Kusatsu Hotel 1913's Corporate Philosophy
From Rikyu's Seven Rules
① Prepare the tea in a way that is pleasant to drink.
"When interacting with customers, consider their feelings and circumstances."
② Place the charcoal so that the water boils.
"Preparation and planning are important."
③ Flowers are like those found in the wild
"To express things, understand their essence and express them more concisely."
④ Cool in summer, warm in winter
"Hospitality is about caring for others and cherishing your colleagues."
⑤ The deadline should be set early.
"Having peace of mind depends on one's own mindset."
⑥ Prepare an umbrella without shaking it.
"Preparation should anticipate the worries of all people."
⑦ Be mindful of your fellow guests.
"Approach everything with an innocent heart and a sincere attitude."
We will cherish the past hundred years and move forward into the next 100 years.
Representative Kuroiwa Toru, 2023
The History of Kusatsu Hotel 1913
1913: Ridgepole raising ceremony
The inn staff and the carpenter are taking a commemorative photo.
You can sense an atmosphere of mixed feelings, a blend of anticipation and anxiety.
This is where a century of history began.
We had many guests stay with us.
We have welcomed our customers together with many staff members.
And now, Kusatsu Hotel is moving forward towards the next 100 years.
A construction site for a bathhouse.
Back then, they had private baths, which was quite rare.
Wooden scaffolding has been erected.
Our establishment started as an annex of the Yamamoto-kan.
The building had a Western-style design, and apparently, palm trees, which are native to tropical regions, were planted at the entrance.
Currently, a Japanese white pine is planted here. The Japanese white pine is considered a lucky tree because it is resistant to cold, evergreen, and is also auspicious. Furthermore, the Japanese word for Japanese white pine, "goyōmatsu," sounds similar to "waiting for official business" or "waiting for work," and thus it is believed to symbolize the wish that "good work will come our way." This is why it remains the tree planted at our museum today.
Our museum was used as a filming location for the movie "Here is a Spring."
In the center is the lead actress, Keiko Kishida.
This is a musical film released in 1955, depicting the circumstances surrounding the founding of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra.
The sign you see on the right, "Kusatsu Hotel," is currently displayed in the lobby.
Cast: Keiko Kishida, Eiji Okada, Keiju Kobayashi, Masahiko Naruse, Daisuke Kato
Kusatsu Hotel about 50 years ago
This pamphlet from around 1970 is a valuable historical piece that shows the old large public bath with its tiled roof still standing.
The exterior appears to retain its original character.
Kusatsu Hotel 1913's SDGs
As part of its commitment to the SDGs, Kusatsu Hotel 1913 is actively working on various aspects, including consideration for the environment and energy resources, local production and consumption and coexistence with the community, support for the community through the construction of disaster-resistant facilities, and creating a workplace where staff can work comfortably.
[SDG 13] Take concrete action to combat climate change.
Our museum carefully preserves this valuable wooden building, which is over 100 years old. We cherish and use antique folk art furniture within the museum.
We use environmentally conscious amenities.
[SDGs8] Decent Work and Economic Growth [SDGs12] Responsible Consumption and Production
Our facility has been working towards a paperless system since 2017. We share customer information via the cloud and conduct our business in an environmentally conscious manner.
[SDGs7] Affordable and Clean Energy [SDGs11] Sustainable Cities and Communities
Nissan Sakura offers EV car sharing, two EV charging stations for guests, and electric-assist bicycle rentals.
[SDG 12] Responsible Consumption and Production
We are working to address the issue of food waste. At our restaurant, we serve each dish individually after our guests have been seated.
[SDG 5] Achieve gender equality
Our facility uses unisex uniforms. We chose them with the aim of providing a comfortable and easy-to-wear uniform that can be worn throughout all four seasons.
[SDGs8] Decent Work and Economic Growth [SDGs12] Responsible Consumption and Production
We grow a variety of vegetables, including green beans and Iriyama cucumbers, in the field on the inn's grounds.
Through growing vegetables, we've developed a strong sense of cooperation and camaraderie. We also feel the joy of being able to offer our customers vegetables that we've grown ourselves.
