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Summary of reviewsTokinoniwa is celebrated as a serene retreat, offering visitors a peaceful escape away from the busy center of Kusatsu Onsen. The location, though remote, is ideal for those seeking tranquility in a mountainous environment, with convenient shuttle services linking guests to nearby attractions. The ryokan is artistically designed, providing a variety of spa options that enhance relaxation with private and gender-specific baths.
Guests enjoy a commendable breakfast experience, lauded for its delicious traditional Japanese offerings. Dinner, while visually impressive and supported by excellent service, garners mixed reviews regarding taste and portion expectations. While some diners feel the flavor could be improved, the overall dining presentation is positively noted.
Accommodations at Tokinoniwa blend comfort and luxury, with spacious rooms featuring private open-air baths—seen as a highlight for their indulgence and maintenance. The thoughtful room amenities, such as a coffee grinder and uniquely scented toilet paper, contribute to a pleasant stay, although minor inconveniences like the absence of higher chairs are sometimes mentioned. Cleanliness stands out, with rooms consistently well-maintained, although occasional minor details could benefit from improvement.
Service at Tokinoniwa is characterized by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff, fostering a welcoming atmosphere that is appreciated by guests. While there are slight inconsistencies in personalized service, the majority of interactions leave a positive impression, with staff hospitality often exceeding expectations.
Overall, Tokinoniwa offers a charming and fulfilling stay, where clean accommodations, picturesque surroundings, attentive service, and unique dining experiences contribute to a memorable visit. With minor updates to facilities and service refinement, guest satisfaction could be further enhanced. Show more
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Luxury Ryokan
Located near Kusatsu Onsen, this luxurious inn offers a tranquil retreat with every guest room featuring a private outdoor hot spring bath. The ryokan provides a variety of baths, including three private rental baths, and serves kaiseki meals using local ingredients.
Romantic Ryokan
This ryokan blends traditional Japanese hospitality with modern comfort. It features rooms with private open-air baths filled with Kusatsu's hot spring water. The ryokan serves exquisite kaiseki meals showcasing local and seasonal ingredients.
Ryokan with Parking
This hotel provides parking for guests. Rooms feature a spring water bathtub, refrigerator, free WiFi, and a flat-screen TV. Additional amenities include laundry facilities, towels, a safe, and soap.
Small Ryokan
This ryokan is known for blending traditional Japanese hospitality with modern comfort. The traditional Japanese breakfast and dinner were delicious, and the amenities were so complete that all we needed was a change of clothes. Our room had a private onsen, and we could also reserve a lovely public onsen.
4-Star Ryokan
This 4-star hotel in Kusatsu offers comfortable rooms with amenities like spring water bathtubs, refrigerators, and free WiFi. Guests can enjoy laundry facilities, towels, and a safe, ensuring a relaxing and convenient stay.
Ryokan with Free Wi-Fi
Room Types
Deluxe Double Room with Tatami Area and Open-Air Bath - Non-SmokingGuests will have a special experience as this double room provides a private open-air bath. The double room offers air conditioning, tatami, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a shower. The unit has 1 bed.
Superior Twin Room with Tatami Area and Open-Air Bath - Non-SmokingThe private open-air bath is the standout feature of this triple room. The spacious triple room features air conditioning, tatami, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a shower. The unit has 2 beds and 1 futon.
Deluxe Twin Room with Tatami Area and Open-Air Bath - Non-SmokingGuests will have a special experience as the quadruple room offers a private open-air bath. This quadruple room is air-conditioned and features a private bathroom, tatami floors, a minibar and a terrace. The unit offers 2 beds and 2 futons.
Queen RoomThe private open-air bath is the standout feature of this double room. This double room is air-conditioned and has a private bathroom, tatami floors, a minibar and a terrace. The unit has 1 bed.
Economy Double RoomGuests will have a special experience as the double room features a private open-air bath. The spacious air-conditioned double room provides a flat-screen TV, tatami, a minibar and a seating area. The unit offers 2 beds.
Economy Double RoomThe private open-air bath is a top feature of this double room. The spacious double room features air conditioning, tatami, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a shower. A seating area with a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a terrace are available in this double room. The unit has 2 beds.
Guest Reviews
8.8
Excellent
Location
Situated in a tranquil setting away from the bustling center of Kusatsu Onsen, Tokinoniwa offers an idyllic escape for travelers seeking a serene retreat. Although the ryokan is a bit removed from the main attractions, guests can enjoy convenient access to the area thanks to the hotel's shuttle service, which connects visitors to both Kusatsu and Karuizawa. The facility itself is described as a work of art, featuring a variety of spa options that include private and gender-specific baths, enhancing the relaxation experience. For those who prefer walking, the town center is about a 15-minute stroll away, with a nearby convenience store accessible within 5 minutes. While nighttime driving to the location might be challenging due to its secluded nature, the surroundings are ideal for those looking to unwind in a more remote mountainous environment.
