Hello! (@chiropiyo0331) here.
This time, as a base for sightseeing or business trips in Takasaki, Gunma, I stayed at “Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki,” a Kyoritsu Resort hotel renovated in March 2025, about a 7-minute walk from JR Takasaki Station.
In this article I share my impressions from the stay, the local breakfast specialties “sauce katsudon” and “okkirikomi,” and reviews of the authentic high-temperature sauna and natural hot spring that sauna fans rate highly.
“People curious about the sauna and the open-air cooling-off atmosphere at Dormy Inn Takasaki”
“People looking for a good-value hotel convenient for events at Takasaki Arena and for sightseeing at Haruna Shrine and Shorinzan”
“People who want to enjoy Gunma’s local cuisine to the fullest from the morning”
This article is just right for you, so please read to the end.
- Why people choose Dormy Inn Takasaki! Who it’s best for
- People who want to refresh with open-air cooling off with a view of “Mt. Haruna” and a charming natural hot spring
- People who prioritize access from the Shinkansen station and are looking for a base for Gunma sightseeing or events
- People who want to enjoy Gunma’s local gourmet food like “sauce katsudon” and “okkirikomi”
- [Access] About a 7-minute walk from Takasaki Station! A base for business and sightseeing
- Stay plans and rates? Check the current lowest price!
- Which room should you stay in? Comparing all room types
- What changed after the renovation of Dormy Inn Takasaki?
- [Stay Report] Reviewing the hotel from check-in onward
- [Room introduction] Twin room size, amenities, and facilities explained
- Blissful moments at Haruna no Yu on the top floor, restoring body and mind under the Takasaki sky
- Dormy Inn specialty! Free “yonaki soba” service
- [Tasting] Power up from the morning! A breakfast buffet lined with local specialties
- Summary of impressions from staying at Dormy Inn Takasaki
Why people choose Dormy Inn Takasaki! Who it’s best for
Around Takasaki Station, sightseeing and event spots are gathered, including “Shorinzan Daruma-ji,” a symbol of good luck, the giant “Takasaki Byakue Daikannon,” “Takasaki Castle Ruins” popular with history fans, and in recent years “Takasaki Arena,” which has become a mecca for concerts and sports.
As a transportation hub where the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines meet, the station area is lined with many business hotels, so there is no shortage of places to stay.
But with so many hotels, you might worry
“Convenience matters, but since I’m here I want to refresh at a hot spring or sauna and enjoy a Gunma-style breakfast too. So which one is the most satisfying?”
right?
This time I chose this hotel as a base for sightseeing (or business) in Takasaki, Gunma, and based on my actual stay, the people for whom Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki is best suited are as follows.
・People who want to refresh with open-air cooling off with a view of “Mt. Haruna” and a charming natural hot spring
・People who prioritize access from the Shinkansen station and are looking for a base for Gunma sightseeing or events
・People who want to feast on Gunma’s local gourmet food like “sauce katsudon” and “okkirikomi” from the morning
I’ll explain them in order.
People who want to refresh with open-air cooling off with a view of “Mt. Haruna” and a charming natural hot spring
In the large public bath “Haruna no Yu” on the top 10th floor, you can enjoy an artificial hot spring using Togol medicinal stone.
From the open-air bath you can see the Takasaki sky and Mt. Haruna, for open-air cooling off with a great sense of openness.
People who prioritize access from the Shinkansen station and are looking for a base for Gunma sightseeing or events
A transportation hub of Gunma, about a 7-minute walk from JR Takasaki Station. Being able to check in right after getting off the Shinkansen is a big plus!
Large venues like Takasaki Arena and G Messe Gunma are also within walking distance. After a live show or sports event you can avoid the crowds and head straight back to the hotel.
It’s about 40 minutes by car to the World Heritage “Tomioka Silk Mill.” With Takasaki Station as your base, you can smoothly reach places all around the prefecture by rental car or train.
People who want to enjoy Gunma’s local gourmet food like “sauce katsudon” and “okkirikomi”
The fun of staying at a Dormy Inn is the “local gourmet food” that lets you enjoy flavors unique to each area.
At the breakfast buffet, you can enjoy local flavors to the fullest, such as “sauce katsudon,” a symbol of Gunma’s wheat culture, and the traditional “okkirikomi”!!
[Access] About a 7-minute walk from Takasaki Station! A base for business and sightseeing
Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki is about an 8-minute walk from the West Exit of JR Takasaki Station!
The route is easy to follow—just walk along the open main street in front of the station—so even first-time visitors, people with large luggage, and those moving at night can arrive smoothly without getting lost.
Around the hotel are large commercial facilities and a restaurant district lined with well-known local eateries, making it a perfect base for enjoying everything Takasaki has to offer, from business to sightseeing!
Stay plans and rates? Check the current lowest price!
The plan I booked on Rakuten Travel and actually stayed on was “[Reach sauna bliss with the public bath × sauna!] Dormy Inn Standard Plan!! (Breakfast Included)”.
On a weekday, for one adult with breakfast, the rate was ¥11,150 (tax included).
In the Takasaki area, weekday business demand is also very high, so rates are surprisingly higher than I expected.
