9 Stylish onsen Hotels and ryokan in Gunma: Make Great Memories at These Recommended Hotels
osato
Let's heal the stress and fatigue accumulated by working hard every day with a onsen trip to the nearest area. It's hard to throw away the atmosphere of an authentic onsen inn, but it's definitely a "stylish accommodation" that makes you feel good and has plenty of extraordinary feelings. As a onsen travel destination, we recommend "Gunma", which is also known as the "onsen Kingdom" because of the springs that spring up in various parts of the prefecture. In this article, we will introduce you to fashionable hotels and ryokan in the onsen areas of Gunma, such as Ikaho, Kusatsu, and Shiman, that will make you feel good.
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Surrounded by high-rise buildings, spending every day in a crowded environment is exciting. But if you keep your antenna up all the time, you'll get tired. In such a case, I will ♩ push the onsen trip in Gunma Gunma is easily accessible from the city center, so you can easily go out and enjoy the retro atmosphere that calms you down. Stay at a contemporary inn where the past and present are well blended and spend a relaxing time.
Gunma is the Mecca of onsen. There are about 100 onsen everywhere in the prefecture, and there is an abundant amount of hot water gushing out of the source. If you land in the city of Gunma, which is full of water, you can expect a relaxing effect just by listening to the flowing sound and staring at it. Enjoy the real onsen and start a journey to reset your ♩ body and mind
Located about two and a half hours by car or bus from the city center, Ikaho onsen "Okuikaho Ryokan Kaichoro" is an Ryotei?Kaichoro?Ryokan open only to adults, with no guests under the age of 20 allowed. Quietly located on the western edge of Ikaho's onsen town, it faces a splendid forest in complete silence. You can relax and unwind, swaying on the waves of silence, far from the hustle and bustle.
There are only eight rooms in total, all with their own open-air baths. One of these rooms, the "Japanese Suite," boasts an expansive 100m2, and awaits you. The spacious interior and sophisticated decor are just like a model room. Take your time to soak in the guest room's "Shirogane no Yu" onsen while taking in the view of Ikaho's nature. The water is colorless and transparent, and is said to promote skin metabolism. You'll want to soak it into your skin.
The creative dishes are all breathtakingly beautiful. You can feel the attention to detail in every step, from the selection of ingredients, careful preparation, delicate seasoning, and the choice of tableware that brings out the best in the food. When you eat in the meal "Saryo," which has a great atmosphere with indirect lighting, the situation combined with this makes for an exquisite experience. An occasional luxury that enriches the soul. Enjoy each dish carefully in a private space.
Guests can also use the onsen facilities in the main building. Here, you can enjoy Ikaho's other onsen the "Golden Hot Spring." This hot onsen has a long history, said to have existed for about 400 years, and its unique brown color and faint smell of iron will enhance onsen mood. The warm water sways with every movement of your hands, making a gentle sound like soothing background music. Relax and unwind, and cherish this moment.
Detailed information
Okuikaho Ryotei?Kaichoro?Ryokan
Gunma /Shibukawa, Ikaho onsen, Ikaho/ ryokan
- address
- 5-4 Ikahokayu, Ikahocho, Shibukawa City Gunma
- access
- 30 minutes by bus bound for Ikaho onsen from Shibukawa Station and get off at the last stop, Ikaho onsen. There is a highway bus that departs from Shinjuku Station New South Exit.
Bettei Senjuan, overlooking Mt. Tanigawa, is a modern onsen inn located about 10 minutes by car from Minakami Interchange or about 8 minutes by shuttle bus (reservation required) from JR Minakami Station. Traditional building techniques and materials are used throughout the inn, and the design, which is based on the craftsmanship of the master craftsmen, is also one of the highlights. The approximately 8m-wide curved corridor, which is lit up at night, is truly fantastical. There are tourist spots in the area, such as Tenjindaira Ski Resort and Suwakyo Bridge, where you can enjoy the nature of the four seasons.
All 18 guest rooms have an open-air bath with natural hot spring water. The spacious Japanese-style rooms are equipped with a tea room and a wide veranda, and are luxurious spaces where you can have the magnificent view of nature all to yourself. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the four seasons from the large guest room windows. The rooms are designed with care, are spacious, and have a high sense of privacy, allowing you to spend your time quietly.
The hotel is equipped with a large public bath and an open-air bath where you can enjoy a bath while looking out at the gardens and the Tanigawa Valley. The gentle water that flows into the bathtub is, of course, a natural spring. In the summer only "walking bath", you can enjoy a foot bath and forest bathing at the same time while watching the Tanigawa River flowing in front of you.
