Kusatsu Skyland Hotel
8,8/10 Excellent - Based on 29 reviews
Kusatsu Skyland Hotel sits on a gentle hillside above Kusatsu's hot-spring town, offering a mix of tatami-style and Western rooms designed for adult guests seeking comfortable traditional lodging. Rooms range from compact Japanese-style units with shared bathing options to larger luxury rooms with tatami areas; all are equipped with air conditioning, electric kettles, safes and flat-screen TVs, and the property maintains a non-smoking policy. The hotel operates an adult-only policy and provides complimentary Wi‑Fi; staff are noted for attentive service.
Central to the stay are communal hot-spring facilities: an indoor public bath and an open-air rotenburo that draw on Kusatsu's thermal waters. Baths are shared by gender with typical local bathing etiquette; private reservations are not listed among standard room benefits, so this property is best described as a ryokan with onsen in Kusatsu, Gumma rather than a ryokan with private onsen. A modest spa menu and massage treatments are offered on request, and the bathing areas are well maintained.
Evening kaiseki-style dinners and breakfasts focus on seasonal, regional ingredients and are served in dining rooms or as set menus; dietary requests can be accommodated with advance notice. Practical conveniences include free parking and a complimentary shuttle from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, which makes the hotel a convenient base for skiing, hiking and visits to the Yubatake district and nearby mountain trails. It suits travellers seeking a compact, service-oriented ryokan with onsen in Kusatsu, Gumma.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Kusatsu Skyland Hotel
Positive Reviews
Delicious meals with thoughtful hospitality
Multiple guests praised the dinner and breakfast, noting the food was very tasty and prepared with a warm “omotenashi” spirit that enhanced the experience.
Friendly, attentive staff
Many reviews highlighted staff politeness and sincere, helpful service—from reception to dining—making stays feel welcoming and supported.
Pleasant onsen (natural hot spring)
The onsen was frequently mentioned as very nice: the water felt good, was warming, and guests enjoyed relaxing in the baths and the private/compact family bath.
Clean, comfortable Japanese-style rooms and peaceful setting
Guests enjoyed the traditional-style rooms and found the property clean and relaxing. Several noted the location felt calm and close to nature, offering a restful atmosphere.
Good value and enjoyable small-scale atmosphere
Reviewers said the modest-sized ryokan felt cozy—even when busy—and provided satisfying meals, service and amenities for the price, making them want to return.
Negative Reviews
Some facilities are dated
A number of reviewers observed that the building and facilities feel old or in need of updates, though staff friendliness often compensated for this.
Towel supply and condition issues
There were reports of insufficient towels (e.g., a three-person room supplied only two) and some towels showing signs of heavy use; staff corrected shortages but not always immediately.
Noise and front-desk/service inconsistencies
Occasional noise was reported for rooms near the elevator. Several guests also felt check‑in/check‑out and welcome/farewell procedures were inconsistent or understaffed, leaving a slightly disorganised impression.
Onsen/ bathroom usability concerns
Some guests noted practical issues in bathing areas—difficulty adjusting water temperature at wash stations, floor heating not on in changing rooms at times, and a heavy bath door that was hard to open/close.
Digital-only information felt impersonal and limited shop selection
One guest found relying on smartphone-only guides for facility information to be a bit soulless, and another mentioned the souvenir shop had a limited selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Room types vary: Japanese-style rooms sleep up to 4 on futons and some luxury rooms sleep up to 6; the hotel has 30 rooms in total. The property generally does not accept children—check the specific room rules when booking.
Yes; the hotel features source‑flowing hot springs with hinoki (cypress) large baths, an open‑air onsen and reservable private baths, plus a healing stone/ganbanyoku spa available by reservation.
Yes, a free shuttle service from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal is available; call the hotel on arrival to request pickup (phone: 0279‑88‑5050).
The nearest regional airport listed is Shinshu‑Matsumoto (about 108 km). From Tokyo expect roughly 2.5–3.5 hours by train/bus or car depending on connections and traffic.
The hotel provides English information on its website and staff can assist in basic English, but Japanese is the primary language—having a translation app helps for detailed requests.
Expect tatami rooms with futons, kaiseki‑style dinners and breakfasts supervised by a chef, yukata to wear, and communal or private onsen bathing—typical ryokan hospitality.
The hotel is within walking distance of Kusatsu’s Yubatake and Sainokawara Park; Mt. Kusatsu‑Shirane is nearby for outdoor activity and Jigokudani (Snow Monkey Park) is about 45 km away.
Regular buses serve Kusatsu from Karuizawa Station (about 60 minutes), and by car it’s roughly 80 minutes from the Kanetsu Expressway (Shibukawa‑Ikaho IC); the hotel offers free on‑site parking.
Check‑in starts at 14:00 (booking information notes arrivals by 18:00) and check‑out is by 10:00; please inform the hotel in advance if your arrival will be late.
Private baths are available for reservation (ask at booking or check‑in); pets are not permitted at the property; convenience stores and local shops in Kusatsu town center are a short walk away.