Okay, so it's obvious that I prefer a more Japanese style ryokan with intimate settings and more personalised service.
But I can understand why that might be a little too much for others.
Not to worry!
Let's go for something, hmm, a bit more hotel like!
*This is not in my personal top 10 but I do recommend for first timers.
La Vista Kusatsu Hills
35K, May 23
First of all this is part of Kyoritsu Group which also runs Dormy Inns, among others.
Dormy Inn and Onyado Nono are my favourite business hotels, period.
Their ryokan operations, are kinda similar in the sense that you know what to expect if you've been to others, so that might be less intimidating. It is also more of an "assembly line" kinda service...
This particular one is also western in style, so extra point if you don't like all the Japanese fluff?
Obviously this is in Kusatsu, top ranking onsen town for many years.
There is a shuttle bus to/from Karuizawa, which is about one hour drive away!
Lobby, they don't serve matcha here. Instead there's a drink corner.
Guest rooms are all western style.
But each room comes with a private bath on the balcony.
And of course there are also many public baths, on top floor.
You need to take towels from your room.
I didn't take pictures of every single bath, too many of them
This is one of the small private baths.
.
, in my extremely broken Japanese, because apparently no one spoke English, le sigh.
