Kanemidori (Mukashigokoro no Yado, Kanemidori) is a Japanese-style inn in the middle of Kusatsu Onsen, Gunma, founded in 1902. “Mukashigokoro” means an old-time heart, and the inn is about a three-minute walk from Yubatake. Before you book, three things matter: the baths are free-flowing hot-spring water from two different sources; the two detached private baths cannot be booked in advance; and the official pages give no room prices, so you compare plans on the booking page.
Kanemidori at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 162 Kusatsu, Kusatsu-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma 377-1711 |
| Founded | 1902 (Meiji 35); run by Kanemidori Co., Ltd. |
| Rooms | 30 in total, plus a top-floor suite called KaKuRe |
| Check-in / out | 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Baths | Large baths with indoor and open-air pools; two detached private open-air baths |
| Prices | Not on the official pages; see the booking page |
| Bathing tax | 150 yen per adult per night, charged separately (inn’s listing) |
| Payment | Credit cards and PayPay |
| Parking | Next to the inn, 500 yen per car per night |
| Phone | +81-279-88-2522 (9:00–18:00) |
From the official site, read October 16, 2026.
Where is Kanemidori in Kusatsu, and how do I get there?
Is it close to Yubatake?
Yes. The inn’s sightseeing page puts Yubatake, the steaming hot-water field at the heart of the town, three minutes away on foot. The inn is honest about the trade-off: it sits among closely packed inns and houses, and its FAQ says the views from the rooms are not good.
How do I get there by train and bus?
Take the JR Agatsuma Line to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station, then the JR bus for about 30 minutes to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, and walk about 5 minutes. From the terminal, the inn offers a pickup between 9:00 and 18:00; call after you arrive. It does not pick up at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station or Karuizawa Station. For the routes from the capital, including the direct bus, see our Kusatsu Onsen from Tokyo guide.
What if I drive?
The inn suggests setting your car navigation to Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal and calling once you are in town, so staff can guide you in. The lot is next to the inn and costs 500 yen per car per night, from 13:00 on the check-in day to noon on the checkout day. In winter, the inn asks drivers to use studless tires or carry chains.
The baths at Kanemidori
All the baths are free-flowing (kakenagashi) and use two of Kusatsu’s sources: the indoor pools of the large baths draw from the Yubatake source, while the open-air pools and the private baths draw from the Bandai source. There is one large bath for men and one for women, each with an indoor and an open-air pool.
When are the baths open?
| Bath | Hours |
|---|---|
| Large bath, indoor pool | 15:00 to 10:00 the next morning (open all night) |
| Large bath, open-air pool | 15:00 to midnight, and 6:00 to 10:00 |
| All baths | Closed for cleaning 10:00 to 15:00 |
From the official hot-spring page, read October 16, 2026.
How do the private open-air baths work?
Two detached private open-air baths, one built of stone and one of wood, cost 3,300 yen for 45 minutes per group, tax included. The FAQ says advance bookings are not accepted, so reserve a slot after you arrive. Some rooms have their own bath, but those baths are not hot-spring water, and some rooms have no bath at all.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. Ask the inn before you book; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Meals at Kanemidori
What are dinner and breakfast like?
Dinner is a seasonal Japanese kaiseki of about nine dishes built on local, in-season ingredients, and breakfast is a Japanese set meal. Both are served in the inn’s two dining rooms, one with a fireplace and one decorated with works by a certified traditional craftsman. Dinner starts at 18:00 or 19:00, and breakfast at 8:00 or 8:30. Extra dishes, such as a Joshu beef sirloin steak for 3,500 yen, can be ordered until 19:30; the inn says those prices include tax.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
For food allergies, the FAQ asks you to tell the inn in advance; changes on the day are not possible, and it says it cannot guarantee 100 percent. The official pages do not mention vegetarian or halal meals, so ask before you book.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Kanemidori
How much does a stay cost?
The official pages do not list room prices, and we could not read the booking engine. Check plans and prices for your dates on the official English booking page. On top, the inn lists a bathing tax of 150 yen per adult (junior high school age and up) per night, charged separately; see our onsen bathing tax guide.
What do children cost?
The FAQ sets children’s rates as a share of the adult rate: elementary school children 70 percent; younger children 50 percent with meals and bedding, 40 percent with meals only, 20 percent with bedding only, and 2,200 yen (tax included) with neither. For children under 2, you do not enter them in the guest count, but write their age and number in the questions box when booking. One room type, the Tokiwa Japanese-Western room, does not take children of any age.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official page lists 20 percent of the room charge from 3 days to 1 day before, 80 percent on the day, and 100 percent on the day after 15:00 or for a no-show. If a plan has its own cancellation rule, that rule takes priority. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay?
The official pages list credit cards (including JCB, Visa, Mastercard and American Express), debit cards and PayPay.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Kanemidori
- The official English page is a single page; rooms, baths and meals are explained on the Japanese pages. The booking page has an English version.
- Plan to reserve the private bath after you arrive; it cannot be booked ahead.
- The pickup runs from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal only, between 9:00 and 18:00, so arriving later means walking about 5 minutes.
- Bags can be left before check-in and after checkout, with no time limit.
- Questions can go to the inn by email (mukashigokoro@kanemidori.co.jp) or its contact form; it says replies may take some time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a night at Kanemidori cost?
Can I book the private open-air bath at Kanemidori in advance?
Can I bathe at Kanemidori with a tattoo?
Does Kanemidori pick guests up?
What is the cancellation policy at Kanemidori?
Bottom line (2026): Kanemidori is a ryokan founded in 1902, three minutes on foot from Yubatake, with free-flowing baths from the Yubatake and Bandai sources and two detached private baths you reserve on arrival. Check prices on the official English booking page, and ask the inn directly about tattoos and special diets.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Kanemidori’s official pages: home (Japanese), English page, rooms, hot springs, cuisine, facilities, access, sightseeing and FAQ, and the official English booking page. All were read on October 16, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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