门，我们只剩下15分钟的用餐时间。既然只营业到9点15分，为什么要开放9点的预约？事后他们解释说“试图打电话通知将预约改到7点半”，但我们一整天都在房间里，根本没有接到任何电话或留言。这种内部协调失误和糟糕的沟通方式，彻底毁掉了我们的晚餐体验。 3. 未提前告知的延时退房费: 酒店在办理入住时完全没有告知退房时间，也没有说明延时退房的费用。我们只是晚了15分钟（所谓的10点退房时间刚过），就被当场收取了3000日元。这笔费用在入住时没有提及，也没有在任何明文规定中看到，完全属于隐形消费，感觉像在变相宰客。 4. 毫无意义的行李寄存: 退房后，我们想寄存行李以便在附近逛逛。酒店却告知我们必须在中午12点前回来取走。寄存行李本来就是为了方便客人，只让存一两个小时有什么意义？这根本不是提供服务，而是给客人制造麻烦。 总之，这家酒店的管理混乱，只顾着收钱，完全没有待客之道。强烈不推荐入住！

Прекрасный отель с онсенами! Жила в самом маленьком номере в традиционном стиле с татами и футоном. Места для одного человека достаточно. Номер был с окнами, хотя на сайте было написано, что окон нет. Туалет и раковина новые, остальная мебель немного устаревшая, но чистая. В номере есть холодная питьевая вода в кувшине, чай, печенье. Очень красивый дизайн комнаты. В отеле просторные горячие источники, один закрытый находится внизу, и два открытых источника на крыше здания с чудесным видом на город. Ванны меняются каждый день на мужские и женские, если посетить их утром и вечером, то можно попробовать все. Вода действительно целебная, намного лучше себя чувствуешь после купания. Ужин не заказывала, утром была на традиционном японском завтраке. Все красиво сервированно и подписано (правда, на японском языке). В меню рыба, овощи на пару, рис, маринованные овощи, бобы натто, яйцо, сладкий йогурт, чай. В фойе отеля можно также выпить кофе, заранее заботливо заваренный сотрудниками. Спасибо за пребывание и отдых в этом чудесном отеле в Ikaho Onsen!

We stayed at Naraya Ryokan as a family of four for two nights and three days, and the experience exceeded our expectations from the moment we arrived. We were greeted immediately upon check in, and the staff took time to clearly explain the facilities, meals, and schedule, making the entire process smooth and welcoming. We personally communicated with the staff in Japanese, which made interactions especially seamless. We also observed the staff making genuine efforts to assist other guests in English. While English is not their first language, their willingness to accommodate and ensure guests felt comfortable was evident and appreciated. The ryokan itself is beautifully maintained, offering a calm and traditional atmosphere with thoughtful details throughout. One highlight not to be missed is the coffee spot attached to the lobby, which is an excellent place to relax. Their take on affogato is especially memorable and well worth trying. Dining at Naraya Ryokan is a traditional set menu experience that showcases seasonal Japanese cuisine. Guests should be prepared to enjoy authentic, traditional dishes that reflect regional ingredients and seasonal flavors. Each meal felt carefully prepared and added depth to the overall ryokan experience. Our stay felt unhurried and restorative, and we would have gladly stayed an additional night if our itinerary had allowed. Naraya Ryokan comes highly recommended, and we would happily return for another stay in the future.

Die Außenanlage ist groß und sehr schön. Obwohl ich alleine mit meiner zweijährigen Tochter gereist bin, hatte ich ein Eckzimmer im Altbau, das riesig war (8 Leute hätten locker Platz gehabt) und super schön war. Dass es keine Dusche auf dem Zimmer gibt, ist gewöhnungsbedürftig. Das Personal war freundlich und zuvorkommend. Insgesamt ist das Hotel und das Onsen leider sehr in die Jahre gekommen und sollte renoviert werden. Die Außenbecken, das üppige Essen, der kostenlose Shuttle zum Bahnhof und das große Zimmer haben dies ein wenig wettgemacht. Preis-Leistung hat aber aufgrund der alten Anlage nicht ganz gepasst.

We had a wonderful stay at Urakusatsu Tou, a brand-new hotel that truly exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly escorted by the staff. Although parking was allocated at a private outdoor parking area, the hotel thoughtfully provided an escort service, making the process very smooth and comfortable. The room was spacious and beautifully designed. Communication was easy as the receptionist spoke fluent English. The hotel also provided pajamas and daily clothing, which was a lovely and convenient touch. The onsen experience was outstanding—definitely one of the best we’ve ever had. You can immediately feel your skin becoming smooth after soaking, which made each visit incredibly relaxing. We stayed for three nights with both breakfast and dinner included. Meals were served à la carte, and the menu changed daily, surprising us every time. The food was delicious and very filling—we were completely satisfied after every meal. That said, there are a few areas we hope the hotel could improve: • During winter, the room felt quite cold as the air-conditioning heater did not function properly and was unable to warm up the room. • Breakfast hours could be extended a little later for guests who prefer a more relaxed morning. • Providing a choice of pillows would further improve sleeping comfort. • The blue indicator light on the room’s control panel remains very bright even when all lights are turned off, which can be a bit distracting at night. Overall, this hotel offers excellent service, comfort, and an unforgettable onsen and dining experience. Highly recommended, and we believe it will be even better with these small improvements.

