Minshuku Hyoutan in Kusatsu: Two Private Baths and a Homely Stay

Hyoutan is a minshuku, a small Japanese inn, not a full-service resort hotel. The rooms and facilities are straightforward, while the bathing arrangement gives each guest group a chance to soak without sharing a tub with strangers. It can work for couples or families who are comfortable using shared toilets and bath facilities; anyone who needs a private bathroom in the room should look elsewhere.

The baths are private-use, but not in your room

Hyoutan has two baths—a hinoki cypress bath and a stone bath—both supplied with Bandai-kō spring water. Guests use the baths privately by room, and the property listing describes them as available 24 hours. There is no large communal bath. As there are only two baths for the inn, the private-use setup still depends on other guests’ timing.

The baths use natural, free-flowing Bandai-kō spring water. The source temperature is about 94.6°C with a pH of 1.7; those are source figures, not the temperature of the bathing tubs. The inn does not specify a fixed bath temperature or a complete treatment method for each tub.

Choose a meal plan before deciding how to spend the evening

Hyoutan offers room-only plans as well as stays with breakfast and dinner. Meals are served in a shared dining room, and menus vary by plan and season. A current short-notice plan, for example, includes a lighter dinner and Japanese breakfast; it is not safe to assume every two-meal package serves the same menu or portion size. Read the selected plan before booking.

The inn is about 500 metres from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal and 700 metres from Yubatake. The walk is manageable in ordinary conditions, but Kusatsu’s slopes and winter ice can make luggage or mobility a bigger concern than the distance suggests. There are four free parking spaces, but they require an advance reservation.

The inn has a small selection of Japanese-style rooms. Layouts differ, and some rooms do not have an in-room toilet. Check the exact room name, capacity and bathroom arrangement rather than relying on a generic “Japanese-style room” label. Hyoutan is a better match for people who like a simple, lived-in property than for travellers seeking elevator access, extensive facilities or a polished resort format.

For other small properties with private-use baths, compare BUNA KUSATSU or the Kusatsu ryokan guide.

Sources

- [Minshuku Hyoutan: official website](https://www.cahuman.jp/hyoutan/) - [Minshuku Hyoutan: current lodging details, baths, room count and parking](https://travel.rakuten.co.jp/HOTEL/188147/188147.html) - [Minshuku Hyoutan: current meal plans](https://hotel.travel.rakuten.co.jp/hotelinfo/plan/188147) - [Kusatsu Town: hot-spring information](https://www.town.kusatsu.gunma.jp/www/contents/1485254967207/index.html) - [Bandai-kō spring information](https://skylandhotel.jp/spring_analysis/) - Images: [Minshuku Hyoutan official gallery](https://www.cahuman.jp/hyoutan/img/mainimage.jpg), [Kusatsu Town](https://www.town.kusatsu.gunma.jp/www/contents/1485254967207/images/1743735266528_SERVER1_001_1485254967207_image2.JPG), [Minshuku Hyoutan official gallery](https://www.cahuman.jp/hyoutan/img/img01.jpg)

Checked: September 27, 2026

Tags: Kusatsu Onsen, Minshuku Hyoutan, Bandai-kō spring, private bath, Japanese inn