Which room should you stay in? Comparing all room types
Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki has four room types: Economy Single, Double, Corner Double, and Twin.
Even the largest room is only up to 22.5㎡, the Twin Room that sleeps up to 2.
| Room type | Room photo | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Single Room |  | 11.0～13.0㎡ |
| Double Room |  | 12.0～13.0㎡ |
| Corner Double Room |  | 17.0㎡ |
| Twin Room |  | 22.5m² |
What changed after the renovation of Dormy Inn Takasaki?
“Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki” reopened after renovation on March 21, 2025.
This renovation brings evolutions that dramatically improve the quality of your stay, from updates sauna fans will drool over to the latest digital facilities.
—Renovation highlights—
[1] Auto-Loyly installed in the men’s and women’s saunas of the top-floor public bath!
[2] You can check hotel crowding on the in-room TV! The in-room TVs are also now smart TVs
[3] Scan the QR code shown on the TV screen to view hotel information!
[4] Automated check-in machines introduced to shorten check-in time!
[5] Bidet toilets updated in all rooms, washbasins and shower booths renewed!
[6] The restaurant venue has also been extensively renovated!
[Stay Report] Reviewing the hotel from check-in onward
Now let me introduce the inside of Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki, where I stayed this time.
This time I went by car. There is parking near the hotel too, but considering the lot might be full and the ease of getting in and out, I parked at a nearby coin parking lot.
Smooth check-in procedure
Past the entrance, you’re greeted by a modern, calm front desk with a wood-grain theme. The warm lighting gently soothes a mind tired from a long trip or work.
The check-in machine introduced after the renovation.
Just enter your name and follow the instructions to check in. A great gadget.
The procedure is done smoothly in just a few minutes!
After check-in, I’m having hot coffee as a “welcome drink”!
It’s available from 15:00 to 23:00 (the next day from 6:00 to 11:00), so be sure to stop by.
You can also pour the aromatic coffee into a cup and take it back to your room to enjoy at leisure.
[Room introduction] Twin room size, amenities, and facilities explained
This time I stayed in a twin room where you can spend time comfortably.
Just touch the Dormy Inn standard card key to the reader on the door handle and unlocking is very smooth. It’s handy that you can get in smartly even when you have lots of luggage!
Twin room comfort that lets even two people relax
Open the door and you find a clean twin room with a white base.
Though compact, the traffic flow is well secured, and it’s a space that makes you think “Ah, this is calming” the moment you step in!
Telework made easy! Desk space and outlet situation
What I rated highly personally was this bedside control panel.
It’s a really appreciated design that lets you charge multiple devices at once at the bedside, not just phones but tablets and smartwatches too.
The room has a wide desk with plenty of room even with a laptop open.
The chair is solidly built too, so you can comfortably check tomorrow’s sightseeing route. Outlets are nearby, so you can focus on work without worrying about battery!
Separate from the desk, a chair and a round table for sitting back comfortably are provided, which is a nice point.
A corner perfect for relaxing, whether enjoying a late-night snack from the convenience store or watching TV with a post-bath ice in hand after the public bath.
Right near the entrance, a convenient open-type closet space is provided.
Speaking of Dormy Inn, it’s this separate-type loungewear.
The waffle fabric feels great, and I love being able to wear it to the public bath and the breakfast venue.
How clean is the plumbing area? Toilet, shower booth, and washbasin
What I’m always impressed by in Dormy Inn rooms is this separate washbasin.
Because it’s separate from the toilet and shower booth, you can use it without hesitation even for multiple nights or two guests!
The mirror is big too, so morning preparation goes very smoothly.
Open the door under the washbasin and a kettle and tea set are neatly stored.
Everything needed is gathered compactly and designed so you can take it out quickly when you want to use it.
Open the refrigerator under the washbasin and you notice the careful thoughtfulness typical of Dormy Inn.
Besides the water service, cute bite-size desserts were provided!
It’s nice to get a little sugar boost right after check-in.
Dormy Inn often brings to mind rooms with only a shower booth, but this room is fully equipped with a unit bath with a bathtub.
Soaking in the openness of the public bath is great, but a bathtub is also handy when you want to quietly wash off sweat in the room or take a quick soak.
The body soap, shampoo, and conditioner provided in the bathroom are made by “POLA,” which is also highly rated in the hotel industry.
Blissful moments at Haruna no Yu on the top floor, restoring body and mind under the Takasaki sky
Once you’ve caught your breath in the room, it’s finally time for the public bath I’ve been looking forward to.
On the top 10th floor of Dormy Inn Takasaki is the separate men’s and women’s artificial hot spring public bath “Haruna no Yu.”
At the entrance of the public bath is a wall-to-wall manga bookshelf.
The amount of manga varies by property, but with the renovation the wall is packed with manga, three times as many as before.
Even after you get out of the bath, there are clever touches everywhere to keep guests from getting bored!!
Light streams into the indoor bath, giving it a wonderful sense of openness!
Lanterns painted with Takasaki’s famous daruma have a charming atmosphere. There is also an open-air bath beyond, where you can bathe at leisure under the Takasaki sky.
