Tenojiya is a three-story wooden inn near Yubatake, the steaming hot-spring field at the center of Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma. It calls its bath the only natural rock bath in Kusatsu Onsen, and its rooms are built in the refined sukiya style. Before you book, three things matter: the official pages show different prices, so confirm the figure on the booking page; cancellation fees start 7 days before the stay; and the inn asks you to phone for stays within a week.
What kind of inn is Tenojiya?
In the inn’s own telling, Kusatsu’s hot springs were opened at the time of Minamoto no Yoritomo’s hunting trip in the area, and the Tenojiya family served as his guide. The inn says the family’s taste over the generations shows in the rooms and in a garden that changes with the seasons. It describes itself as an inn with the air of a refined Japanese restaurant, and its motto is “one guest, one house”.
The building is wooden and three stories tall, with projecting beams under the eaves. The inn has added chair-type stair lifts throughout; guests who have trouble walking can ask for a room on a lower floor when they book, and the inn will arrange one where it can.
Tenojiya: what the official pages say, and what they leave out
| Item | On the official pages |
|---|---|
| Address | 360 Kusatsu, Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma 377-1711 |
| Phone | +81-279-88-3177 (in Japan: 0279-88-3177) |
| Rooms | Sukiya-style Japanese rooms, Type A and Type B; two annex rooms of 76 mats |
| Bath | Natural rock bath; Japan Onsen Heritage–certified inn |
| Meals | Two-meal plans (dinner and breakfast); kaiseki |
| Children | 70 percent of the adult rate |
| Cancellation | 20% from 7 days before, 50% the day before, 100% on the day |
| Day bathing | Ended |
| Check-in / out | Not stated |
| Parking, shuttle | Not stated |
From the official site and booking page, read October 16, 2026.
The rock bath at Tenojiya
Why does the inn call it Kusatsu’s only natural rock bath?
The bath page presents it as Kusatsu Onsen’s only natural rock bath, in a spa town with over 1,200 years of history, and says the inn is certified by the association that protects Japan Onsen Heritage. The same page sums up Kusatsu’s water: the largest natural flow of any hot spring in Japan, free-flowing natural spring water, and strong antibacterial power. The inn sits near Yubatake, where much of that water rises.
Can I come just for a day bath?
No. The inn’s news page says it has ended day-trip bathing, and adds that overnight stays continue as before. The bath is for staying guests.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. They also do not give bath hours, or say whether the baths are split by gender or can be reserved. Ask the inn before you book; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Rooms at Tenojiya
What are the main-building rooms like?
The rooms in the main building are pure Japanese sukiya style, designed around space, calm and elegance. The booking page lists Type A, with 8 to 10 tatami mats plus a 3- to 4-mat sunroom by the window, and Type B, with 10 to 12 mats plus the same sunroom. The official pages do not say how many rooms there are, or whether these rooms have their own toilet and bath.
What is the annex, Bettei Tenoji?
Next to the main inn stands a two-story annex with just two rooms, one on each floor. The booking page gives each one 76 mats of space. Each has a living room, a bedroom with beds of selectable firmness, a Japanese-style tatami area, a toilet and its own open-air bath of free-flowing spring water.
Meals at Tenojiya
What is the kaiseki like?
The food page says the kitchen cooks seasonal ingredients simply and with care, serves them at the right moment in chosen dishes, and takes as its ideal something close to tea kaiseki, the meal served at a tea ceremony. The booking page says meals are currently served in private or semi-private rooms. The plans on the booking page include dinner and breakfast.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The official pages do not say, and they do not describe breakfast. Tell the inn about any allergy or diet when you book.
Children, cancellation and payment at Tenojiya
What do children cost?
Children are charged 70 percent of the adult rate, and very young children pay a facility fee instead. The official pages describe the age ranges and the infant fee in different ways, so confirm both with the inn for your family.
What is the cancellation policy?
The reservation page lists 20 percent from 7 days before the stay, 50 percent the day before, and 100 percent on the day. A no-show without notice is also charged 100 percent. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay, and how do I book?
Plans on the booking page show either payment at the inn on the day or prepayment. Which cards are accepted is not stated. The inn says it would be grateful for bookings by phone; the inquiry page asks that online requests come at least 7 days ahead, and that bookings within a week be made by phone. If a form inquiry gets no reply in two or three days, the inn asks you to contact it.
Is there a bathing tax?
Yes. Kusatsu Town charges a bathing tax of 150 yen per person per night when the basic room rate is over 6,000 yen; children of elementary school age and under are exempt. The official pages do not say whether plan prices include it. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
Getting to Tenojiya in Kusatsu Onsen
The nearest stop the inn names is Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal. Its access page lists three routes: a limited express from Ueno to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi and then a JR bus; the shinkansen from Tokyo to Karuizawa and then a bus; or a JR highway bus from Shinjuku straight to the terminal. Check current timetables before you travel; our Kusatsu Onsen from Tokyo guide walks through the options. The official pages do not give the walking time from the terminal, and do not mention parking or a shuttle, so ask the inn.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Tenojiya
- The inn has an English website, but the booking page that lists plans is in Japanese. Phone or the inquiry form also work.
- Book at least 7 days ahead online; for a stay within a week, the inn asks you to phone.
- Confirm the price on the booking page before you book, as figures differ between pages.
- Ask about check-in time, tattoos and food needs in advance; the official pages do not cover them.
- Keep 150 yen per adult per night in mind for Kusatsu’s bathing tax.
Frequently asked questions
What is special about the bath at Tenojiya?
How much does a night at Tenojiya cost?
What is the cancellation policy at Tenojiya?
Can I visit Tenojiya just for the bath?
What time is check-in at Tenojiya?
Bottom line (2026): Tenojiya is a wooden sukiya-style inn near Yubatake with what it calls Kusatsu’s only natural rock bath, kaiseki in the spirit of tea kaiseki, and two large annex rooms with their own open-air baths. Confirm the price on the official booking page, book at least a week ahead or phone, and ask the inn about check-in, tattoos and diet.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Tenojiya’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), about, rooms, annex, food, bath, access, reservation, inquiry and news, the official booking page, and Kusatsu Town’s bathing tax page. All were read on October 16, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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