The "bath attendant" prepares the "best quality hot spring" using his skilled techniques.
Enjoy the hot spring water 24 hours a day.
The appearance of Japanese architecture is one of the scenic spots of the town. The atmosphere during the snowfall is especially beautiful and memorable.
The hot spring water, which has been thoroughly purified by two bath attendants using their expert techniques without missing a day, flows freely into the nine baths.
One minute walk from the Yubatake, Naraya is a long-established inn that continues the culture of the Yumori. For 148 years since its founding in 1877, it has always made it its mission to provide "hot springs in the best condition." It is an indispensable inn in Kusatsu.
The hot spring is the oldest in Kusatsu, Shirahata Source, which is said to have been discovered and bathed in by Minamoto no Yoritomo on August 3, 1193. There are only seven inns in Kusatsu that draw water from this source. The baths are looked after 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by two bathkeepers who have inherited the skilled techniques from the Meiji period.
They use the natural slope of the spring water to cool it down and draw water from the hot 50 degree spring, which is then stored in a bathhouse on the premises and left to sit overnight to cool it down to 46-47 degrees before pouring into the baths. On hot days they reduce the amount of water to make sure the temperature doesn't get too high, and on cold days they increase the amount to keep the bath temperature at 42 degrees. Because the spring water is quite spicy, they also gently knead it with their hands to soften it. This is a technique that only a bath attendant could achieve.
Naraya's hot springs are prepared in this way and kept at a constant state. The water feels gentle and smooth on the skin, and is perfectly absorbed by the skin. Being able to enjoy "hot springs in the best condition" is the inn's greatest hospitality.
The attraction is the hot springs
The hot spring, known as the "hot spring of the Tokugawa Shoguns," is known as the "Shirohata" hot spring, a high-quality spring even in Kusatsu. The Shirohata is a symbol of the Genji clan. It is named after Minamoto no Yoritomo, who discovered the hot spring.
The large public bath is free-flowing with hot spring water 24 hours a day. Men and women alternate between the two tasteful bathhouse baths, "Okumiage no Yu" and "Hana no Yu," and the open-air bath. Hot water is also poured into the red pine log bath, the only one still standing since the hotel's founding. A reservation is required at the time of check-in to use the private open-air bath.
The next-level guest rooms are the modern Japanese-style "Sen'yutei" with a variety of layouts, including a maisonette with a semi-open-air bath overlooking the Yubatake. The hotel has expanded its options by adding one new room with an open-air bath overlooking the Yubatake, and five regular rooms that have been renovated into Japanese-Western comfort rooms.
Senyutei's guest room "Rindo" features a modern Japanese interior.
For dinner, dine on a seasonal menu made with the freshest ingredients in one of four different private dining rooms. The sushi prepared right in front of you by a skilled chef is also highly rated.
After enjoying the finest hot springs and gourmet food, you'll have a deep, satisfying night's sleep and be recharged for the next day.
At the attached cafe, you can enjoy siphon coffee made with Kusatsu's specialty, "hanamame."
The head chef, who trained under the decorated chef Tadamichi Ota, captivates everyone who visits with not only the taste but also the highly artistic dishes he prepares.
The chef visits your table and prepares the sushi right in front of you, which is very popular.
More Information
| building | Main building: 3-story wooden structure; Annex: 5-story reinforced concrete structure |
|---|---|
| Rooms | (Total 35 rooms) / 5 Japanese-style rooms, 29 Japanese-Western style rooms, 1 with an open-air bath |
| meal | Dinner: Kaiseki cuisine, Breakfast: Japanese cuisine |
| Facilities | Baths (managed by the bathhouse manager): Large bath, open-air bath, private bath (all with natural hot spring water), bar, cafe, shop |
| Fee | 37,950 yen to 118,800 yen (tax included, bathing tax not included) |
| Day trip bathing | 1,200 yen (tax included, 12:00-14:00) |
| Check-in and check-out | Check-in 15:00 Check-out 11:00 |
| Wifi | Lobby Lounge/Guest Rooms |
| Smoking and non-smoking | All rooms are non-smoking, but there are designated smoking areas |
| Hot spring quality | (Shirahata Spring) / Acidic, sulfur-containing, aluminum, sulfur salt, and chloride spring (pH 2.0) |
Facility information / Access
| location | 396 Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma Prefecture, 377-1711 |
|---|---|
| Railway | Get off at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station on the JR Agatsuma Line, then take the bus for about 25 minutes |
| bus | From Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, take the JR bus bound for Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, then walk for about 5 minutes |
| Express bus | From Busta Shinjuku, take the JR bus bound for "Joushu Yumeguri Kusatsu Onsen" for about 4 hours, get off at Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, and then walk for about 5 minutes. |
| car | Approximately 80 minutes from Shibukawa-Ikaho IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway via National Route 292 |
| parking | 20 passenger cars |
| Pick-up and drop-off | From Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal (no reservation required, call after arrival) |
| TEL | 0279-88-2311 |
| FAX | 0279-88-2320 |
| URL | https://www.kusatsu-naraya.co.jp |