Dinner is a creative Japanese meal made with seasonal ingredients from Gunma. You can enjoy Joshu beef, river fish, and mountain delicacies in a course. There is also a wide selection of wine, shochu, and Japan sake that go well with food, so be sure to check it out. You can enjoy it in the meal of a private room, so you can enjoy meal in a private space.
Detailed information
Bettei Senjuan
Gunma /Minakami/ ryokan
- address
- Gunma 614, Tanigawa, Minakami-cho, Tone-gun
- access
- 25 minutes by bus from Jomokogen Station on the Shinkansen / 8 minutes by car from Minakami Station on the Joetsu Line / 10 minutes from Minakami IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
Sekizenkan, located in Shima onsen, was founded in 1694 and is a famous ryokan that still lives on in its history. By the way, have you seen this scenery somewhere before? It's actually Keiunbashi Bridge, which is said to have been the model for the animated film "Spirited Away" by Studio Ghibli. Not only fans of the worldview of the film, but the nostalgic and tasteful building will also make your heart flutter.
The main building is a hot spring inn with a history of about 300 years, and is extremely valuable as an Important Cultural Property designated by Gunma. Furthermore, the Genroku-no-Yu bath, which is located in the main building and was built in 1930, is a registered tangible cultural property of the country. The hall-style building was luxuriously finished using cutting-edge design and technology from the early Showa period, when Western styles were being adopted. The arched windows, modern tiles, and five separate bathtubs have all been left as they were at the time, making for a special bathing experience.
The free private bath at the mountain lodge, "Sanso no Yu," has a different atmosphere, with a sophistication that evokes the Showa era. By the way, Shima onsen is an all-purpose hot spring that is said to be effective for all kinds of physical problems. Have the two bathtubs all to yourself and enjoy the high-quality water at your leisure with your partner or friends. Perhaps it's the atmosphere of this onsen that makes you want to have deep conversations that are different from usual, and your bond will likely become stronger than ever before.
The guest rooms are divided into three buildings: the main building, the Sanso lodge, and Kashotei, and each offers a different lodging experience. In the main building, you can stay in a nostalgic room and enjoy onsen for a modern-day mini-touji experience. In the Sanso lodge, you can enjoy the techniques of master craftsmen from the Showa era indoors, which is a delight for architecture lovers. At Kashotei, you can enjoy the luxuries that only a onsen ryokan can offer, such as an open-air bath. Which one is your preference?
Detailed information
Shima Onsen Sekizen Honkan
Gunma / Shima onsen / ryokan
- address
- onsen Onsen, Nakanojo-machi, Agatsuma-gun Gunma Prefecture
- access
- 40 minutes by car from Nakanojo Station on the Agatsuma Line, get off at the last stop and 25 minutes by car/Shibukawa Ikaho IC → R17 → R353, about 39 km and 60 minutes
Ikaho onsen Oyado Tamaki is located at the entrance to the stone steps of Ikaho onsen. It is easily accessible from major transport links, about 15 minutes by car from JR Shibukawa Station and about 1 minute on foot from the stone steps. You can also enjoy sightseeing in the surrounding area, including Ikaho's famous Kawajika Bridge. The entire building is covered in tatami mats, and you can take off your shoes and walk around barefoot, so you can relax.
There are a total of 26 guest rooms, ranging from traditional Japanese-style rooms to modern Western-style rooms. We especially recommend the special room "Enju" with its open-air bath. From the spacious terrace you can get a panoramic view of the Joshu mountains, and enjoy the spectacular views of the four seasons. In this comfortable space surrounded by the warmth of wood, you can spend an elegant time as if you were in a model house.
The attraction of the baths is that they have two hot springs, the "Golden Bath" and the "Silver Bath." In the large bath, "Hashibami Bath," you can enjoy a luxurious bath while looking out at the Tanigawa mountain range. There is also the "Tamaibuki Bath," an authentic wooden bath made with an abundance of cypress, which can be used by men and women on a rotating basis depending on the time. There are also two private baths, so you can enjoy onsen in a private space.
For dinner, you can enjoy a multi-course meal made with seasonal ingredients collected from all over Joshu. The beautifully presented dishes, made with local ingredients, are a feast for the eyes as well. Breakfast is a wholesome Japanese meal of millet porridge and yuba tofu. You can start your day off right with a hearty breakfast. We also recommend relaxing and enjoying a drink while listening to jazz or movie soundtracks in the hotel's lounge, Itsukiakari.