Der Park ist auch sehr schön, um in der Nähe zu gehen, aber der Parkplatz ist sehr gut, aber das Hotel ist nur 1.2 Kilometer entfernt, wo es Autos gibt, die Fahrzeit ist schnell fast ein Autos gibt, das sehr bequem ist, das Hotel ist sehr gut und seine eigene Wurzelsuppe ist sehr glatt Pass auf, dass du nicht schläfst. Es gibt viele Japaner, die sich selbst schläfst.

Room & vibes Stayed in a traditional tatami room and it was so Japanese in the best way – futon, tatami smell, the whole ryokan fantasy. Super cosy, perfect if you’re here to soak, chill, and live your best onsen‑town main‑character life. Buildings & facilities Hotel has three blocks, all connected via the main building, so you’ll always pass through it anyway. Most of the good stuff – hot springs, buffet etc. – is in the Annex building where I stayed, so it was really convenient, just no Yubatake view (that’s only for the main building rooms). Location & mini shopping zone They literally have their own shopping area on the first floor of the main building, right by Yubatake and the hot spring street, so you can roll out of the hotel in yukata and start browsing. Super easy to snack, shop, then hop back into the onsen without feeling like you “went out”. Transport & walking in snow There’s a shuttle bus to the nearest public transport stop, so luggage days are easy. You can walk it in under 10 minutes, but in snow season the road gets icy and crazy slippery, so honestly not recommended unless you trust your shoes (and your balance). Staff & service energy Hotel staff are amazing – super friendly and actually proactive. Besides Japanese and English, some staff speak Mandarin and will just switch to it to help you out, and they’ll even offer to take photos for you before you have the chance to ask, which is perfect for solo or shy travellers.

We had an amazing and relaxing stay! We truly loved it and had a wonderful night surrounded by serene nature. The view was absolutely beautiful — the lake is just right in front of the hotel! The place is spotless and very well maintained. But what truly made our stay special was the incredible staff. A big shoutout to Mr. Ozu, the General Manager, for going the extra mile with his thoughtfulness! When he learned that we were heading to the ropeway the next day (and that there were no bus trips on weekdays), he kindly offered us a ride. He was also genuinely concerned about our hike and overall safety — so heartwarming! Since we didn’t get the dinner package and there was only one restaurant nearby that closed at 4 p.m., we decided to get a takeout for dinner. My friend also asked if there was a nearby café to buy a cake for my birthday, but there wasn’t any. Later that evening, after we came back from the onsen, someone knocked on our door and surprised us with a complimentary cake! They said it was because we didn’t have dinner and they wanted to celebrate my birthday. Awwww! Such a thoughtful and sweet gesture! 🎂💖 In the morning, Mr. Ozu even gave us taxi numbers and the bus schedule for Yumoto Onsen, making sure our travel plans went smoothly. Truly amazing hospitality — we felt so cared for and appreciated throughout our stay! 🌿✨

Traditiona Japanese-style Ryokan that has been renovated. But still lacks something, like a heating system, so heaters have to be placed throughout the building. Location near Kusatsu onsen's landmark. The staff are polite and very very good service (Omotenashi). Breakfast is good but a bit early (end at 9am). Onsen is gorgeous. The room is spacious and bright. Pillowcase and futon sheets need more cleanliness. No WiFi signal in the room, have to go to the lobby.

Kusatsus Yubatake ist sehr berühmt. Letzte Nacht nieselte es, deshalb bin ich heute Morgen früh hingefahren. Es ist nicht weit, nur fünf Gehminuten vom Nomon Onsen Hotel entfernt. Das war also das Erste, was mich sehr gefreut hat. Auf dem Rückweg regnete es bei Sonnenschein, und ein Regenbogen spannte sich hoch am blauen Himmel. Es war wunderschön und hob sofort meine Stimmung. Ein gutes Omen; Nomon ist ein Glücksort, und das war das Zweite, was mich gefreut hat. Das Hotel ist 100 Jahre alt (426 Jahre) und man gibt sich wirklich große Mühe, den Gästen ein optimales Erlebnis zu bieten. Sowohl die Onsen (heißen Quellen) als auch das Frühstück und Abendessen waren von sehr hoher Qualität. Besonders angetan war ich vom Bandai-Onsen im Freien. Ich habe schon viele japanische Onsen besucht, und Nomon zählt zu den Top Fünf. Auch die Kaiseki-Küche war unvergesslich. Die Zutaten waren frisch, nahrhaft und perfekt aufeinander abgestimmt – wirklich außergewöhnlich. Das Nomon wird seinem Ruf als eines der 100 besten Onsen-Hotels Asiens vollauf gerecht. Das Personal war höflich und aufmerksam, die öffentlichen Bereiche im Innenbereich wunderschön, die Zimmer im japanischen Stil komfortabel und der Shuttleservice des Hotels exzellent. Kurz gesagt: Wir reisten dankbar ab und nahmen unvergessliche Erinnerungen mit. Es war ein rundum perfektes Erlebnis.