After sunset the open-air bath at “Haruna no Yu” is magical.
Soaking slowly in the warm water while the night breeze touches you is the ultimate luxury that unwinds the fatigue of travel!
Refined sauna bliss with a TV sauna and aromas
When it comes to Dormy Inn, an authentic sauna facility is a must. The temperature is about 86℃.
In a calm space filled with the scent of wood, you can spend your own time, watching TV or emptying your mind!
After the renovation, Auto-Loyly now occurs every 20 minutes, shared by men and women!!
Enjoy daily aroma scents like “Herb Blend” and “Flower Blend” on your way to the state of sauna bliss.
For open-air cooling off, head to the chairs on the open-air terrace.
Right next to the sauna is a cold plunge.
The generously filled water is ice cold at about 16℃. It leads you to a refreshing state of sauna bliss.
Cold seeping in! “Post-bath ice cream” and “lactic acid drink” services
In the evening hours (15:00–25:00), free ice pops appear in the post-bath lounge.
“Domidomi-chan,” appointed as the cheering manager of post-bath ice cream, has become the ice cream package!!
Soda flavor, watermelon fruit, and more seep into your flushed body!! A welcome treat.
I always end up eating a few (*^^*)
The next morning (5:00–10:00), a lactic acid drink service is also available.
Cold Yakult packed in the refrigerator is perfect for rehydrating after a morning sauna.
An ice machine free to use is installed on the same floor as the bath and in common areas.
Put ice in a paper cup and carry it back to your room. After the bath it lets you enjoy carbonated water or alcohol bought at the convenience store ice cold—what luxury!!
| Service name | Hours |
|---|---|
| Post-bath ice service | 15:00～25:00 |
| Lactic acid drink service | Morning 5:00–10:00 |
Dormy Inn specialty! Free “yonaki soba” service
Free yonaki soba served from 21:30 to 23:00 at Restaurant F “Hatago” on the 1st floor.
Order and hotel staff will make it in a few minutes!!
The toppings are green onion, menma (bamboo shoots), wakame, and a quarter-size simmered egg.
The yonaki soba generously topped with iwanori seaweed matches the sea aroma perfectly with the light soup.
It was a bowl that gently and perfectly filled my post-sauna hunger.
[Tasting] Power up from the morning! A breakfast buffet lined with local specialties
When it comes to Dormy Inn breakfast, it’s a breakfast buffet packed with the area’s delicious foods.
The venue is the restaurant “Hatago” on the 1st floor.
The signature menu items are crispy “sauce katsudon” and richly flavorful “Joshu Mugi Pork Curry.” Being able to enjoy authentic local flavors from the morning is a luxury unique to Dormy Inn!!
Many bite-size small dishes are lined up, such as ohitashi of bok choy and shimeji mushrooms, komatsuna with mustard mayo, and unohana (with scallions).
On the lower tier are natto, mekabu tororo, onsen egg, and chilled tofu.
The salad bar has green salad, broccoli, and daikon salad (red-core radish and mizuna), and you can enjoy it with dressings to your liking.
The cold dish corner is rich too. Carefully made items are lined up, such as glossy colorful tomatoes, a rich-looking mushroom cream salad, and satisfying shell macaroni salad (imitation crab and cucumber).
In the live kitchen area there are appetizing hot dishes!
The “fried egg,” cooked to perfection, comes with colorful broccoli.
The signature menu item “Joshu Mugi Pork Sauce Katsudon”!
A gem where a tender Joshu Mugi Pork cutlet is placed on rice and finished with a special sauce.
On the rice in the black bowl sits one big cutlet with a crunchy coating.
Fluffy cooked rice topped with a bed of crisp shredded cabbage, then a thick sauce-soaked cutlet—this is definitely going to be delicious!!
Mostly Japanese food in a good balance, with sauce katsudon as the main!
With so many small dishes you can enjoy a little of many things, which is the charm of Dormy Inn breakfast, isn’t it.
Dishes that show careful preparation, like simmered mackerel and simmered soybeans, are lined up—quality you wouldn’t expect from a business hotel breakfast!!
The purple sweet potato cake, with its eye-catching two layers of vivid purple cream and sponge, and the round, plump daifuku dusted with kinako are perfect to finish breakfast!!
Not only sweets: there were also three kinds of fresh cut fruit.
Summary of impressions from staying at Dormy Inn Takasaki
My stay at Natural Hot Spring Haruna no Yu Dormy Inn Takasaki was a blissful refresh experience that went beyond the framework of a business hotel.
The top-floor public bath “Haruna no Yu” is a healing spot that makes you forget the bustle of the city.
In particular the sauna environment is excellent: the combination of a humidity-retaining high-temperature sauna and an ice-cold stone cold plunge is a quality that satisfies even sauna fans.
Open-air cooling off while feeling Takasaki’s refreshing breeze also reset my body and mind deeply!
The sauce katsudon at the breakfast buffet was superb, with a crispy cutlet and special sauce, giving a sure sense of happiness from the morning!
Functional yet carrying the charm of a ryokan and warm hospitality, this hotel was truly an urban oasis, the kind you’d want as your regular stay when visiting Takasaki.
I want to stay again!!
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