Hotel Romantic di Gunma Prefecture, Japan

Pros: + Stunning outdoor onsen: The outdoor bath is the highlight. The natural scenery is beautiful, especially with the surrounding mountains and snow. + Tourist-friendly onsen: The resort provides special underwear so guests can comfortably enjoy the onsen without needing to be fully nude, which makes it much more accessible for international visitors. + Excellent kaiseki dinner: The traditional multi-course meal is well-prepared and delicious. Definitely one of the highlights of the stay. + Great atmosphere: The entire setting feels very authentic and relaxing, especially in winter. + Service meets expectations: Staff are professional and the hospitality is solid throughout the stay. Cons: - Outdoor bath is quite far from the main building: You need to walk through a snowy path wearing the traditional yukata, which can feel very cold and slightly inconvenient. - TV lacks modern app support: The in-room TV does not support apps like Netflix or other streaming services. - Tight schedule for check-in and check-out: The first shuttle bus arrives at the resort around 2:00 PM, leaving only a few hours before dinner at 5:45 PM. After dinner you can enjoy the onsen again until midnight, and it reopens at 5:00 AM. However, breakfast starts at 7:00 AM, and guests must check out by 9:00 AM to catch the 9:15 AM bus. This makes the morning feel rushed and limits the time you can spend enjoying the onsen. The rest of your day might be feeling tired. Despite a few inconveniences - mainly the walking distance to the outdoor bath and the tight check-out schedule. Takaragawa Onsen is still a highly enjoyable experience. The stunning outdoor, beautiful scenery, and great kaiseki dinner make it a memorable stay. If you're visiting Japan and want to experience a famous outdoor onsen, this place is definitely worth it and shouldn't be missed.

We absolutely loved the breakfast and dinner provided with a wide selection of free flow alcohol. The food, although a buffet, was freshly prepared in small batches by the chef, ensuring warm and quality food. Would be great if they could provide more kids friendly amenities and top up the yukata more regularly as it seems like there’s always a shortage of yukata and kids jacket. The staff were all very friendly and helpful!