Hotel
Karuizawa, Karuizawa & the Japan Alps
HOSHINOYA Karuizawa
Seventy-seven pavilions stand within a wild bird sanctuary near Karuizawa, an hour from Tokyo by train, each designed around cool winds and geothermal heating.
Price on request
Hotel · Kusatsu, Japan
KAI Kusatsu
A hot spring ryokan opening in June 2026 at Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma, linked by a private tunnel to the town's historic bathing district.
Overview
KAI Kusatsu sits in Shirane, Kusatsu, Agatsuma District, Gunma, about three hours by car from Tokyo. The ryokan opens in June 2026 and is built around a private tunnel that connects the property directly to the historic Kusatsu Onsen town, so guests can move between a quiet, nature-set bath at the ryokan and the livelier public baths of the resort area, including a walk to the Yubatake source in yukata.
Two of Kusatsu's hot springs, known locally for their skin-cleansing properties, feed the ryokan's own baths. One of these is an outdoor bath set among rock formations. The property has two onsen in total along with a separate public bath, and a spa and massage facility for guests who want treatment beyond the water itself.
Dinner is built around a Kaiseki course that opens with a rillette of boar and runner-bean miso, followed by chicken thighs cooked slowly in broth until the meat falls from the bone, and the ryokan's signature Joshu Joyanabe hot pot. A second restaurant on site, Soba Kappo SAI, serves a la carte soba alongside a Kaiseki course built around Kikouchi soba, a 100% buckwheat noodle. The ryokan has 94 rooms for one to four guests, among them the Silk Art Room, a KAI Signature Room with a wall of handcrafted silk art finished in glossy silk thread dots. Other facilities include a café and lounge, a fireplace lounge, a playroom, a pool and a meeting room. Wi-Fi is free throughout, pets are allowed, and private parking with EV charging is available without reservation.
- Rooms
- 94
- Minimum stay
- 1 night
- Check in
- 15:00
- Check out
- 12:00
Why we like it
- A private tunnel links the ryokan directly to the historic Kusatsu Onsen town
- Two local hot springs feed the ryokan's baths, including an outdoor bath set among rock formations
- Kaiseki dinner features a boar rillette starter and the signature Joshu Joyanabe hot pot
- Soba Kappo SAI serves a Kaiseki course built on 100% buckwheat Kikouchi soba
- 94 rooms for one to four guests, including the Silk Art Room with handcrafted silk thread artwork
- Private parking and 24-hour EV charging available without reservation
Gallery
Rooms & suites
Categories shown for orientation. Your travel advisor will confirm which are available for your dates and recommend the one that suits the trip.
Silk Art Room
A KAI Signature Room built around a wall of handcrafted silk art, finished with glossy silk thread dots, offering a closer look at local craft.
Up to 2 guests
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Café / Lounge
- Spa / Massage
- Playroom
- Pool
- Onsen
- Public bath
- Meeting Room
- Fireplace Lounge
- Private parking
- EV charging
Reserving through us
Included when your travel advisor confirms this stay
- Daily breakfast for two
- Room upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Property credit or equivalent where the house offers one
- Early check in and late check out on request
- Welcome amenity and your travel agent known to the general manager
Eligible preferred amenities are applied wherever available, subject to the property at the time of stay, and are confirmed in your proposal.
Location
Kusatsu, Japan
Mountain towns an hour from Tokyo by bullet train, onsen in the forest and the Alps behind.
Questions
- When does KAI Kusatsu open?
- KAI Kusatsu is opening in June 2026 at Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma.
- How do guests get from the ryokan to Kusatsu's hot spring town?
- A private tunnel connects the ryokan to the historic Kusatsu hot spring resort area, so guests can walk between the ryokan's own baths and the public baths and Yubatake source in the town.
- Are pets allowed at KAI Kusatsu?
- Yes, pets are allowed at the ryokan, and the restaurants also permit pets.
- What dining is available on site?
- The ryokan's own Kaiseki dinner features the signature Joshu Joyanabe hot pot, and a second restaurant, Soba Kappo SAI, serves a la carte soba and a Kaiseki course based on 100% buckwheat Kikouchi soba.
- Is EV charging available for guests?
- Yes, EV charging is available 24 hours a day with two 200V/6kw units, bookable after a lodging reservation is made.
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