Onsen temperature was perfect, onsen rooms are exceptionally clean even though the establishment is old. You don't have that icky feeling of slimy floors or funky odours like many old onsen bathrooms do. I like the onsen water in Ikaho a lot better than that of Kusatsu as it is not as acidic. Personal preference. The staff are very sweet and helpful, even though most of them do not communicate well in English, they do try their very best. Ryokan is just a few steps away from the famous Ikaho stone steps! lots of fun eats and shopping there

The food was somewhat lack-lustre. Buffet selection was good, however many of the dishes (eg. chicken wings, meatballs, bacon) were very cold and not as tasty as when served warm. Ryokan dinner was only so-so and quite insufficient to fill the tummy

This is a fantastic hotel offering superb Onsen accommodations. The staff is friendly, attentive, and just wonderful to interact with. And the tatami mat room is spacious yet cozy. A mountain view room enhances the tranquil setting. There are multiple on-site baths for guests, including an open-air bath and private baths available for reservation. And historic Ikaho and the famous town steps are right outside the main lobby door. With Ikaho Shrine just a short walk up the hillside.

Some of the hotel infrastructure is showing it's age. A boost in facilities sustainment is likely needed over the next few years.

Located somewhere halfway up the Ikaho stone steps. There's a massive sign on the building's roof with the ryokan's name on it so you can easily spot it from far away. If you've got large suitcases it may be better to book a taxi so you don't have to drag them up the steps or the parallel steep roads. Upon arrival we were given complimentary green tea and manju 🙂. They have English speaking staff who can explain the layout of the hotel and onsen facilities available. At first the whole ryokan layout might be a bit confusing but it's actually quite easy to navigate. The breakfast buffet is pretty good - you get a mix of standard western-style food and traditional Japanese food including some local Gunma specialties. There are many options for onsen available - indoor, open-air, private etc and they're all pretty well maintained. You also get amenities like yukata, socks and slippers (though I do wish they had more sizes available for socks). There are vending machines throughout the ryokan, some with alcohol, some with ice cream.

The only minor nitpick I have is the hairdryers in the guest rooms are quite old and weak. If you want a strong hairdryer, you have to use the ones in the changing room for the hot springs.

Great stay in an amazing ryokan with incredible onsen. Ikaho is a very serene and scenic town and the locals were very kind and welcoming. Lots of amenities for clients, such as karaoke room, private and public onsen, library, and all you can eat breakfast service. The onsen was incredibly refreshing and the 45 minutes are more than enough to relax and refresh.

Ikaho is a quiet town so everything is closed by 5pm and there is not much to do. The famous 365 steps are incredibly difficult to navigate if you have any kind of luggage, I recommend you take a taxi up if you have any heavy luggage with you. Come here more towards the end of your trip if you want to relax. Bathroom is a bit outdated and small but very clean.

The staff was SO polite and kind!! Just top notch service from them. We arrived early so they took our bags while we explored the famous steps & shrine at the top. Then we came back to tea and snacks in the waiting lounge and got to warm up while watching the stunning snow fall in the surrounding forest. We had dinner one of the nights that we stayed there, and the staff carefully and kindly explained all the foods laid out for us. Also, they seemed to remember us quite quickly, for when we went out and came back, they had our room key ready to go. Another night we booked a karaoke room for two hours, and the machines had lots of recent releases from this past year (2023/24) since they use DAM machines. You could also bring your own snacks and alcohol to karaoke, and there was a vending machine on the same floor for more beer and other drinks. Finally, let’s talk about the main event, the onsen area! I tried the “Matazaemon no Yu” indoor bath and the “Gonzaemon no Yu” outdoor bath. The Matazaemon was pretty standard, similar to other baths I’ve been to before. But the Gonzaemon was *chef’s kiss* stellar. So awesome to just soak in the hot, hot outdoor bath in the cold winter night. I highly recommend going during the down time and having the bath all to yourself~

The bathroom in our hotel room really needs love. It had a strong scent of something, maybe sulphur or just old water? And the water took way too long to heat up, I think maybe over 20 minutes. But then again, you go for the onsen area, so just skip the bath in your room and wash up/enjoy the onsens instead. I recommend bringing your own face tissues and towels as well if you can afford the suitcase space. The couch cushions also need a good cleaning, but the futons were nice and neatly made each day for us with fresh sheets!

The designated English speaking staff member was amazing and helped with any requests we made or questions we asked. The location was right at the stone steps. The town is small but lovely - with a quirky obsession for shooting galleries. Mt Haruna and it's lake are beautiful and a short bus ride away.

The bathrooms are unfortunately outdated (but many Japanese hotel bathrooms are similar). The breakfast had great variety but everything that you would expect to be hot was quite cold.

The hotel is located in a great spot just at the base of a mountain. The hot spring water is refreshing. The room and meals were wonderful!! The private bath was nice to use but the public bath is great too! The small hot spring town is really nice to walk though. A nice lake is just a short drive up the mountain. Initial D was inspired from this mountain, there are many things related to it near by.

The parking is limited so be aware. Small road, typical of Japan to access the hotel if you drive.

The location was great as it was close to a variety of shops and restaurants. The onsens were very relaxing, clean and comfortable. The staff are very polite, helpful and friendly. The rooms are a great size and very clean. The breakfast menu was delicious and served in a big dining room overlooking the beautiful autumn trees.

It felt authentic. The view from the room was great. Free shuttle service was provided to the bus stop. Staff were accommodating of our dietary requirements. Breakfast had both continental and Japanese options. All necessary amenities were provided including the Japanese clothing.

The dinner was only a set menu, which was expensive.

We booked rooms with very nice view. Three choices of Onsen to use with different mood tone. Foods are good so as the staff service. Nice location to walk around this tiny but cute little area.

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