Hotel Sakurai in Kusatsu: What the Three Springs and 30-Metre Bath Mean for Your Stay

Hotel Sakurai works best when the bathing itself is part of the plan. Its main indoor bath stretches about 30 metres and uses a blend of Bandai-kō and Sainokawara springs. The outdoor bath draws from Wata-no-yu, Bandai-kō and Sainokawara. That gives guests more than one source to try without needing to walk between public baths around town.

The long bath is a shared facility, not a private one

The length gives the indoor bath more room than a compact hotel bath, with hotter water closer to the source and cooler water farther away. Hotel Sakurai does not offer a family bath or a bookable private bath, so this is not the right fit if your priority is bathing together in private. The hotel’s FAQ also says guests with tattoos may not use the public baths.

Although the property brings in three sources, they are not all blended into every tub. The indoor bath uses a Bandai-kō and Sainokawara blend; the outdoor bath is supplied by Wata-no-yu, Bandai-kō and Sainokawara. The exact mix is therefore tied to where you bathe.

Overnight guests can use the shared baths from 2 pm until 10 am the next day, except during cleaning from 10 am to 2 pm. There is also a limited paid bath called Betsuyu, available from 3 pm to 10 am for ¥3,000 per use card. Despite the name and price, it is not a private family bath: the hotel says it does not offer reservable private or family baths. Anyone who needs a room or group to bathe alone should not count Betsuyu as a substitute.

An open-air room bath is not the same as an onsen room

Some room categories have an open-air tub, but the hotel’s room information does not identify those tubs as natural hot spring water. Choose one for the privacy or layout, not on the assumption that it brings the hotel’s three springs into your room. If you want a confirmed in-room onsen, use the Kusatsu room-upgrade guide to compare properties that name that benefit explicitly.

The hotel offers several room styles, including Japanese rooms, Western beds and Japanese-Western layouts. Meal plans also vary between a buffet and a Japanese set menu, so check the specific plan rather than assuming the same dining arrangement applies to every room.

The outdoor-bath room category is for privacy, not spring access; the hotel does not identify those tubs as natural onsen water. A standard twin, Japanese room or Japanese-Western room is enough if you expect to use the shared baths. Families may prefer the larger layouts and the hotel’s on-site facilities. Its outdoor garden pool is seasonal: the 2026 schedule runs July 18–September 27, 10 am–5 pm, weather permitting. Swimwear and floats are not available to rent.

Who will get the most from staying here?

Sakurai is a better match for a group that will use the large shared bath and wants meals and other hotel facilities on site. It is less suitable for guests who need a private bath, have tattoos, or are paying extra for a natural-spring tub in the room. Yubatake is roughly an eight-minute walk away, so the hotel is close enough for an evening visit without sitting directly on the busy central square.

For a wider look at shared-bath options, see the Kusatsu six-spring bathing map and the Kusatsu ryokan guide.

The hotel is about an eight-minute walk from Yubatake, though the route is not flat throughout. That is manageable for many guests but deserves a closer look if anyone in your party has limited mobility. Its large-inn format also means condition can vary by room category and renovation age: the source review’s 90/100 cleanliness score reflects generally positive maintenance alongside occasional room-specific variation, not a guarantee for every room.

Sources

- [Hotel Sakurai: hot springs](https://www.hotel-sakurai.co.jp/hotspa/) - [Hotel Sakurai: room types](https://www.hotel-sakurai.co.jp/rooms/) - [Hotel Sakurai: FAQ](https://www.hotel-sakurai.co.jp/faq/) - [Hotel Sakurai: Yubatake access](https://www.hotel-sakurai.co.jp/yubatake/) - Image: [Hotel Sakurai: official site](https://www.hotel-sakurai.co.jp/) - Images: [Jalan bath photo](https://www.jalan.net/yad310401/), [Rakuten Travel property photo](https://travel.rakuten.co.jp/)

Checked: September 27, 2026

Tags: Kusatsu Onsen, Hotel Sakurai, three hot springs, large public bath, room types