“Perfect getaway for a Traditional Relaxing Retreat”

The room was comfortable and service was wonderful. We enjoyed the breakfast in the morning, simple and delicious. You can borrow yukata and woven bamboo bags from the lobby and wear them out into town to visit the different onsens. Close walking distance to the centre of the town. Just to note, the building is up quite a steep road and there are no elevators in the hotel, so if you would struggle walking or going up stairs, this is probably not the place for you. However, if you are able bodied, the walk up is quite relaxing and if you follow the stairs up to the shrine and along the forest area, the cherry blossoms are truly beautiful. The staff were incredibly kind and friendly and we loved the traditional decor and atmosphere. We noticed the kyudo decor but didn't ask until the day we were leaving and found out that the back of building used to be a Kyudo Jo. The private onsen was also very relaxing and the "burning bottom" hotspring was a interesting experience. Would definitely love to visit again! A wonderful place to stay.

“A must!”

Authentic Japan experience. Kind staff and great breakfast

“Incredibly welcoming and comfortable stay!”

The location of the hotel is extremely central and very close to everything! However, the hill to reach the ryokan is quite steep, make sure you're mentally prepared. The facilities of the hotel are excellent! The rooms are wonderful, the amenities provided in the room were wonderful, the futon was incredibly comfortable, and the staff were amazing. We dropped our luggage off before checkin to continue exploring Kusatsu and when we came back to check in, the luggage was already in our room! My name was also written on a sign to welcome us. The shared space downstairs was really quiet and comfortable too. The onsen itself was very refreshing. I recommend getting there before 8pm to avoid the crowd. The breakfast was delicious too.

“If your booking for an authentic feel of Japan is recommend this Ryokan and definitely take the breakfast option”

What a lovely place to stay the staff were welcoming and informative, the rooms are very pretty and the location is perfect

“This quickly became my favourite ryokan.”

I loved everything about this ryokan. It had so much soul and history connected to it. The owner was wonderfully kind, welcoming, and spoke really good English. He explained in detail about their baths (there is also an option for a private bath, but I didn't use it) and showed me around when I first arrived. Everything is close: There is a pretty shrine nearby; Yubatake is a few minutes away. Every evening, there's a tea kettle brewing something delicious on the open fire in a cauldron (so cosy). The baths are open 24/7, so you can always hop in for a short bath. For me, this was a nice experience just before bed. Just outside of the ryokan is so serene that you can hear the nature waking up in the morning. Sleeping was also very comfortable. I have not tried any dishes, but next time, I will. I will be back here next time for sure. お世話になりました！🤗

“Highly recommend it”

Conveniently located. Easily accessible to the town. Great hospitality- allowed us to check in earlier which was kind. We were personally shown round n etiquette was explained to us. All round a brilliant stay.

“Good staff, old but clean facility. Breakfast not worth the price.”

Staffs are very nice and speaks English well, have a private onsen room.

Staff were extremely nice and informative, great service overall. The private onsen was great as well (the water is very hot, so it was nice with the snow outside). The location was good, walk distance from all central areas of Kusatsu.

This place was amazing. It is a family-owned business run by extremely friendly and welcoming people. The location was excellent - really close to the centre. The room was beautiful and the futons very comfortable. The breakfast was lovely, and the private onsen was amazing. There were lots of little touches like hot tea in the evenings, the little manga library, and the family photos and historical info on display which made it feel special. We would highly recommend it to everyone.

I had an exceptional experience at Kirishimaya Ryokan. The standout feature is definitely the staff; they are incredibly caring, attentive, and speak fluent English, which made the entire check-in and stay effortless. The location is ideal—it’s very close to the Yubatake, yet tucked away enough to remain peaceful. For those driving, the parking lot is excellent and easy to access, which is a rare find in this area. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Kusatsu!

“Great little traditional onsen”

Traditional onsen experience, attentive, friendly and helpful staff. A great relaxing stay

This place was amazing. It is a family-owned business run by extremely friendly and welcoming people. The location was excellent - really close to the centre. The room was beautiful and the futons very comfortable. The breakfast was lovely, and the private onsen was amazing. There were lots of little touches like hot tea in the evenings, the little manga library, and the family photos and historical info on display which made it feel special. We would highly recommend it to everyone.

“Family-run hotel delivering excellent services and who go above and beyond to look after the guests”

Incredibly friendly and helpful family-run traditional hotel. Superb Japanese breakfasts with fresh and tasty ingredients. Onsite Onsen (hot spring baths) were brilliant, particularly liked that there was also a private bath option as our teenager is shy. Didn't affect us but they do advertise that their baths are tattoo friendly also.bRooms were simple and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We had a very relaxing, peaceful stay and thoroughly enjoyed the hotel as well as the wider town. Highly recommend and we certainly hope to return one day.

“Very enjoyable stay and good location.”

Great location and very welcoming and helpful staff. Very nice rooms and in house onsen. Great to stay in traditional Ryokan.

I liked the availability of the private bath. The hospitality was warm and welcoming.

“Manageable location with helpful staff”

The location is a bit tricky for travelling, but with the map code provided by the hotel management and using the GPS, it's manageable. The receptionist speaks fluent English, which made communication much easier.

“OG Ryokan of Kusatsu”

This Ryokan is absolutely phenomenal, everything from the politeness of the staff to the facilities and the room. It was quite easy to do the check-in, as it was raining and they offered to dry out jackets. On the first day after such a long trip, we also requested a massage. Two male masseurs came to our room in the evening, and the massage was fantastic. Special shoutout to the older masseur as is very dedicated to his profession and we respected him a lot for it. The Ryokan provides private and communal onsen♨️, manga room📗, communal hall and a vending machine🥫, if you have seen as much anime as I did, this place offers the ultimate Ryokan experience. P.s. We will be back 🙇🏽‍♂️

“Worth the experience!”

The staff were amazing and hospitable! They were also good at communicating in English! The private onsens were also nice! (They have gendered ones and a private 1 room onsen one, too) it was also near to the downtown!

“A beautiful place, made unforgettable by an exceptional ryokan”

As a French traveler, I have high expectations when it comes to service and hospitality. I can honestly say that Kirishimaya Ryokan far exceeded them. The ryokan is very well located — peaceful, yet close to all the important sites in the area. The value for money is excellent: the rooms are clean, comfortable, and full of traditional Japanese charm. But what truly impressed me was the incredible kindness and professionalism of the staff. I accidentally left some important belongings behind when I left the hotel. Despite the distance, they went above and beyond to help me: quick and friendly communication, helpful solutions, and a carefully arranged delivery to my next hotel. This level of service is rare — even in Japan. I would recommend Kirishimaya Ryokan without hesitation to anyone looking for an authentic and warm Japanese experience. I’ll also suggest it to all my friends and family visiting Japan. Thank you so much to the whole team!

“Lovely welcoming ryokan in Kusatsu”

The staff here were exceptional, they were helpful, welcoming and friendly. The location was great, near enough the main sights but still felt like we weren't in the main tourist area. The room was clean and the onsen was lovely. The ryokan is at the top of a small but steep hill, they warned us about this in advance which was brilliant as we had a lot of luggage, so decided to catch a taxi.