Breakfast
When staying at Tokinoniwa, guests can expect a breakfast experience that receives a mostly positive reception. Reviews highlight the deliciousness and special nature of the traditional Japanese breakfast offered, emphasizing its high quality and remarkable taste. Many guests appreciated the uniqueness of the meals served for both breakfast and dinner, with plenty of interesting dishes to try. However, some did express a desire for more variety in the breakfast menu, noting a preference for options such as bread. Despite this, the emphasis remains on the commendable taste and traditional flair of the food, making breakfast at Tokinoniwa a memorable part of the stay.
Dinner
Nestled in the serene landscape, Tokinoniwa offers guests a picturesque escape complemented by a notable dining experience. The ryokan follows the traditional style of serving both dinner and breakfast, opting for set menus or an expansive buffet. While guests have appreciated the breathtaking presentation and excellent service during meals, the culinary experience gathered mixed reviews.
Many guests have highlighted the Kaiseki-style dinner where courses are both artfully arranged and plentiful, occasionally challenging guests to finish the generous portions. Among the positive remarks, the buffet breakfast received praise for its variety, offering a satisfactory start to the day.
However, some diners found the taste to be standard and occasionally disappointing, with feedback suggesting room for improvement in quality and flavor. A few comments alluded to meals being meager relative to the price, with expectations set higher for ingredient quality and overall dining experience.
In summary, the dining experience at Tokinoniwa presents a visual feast with commendable portions and service but leaves some guests yearning for enhanced taste and culinary excellence.
Rooms
The rooms at Tokinoniwa provide guests with an experience that combines comfort and luxury. Visitors appreciate the spacious accommodations and the variety of facilities available. Notably, many rooms feature an open-air bath, which adds a touch of indulgence to the stay. These private outdoor baths are not only a highlight but are also well-maintained, ensuring a pleasant experience.
Guests find their rooms thoughtfully equipped with details like a coffee grinder and filter for fresh brews, and even a playful touch with matcha-scented toilet paper. The interiors are described as luxurious, and the seating areas contribute to the overall comfort. The views from the rooms are said to exceed expectations, alongside a satisfying breakfast experience.
While some rooms face a main road and a parking lot, others delight with balconies and private onsen, making them particularly wonderful. Cleanliness is consistently high throughout the accommodations. However, some guests noted the absence of slightly higher chairs as a minor inconvenience. Despite a few criticisms regarding the hospitality at dinner, the room experience at Tokinoniwa leaves a positive impression on its guests.
Cleanliness
Nestled in picturesque surroundings, Tokinoniwa offers a blend of charming tranquility and attentive service. Guests have consistently praised the clean and well-maintained guest rooms, with many noting the exceptional room cleanliness that contributes to a comfortable stay. The private open-air baths, a key feature of the hotel, are appreciated for their cleanliness, enhancing the overall experience of relaxation and rejuvenation. The staff's courtesy and helpfulness further elevate the stay, ensuring guests feel welcomed and valued.
However, some areas require attention. While rooms are generally kept tidy, small details such as minor dust accumulation and discolorations from previous water damage are occasionally observed, detracting slightly from the overall pristine environment. Additionally, guests have reported issues with the Onsen amenities, finding the facilities outdated, and have raised concerns about the cleanliness of the private hot tubs, which sometimes contain impurities.
Despite these setbacks, the blend of clean accommodations and attentive service creates a generally pleasant and fulfilling experience. Addressing facility updates and maintaining high cleaning standards would enhance guest satisfaction further.
Staff
At Tokinoniwa, the staff consistently earn high praise for their friendly and accommodating nature. Guests frequently highlight the staff's professionalism, helpfulness, and cheerful demeanor, contributing to an overall welcoming atmosphere. The availability of English menus and clear communication further enhances the guest experience. Many reviewers particularly commend the staff for their outstanding hospitality and attentiveness, often exceeding the expectations even of seasoned travelers familiar with Japanese service standards.
While the majority of feedback is positive, some minor inconsistencies are noted. For instance, certain guests experienced occasional lapses in personalized assistance, such as the lack of help from a doorman or a brief encounter with what appeared to be less experienced staff. Additionally, some operational aspects, like handling survey sheets, may need refinement. Nonetheless, these instances seem to be rare deviations from the otherwise excellent service, and the overall impression of Tokinoniwa's staff remains overwhelmingly positive, with their friendliness and thoughtfulness leaving a lasting good impression on the visitors.
No, Tokinoniwa doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Tokinoniwa.
No, Tokinoniwa doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Tokinoniwa.