くさつのお宿 清重館 Kiyoshigekan 素泊りの宿
8,3/10 Excellent - Based on 234 reviews
Kiyoshigekan is a small, family-run ryokan tucked on a quiet hillside in Kusatsu, offering an unpretentious, traditional Japanese stay that emphasizes hot-spring bathing over luxury extras. Rooms are Japanese-style with tatami and futon bedding, simple furnishings and in-room kettles; the property markets itself as a stay-only inn (素泊り), making it a practical choice for travellers prioritizing an authentic onsen experience. Located a short walk from the town’s main hot-spring area, the setting provides seasonal highland views and a calm base for exploring the local baths and walks. As a ryokan with private onsen in Kusatsu, it combines easy access to town with a quieter residential atmosphere.
The property’s bathing facilities are varied and central to the stay: a gender-separated large bath with indoor and outdoor sections, a family-use indoor bath and a private open-air bath. Both the family bath and the open-air bath are provided for exclusive use and can be reserved without extra charge, allowing guests to enjoy the water alone at flexible times. The onsen supplies are drawn from the local source and presented as flowing directly from the spring without added water or reheating, and the grounds also include a public footbath to relax in while taking in the surrounding air.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: くさつのお宿 清重館 Kiyoshigekan 素泊りの宿
Positive Reviews
Excellent variety of onsens, including private options
Multiple reviewers praised the on-site hot springs — indoor and outdoor baths, gender-separated pools and private baths that can be reserved (often after 10pm). Guests enjoyed relaxing in the rotenburo, especially in snowy conditions.
Friendly, attentive family-run service
Staff were repeatedly described as kind, welcoming and helpful. Examples include accommodating late arrivals, providing towels and yukata, offering complimentary drinks, and assisting with mailing forgotten items.
Authentic ryokan experience and comfortable futons
Reviewers appreciated the traditional atmosphere: tatami rooms, futon bedding, yukata rentals and a homely vibe. Many found the futons and beds comfortable and enjoyed the quiet, restful nights.
Good value and useful amenities
Guests noted the property offers good value for money with extras such as free parking (for drivers), complimentary coffee/tea/ice cream, towels for onsen use, and sometimes free toiletries; Wi‑Fi was described as excellent by some visitors.
Convenient location and peaceful setting
Although slightly off the main tourist area for some, many reviewers said it is within walking distance of the town center and very close to a convenience store, making the location quiet yet accessible.
Negative Reviews
Rooms can be cold / heating and insulation issues
Several guests reported that rooms, corridors and the reception felt very cold, with some saying the air conditioning/heating was insufficient. A few reviews mentioned poor insulation and noise transfer between rooms.
Onsen temperature sometimes too hot
While many loved the hot baths, a number of guests found the indoor onsen excessively hot and uncomfortable, indicating temperature can be higher than expected for some visitors.
Dated facilities and limited capacity
Some reviewers described the property as a bit old or ‘old school.’ The ryokan’s small size means limited meal time slots and fewer facilities compared with larger ryokans, which may affect expectations.
Breakfast / meal availability and booking confusion
A few guests experienced issues around meals — ranging from no breakfast included despite description, to limited breakfast capacity that requires early reservation. This caused inconvenience for some travellers.
Noise, privacy concerns and strict check-in/out rules
There were isolated reports of thin walls and noisy neighbours, a privacy issue where a maintenance door into bathing areas was opened, and strict/check-in or check-out times (limited waiting area) that some found inconvenient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Room capacity varies by room type and cannot be exceeded; the maximum occupancy shown during booking includes children. Children over 6 are accepted, and group bookings may require multiple rooms.
The inn has gender-separated public baths (indoor and open-air) plus a family bath and a private outdoor bath; family and private baths are available 24 hours. The public baths can be used privately between 22:00 and 07:00 by hanging the card provided at check‑in.
There is no pick‑up service from the property. The ryokan is about a 10‑minute walk from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal and the town centre.
From Tokyo, common routes are Shinkansen to Karuizawa then a direct bus to Kusatsu, or highway buses direct from Shinjuku/Busta Shinjuku. The nearest regional airport mentioned for reference is Matsumoto (about 108 km), but most guests arrive by train and bus or express bus.
Phone inquiries are Japanese only, while the website contact form and email accept English. On‑site English ability may be limited, so email is recommended for English requests.
This is a traditional ryokan focused on onsen; rooms typically use futon bedding and shared bathing facilities are common. The property markets itself as a room‑only (素泊り) accommodation, so meals are not guaranteed with every plan.
The ryokan is about a 10‑minute walk from Yubatake (the town’s hot‑water field) and Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, and within short driving distance to Sainokawara Park and Kusatsu Ski Area; Mt. Kusatsu Shirane is roughly 15 km away. Many town restaurants and sights are within walking distance.
Kusatsu is compact and most central attractions and ryokan are walkable from the bus terminal. Local buses run to nearby sights such as Mt. Shirane and the Naganohara‑Kusatsuguchi train connection.
Standard check‑in is between 15:00 and 18:00 and check‑out between 08:30 and 10:00. The property entrance is closed overnight from 22:00 to 07:00, so plan arrivals and departures accordingly.
Pets are not permitted. You can reserve the family or private outdoor baths for private use, but the whole ryokan is not for private hire; there are restaurants, cafes and small shops within a short walk of the property for meals and supplies.