Hotel Ichii in Kusatsu: Yubatake-View Rooms and Two Hot Springs

At Hotel Ichii, location is the headline. The main building faces Yubatake, but a view is limited to 23 designated rooms; a central address alone does not guarantee one. The public indoor bath uses Shirahata spring, while the outdoor bath draws Bandai-kō spring. Both are natural hot spring water supplied on a free-flow basis.

Pay for the view only when the room name confirms it

The hotel lists 20 Japanese-style rooms and three Executive Rooms as Yubatake-facing. The Executive Rooms are about 77.7 square metres and have a shower but no bathtub. That is fine if you plan to use the public baths; it is not a private onsen upgrade.

Check that the booking plan specifically names a Yubatake-view room. Other room categories may be in the main building without facing the hot-spring field, and some guest rooms are in the annex. The view category is scarce, so compare the same dates and occupancy rather than treating any room at Hotel Ichii as a view room.

Two springs, in separate bathing areas

The indoor bath, Sekiden, uses Shirahata spring. The outdoor bath, Sekitei, uses Bandai-kō. Both are described by the hotel as 100% natural hot spring water and free-flowing. Current bathing hours are 3 pm to 2 am and 5 am to 10 am, with the men’s and women’s areas changing over.

The source figures help explain why they feel different, but they should not be mistaken for tub readings. Shirahata is listed at 55.5°C, pH 2.06 and 1,508 L/min; Bandai-kō is listed at 95.4°C, pH 1.70 and 6,200 L/min. The flow figures apply to each source system, not the share delivered to Hotel Ichii. In 2021 the public baths were renovated with tubs at different temperatures, but the hotel does not publish a permanent temperature for each one.

There is no confirmed bookable private onsen bath, and the room pages do not identify ordinary guest-room baths as natural spring water. If a private soak is essential, look at the Kusatsu room-upgrade guide instead of paying extra for the view.

The public baths are in the annex. Guests staying in the main building need to use elevators and a connecting passage to reach them, so factor in that walk if you expect to bathe several times or are travelling with someone who finds longer indoor routes tiring.

Guests with tattoos are not allowed to use the public baths, and the hotel does not list a reservable private onsen as an alternative. Families can borrow items such as baby toiletries, a step stool and a child toilet seat, but quantities are limited. Parking costs ¥500 per vehicle per night; the bus terminal is about five minutes away on foot, with a short pickup available after calling the hotel. Those details can matter more than the view if you are travelling with a child or an older relative.

The room distinction is worth keeping literal: the 20 standard Yubatake-side rooms are Japanese-style, while the three eighth-floor Executive Rooms add a larger 77.7 m² layout with twin beds, a Japanese room and a terrace-like sitting area. They still have only a rain shower. Standard rooms may feel dated beside the renovated Executive category, although recent guest feedback generally describes the hotel as well maintained. The property is scheduled to close for maintenance from December 14 to 18, 2026.

Bus access is easy; note the December closure

Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal is about a five-minute walk away, and the hotel can arrange a short pickup after you call on arrival. It is a convenient base for a no-car stay, with Yubatake right outside for an evening walk.

Hotel Ichii has announced a full-property closure for maintenance from December 14 through 18, 2026. If your trip falls in that window, book another property. For nearby stays with different bathing setups, see the Yubatake-area ryokan comparison or Hotel Ichii vs. Hotel 1913.

Sources

- [Hotel Ichii: guest rooms](https://www.hotel-ichii.co.jp/rooms/) - [Hotel Ichii: Yubatake-view rooms](https://www.hotel-ichii.co.jp/rooms/yubatake/) - [Hotel Ichii: hot springs](https://www.hotel-ichii.co.jp/spa/) - [Hotel Ichii: access and parking](https://www.hotel-ichii.co.jp/access/) - [Hotel Ichii: maintenance closure notice](https://www.hotel-ichii.co.jp/news/) - Images: [Hotel Ichii official site](https://www.hotel-ichii.co.jp/), [Trip.com property photos](https://www.trip.com/)

Checked: September 27, 2026

Tags: Kusatsu Onsen, Hotel Ichii, Yubatake-view room, Shirahata spring, Bandai-kō spring