Kishigon Ryokan

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

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 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 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.

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.