Romantic Hotels in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

This is a fabulous place for an authentic Japanese holiday. The location is beautiful. The outdoor hot spring bathing area is clean and looks like a movie set. The included meals are generous in portion size and are delicious. Our room overlooked the river and it was great. Tatami floors and shoji screen windows. This is an old and historic place and does not cater to western norms. You sleep on futons on the floor. Only Japanese food is available. But it is a wonderful place to spend some time.

Facilities: Very comprehensive, most common amenities are available, but some in-room facilities are a bit old. Hygiene: No major issues, overall feeling was good. You even have to take off your shoes before entering the hotel, and you can wear socks throughout the entire hotel. Environment: Beautiful views and great hotel design, plus very attractive private hot spring landscaping. I think it met my expectations. Service: Nothing exceptionally special, but everyone was very enthusiastic in providing service, which I really appreciated.

Overall, Kizunoniwa is definitely better than Konoha. Dinner was a delicious Japanese meal served in a private dining room, and breakfast was also good. My only minor complaint was that the rice wasn't quite up to Japanese standards. The location is quite far out. If you're heading to Ueno Station in the city, leaving the hotel at 9 AM and having a smooth journey, you'd likely arrive around 1 PM. The hotel shuttle takes ten minutes to the bus stop, then it's an hour and a half by bus to Karuizawa, and another hour-plus from Karuizawa to Ueno. The main delays are due to waiting for various connection times. It snowed on our second day, which was truly beautiful. I'd love to come back during autumn leaf season if possible.

This is a fantastic hot spring hotel, offering a one-night stay with two meals, making it a great value. Breakfast and dinner are both buffets, and the buffet spread is excellent, especially the seasoned steaks, freshly squeezed orange juice (made on the spot), and pre-made banana milkshakes. In the evening, there's a Japanese folk song and dance performance, as well as adorable Kusatsu souvenirs—very kawaii. It was a truly memorable, enjoyable, and satisfying trip. The room also has its own onsen, which maintains a constant 38°C temperature and automatically refills when the water level drops. The room is stocked with high-end Kose shampoo and hair products, a high-end hair dryer, facial toiletries, lotion, hair products, and several kimono accessories. Booking a room with an indoor bath also offers executive lounge access from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and access to the newly opened VIP onsen in the annex, essentially renting the entire place out. It's very nice.