Detailed information
Oyado Tamaki
Gunma /Shibukawa, Ikaho onsen, Ikaho/ ryokan
- address
- Gunma 87-2 Ikaho, Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City
- access
- 15 minutes by car from Shibukawa Station. 2 minutes walk to Ishidangai
Located about a six-minute walk from the Yubatake onsen the symbol of Kusatsu Onsen, Kusatsu Onsen Kusatsu Hotel 1913 1913 is a long-established onsen inn with an attractive wooden building and eye-catching pine trees. Founded in 1913, it is known as a particularly prestigious inn in Kusatsu onsen. There are tourist spots such as Sainokawara Park and Tsurutaro Kataoka Art Museum in the surrounding area, so it is conveniently located for strolling.
There are a variety of guest rooms available, including stylish Japanese-style rooms with a retro atmosphere, modern Western-style rooms that will make you feel like you're in a villa, and rooms with onsen baths. Every room has a warm wooden feel, and you can relax in a calm atmosphere. If you choose a room with a onsen bath, you'll have Kusatsu's famous hot springs all to yourself! Enjoy a luxurious bath as much as you like, whenever you like.
Among the inns in Kusatsu, you can enjoy two types of hot springs: the rare "Sainokawara Source" and the spicy "Bandai Source." In the "Two Open-Air Baths" in both the men's and women's baths, onsen can enjoy two different types of water with different skin textures in baths next to each other. There are also three private baths (paid, reservations required) where you can enjoy bathing without worrying about the people around you! There is also a foot bath on the terrace of the building, so you can enjoy onsen in a variety of baths.
For dinner, let's have a Japanese set made with plenty of local seasonal ingredients. The luxurious menu unique to this area will satisfy not only your stomach but also your heart. In the "back garden" with a ceiling height of about 7 meters, you can enjoy a variety of delicious seasonal dishes to your heart's content in the meal "back garden".
Detailed information
Kusatsu Onsen Kusatsu Hotel 1913 1913
Gunma /Kusatsu, Kusatsu onsen / ryokan
- address
- Gunma 479 Kusatsu, Kusatsu-cho, Azuma-gun
- access
- 25 minutes by JR bus from Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station, 8 minutes on foot
source:Contribution of VOLVO850R
Auberge "Kei" with its charming cottage-like exterior suddenly appears in the middle of Kusatsu town lined with onsen inns. It is located about a 5-minute walk from Kusatsu onsen Bus Terminal, and is also close to the popular tourist spot "Yubata", making it an easy location for sightseeing. Once inside the building, you will find a stylish space with tasteful interior decor.
source:Contribution of loose green onion child
The large windows let in plenty of sunlight, making the open-air bath feel warm and cozy in the maisonette "C01". The spiral staircase is so exciting that you'll want to take lots of photos! The best thing about this room is the water in the open-air bath. The source has a rich sulfur-scented spring water, and it is filled with "Jizo no Yu", which has many die-hard fans. The amount of water is limited, so it is rare to be able to bathe in this bath at ryokan. The highly acidic spring water can be irritating to the skin for some people, so it is best to get out of the bath quickly and refresh yourself.
At the private bath "AWASE," you can enjoy the clear, colorless Bandaiko hot spring water, which is attractive for its baths that give off a Kusatsu vibe. Each of the three baths is filled with hot spring onsen of a different temperature, and the traditional bathing method of bathing in different temperatures in turn is said to allow onsen 's ingredients to be absorbed more into the body. Even if you just take a quick dip, your body will feel warm and your skin will be moisturized...♡ The bathroom, surrounded by wood grain in soft colors, will also lift your spirits.
Detailed information
Kusatsu onsen Kei kei
Gunma /Kusatsu, Kusatsu onsen / ryokan
- address
- Gunma 297, Kusatsu, Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun
- access
- About 25 minutes by bus bound for Kusatsu Onsen from Naganohara onsen Station, then about 5 minutes on foot after getting off at Kusatsu onsen Bus Terminal
If you want to escape from your hard work and release stress, you'll want to enjoy not only onsen but also plenty of nature. For those people, we recommend "Onsen Glamping Shima Blue" in Shima onsen. This is a dream-like place where you can casually enjoy outdoor life with glamping, onsen, and abundant nature.
There are seven guest rooms, each of which is a standalone building. You can not only stay overnight, but also enjoy onsen and meal in these rooms, so you can minimize contact with other people and enjoy a stress-free stay. The "Island Blue" and "Apple Orange" rooms have dome tents set up on the first floor, and there are beds inside, so you can experience the thrill of sleeping outdoors even though you're indoors. Drink coffee while enjoying the pleasant breeze on the terrace, or try your hand at the bouldering indoors to fully refresh yourself.
The open-air bath where you can enjoy Shima Onsen's natural hot onsen water with a round cypress bathtub will lift your spirits. Each room has its own private open-air bath, so you can go in and out as many times as you like. Enjoy the forest bathing feeling as you gaze out at the forest that stretches out before you.
You can also enjoy a barbecue on the terrace for dinner. Depending on the season, you can enjoy Gunma's Joshu beef. The tender meat falls apart in your mouth and is so delicious you can eat as much as you want. A fun and private space with a hot onsen that flows directly from the source, the surrounding nature, and delicious meal... A stay at Onsen Glamping Shima Blue is sure to help you release all your stress.
Detailed information
Onsen Glamping Shima Blue
Gunma / Shima Onsen/ onsen
- address
- Gunma 4355-9, Shima 4355-9, Nakanojo-machi, Agatsuma-gun
- access
- About 30 minutes by car from Agatsuma Line Nakanojo Station
Kimuraya, with its eye-catching, cutting-edge Japanese-style exterior, is an inn designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma. The inn's theme is "making the Yubatake three-dimensional," and it incorporates the essence of Kusatsu onsen throughout, with its unique appearance blending in surprisingly well with the townscape. The stones attached to the exterior are Asama stones, which can be found at the Yubatake. There's no greater feeling of superiority than staying in such artistic architecture that you can't help but stop and stare at it for a while.
Only one group per day can stay at Kimuraya. You can enjoy the chic and sophisticated space exclusively with your loved one. The warm, wood-based design and comfortable atmosphere can be fully appreciated by actually staying there. For meal, be sure to try Tempura Kotaro on the first floor. You can enjoy flavorful tempura dishes made with seafood and wild vegetables in a lovely space.
onsen is Shirahata no Yu, which flows directly from the source. Of all the hot springs in Kusatsu, it is the most milky white and has the highest temperature. You may be taken aback by the heat of the water at first, but try slowly dipping your feet in and letting your body sink. Once you're shoulder-deep in, you'll be immersed in the pleasure of touching the natural hot spring water. The unique pattern on the walls is made from tiles embedded in the floor of the Yubatake. You can enjoy Kengo Kuma's worldview even in the bathroom.
*The photo is for illustrative purposes only.
The amenities are from Aesop. Kimuraya's tasteful service is truly impressive. After your bath, you can carefully condition your skin with high-quality cosmetics. A fulfilling trip to Kusatsu onsen will be decided by the exquisite experience you will have at Kimuraya.
Detailed information
Kusatsu onsen Kimuraya
Gunma /Kusatsu, Kusatsu onsen / ryokan
- address
- Gunma 117-1, Kusatsu, Kusatsu-cho, Agatsuma-gun
- access
- 30 minutes by bus from JR Naganohara Kusatsuguchi
THE CLUB golf village is a hotel attached to a golf course where you can enjoy not only golf, but also delicious meal and onsen. The hotel has a wide variety of restaurants and cafeterias where you can enjoy meal breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At the restaurant THE Ball, you can enjoy Italian food made with ingredients from Gunma. Open a glass of wine that goes well with the food and spend a wonderful time chatting with friends or your partner.
The open-air bath is filled with sodium chloride spring onsen, which is rich in minerals. Feel the refreshing breeze as you walk around the course to relax your tired body. There is also a stylish spherical sauna and a full-fledged loyly sauna, and you can also relax in two saunas and a cold bath.
*The photo is for illustrative purposes only.
In the changing room, amenities include mainly organic items that are kind to people and the earth. The hair dryer is a Dyson Supersonic Ionic hair dryer, so you don't have to worry about hair care even when traveling! Sweat, get surrounded by the scent of wood, purify your body, and take in the good things that are good for you, and love yourself more!
There are six types of simple and sophisticated guest rooms, with the majority being suites. All rooms are equipped with high-quality Simmons mattresses, ensuring a good night's sleep. The "Executive Room" pictured is particularly recommended. This room has a bookshelf covering the entire wall, with books of various genres on display. There is also a comfortable sofa in front of the large window, where you can enjoy some quality reading time while taking in the view of the greenery outside.
For breakfast, you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee and French brand morning bread at the cafeteria inside the building. The counter in the center of the cafeteria can also be used standing-style, like in overseas bars. This cafeteria is open until 5pm. They also offer smoothies and fresh juices that will cleanse you from the inside, making them a great accompaniment to your golf game. Please feel free to stop by for a break before or after playing.
Detailed information
THE CLUB golf village
Gunma / Annaka / Resort Hotel
- address
- 5853 Annaka, Annaka City, Gunma
- access
- Approximately 20 minutes by car from Annaka Haruna Station (pick-up service available, reservation required)
Gunma, known as onsen kingdom, has many onsen inns with various tastes. Not only onsen, but also stylish spaces, delicious food, and abundant nature combine various elements, so there is so much charm that you can never get enough of it no matter how many times you go. If you are tired from busy days, why not go on a short hot onsen trip to Gunma you can be refreshed and healed?