A new place to stay has opened in Shima Onsen.

KusushiQui is a small private retreat with just two rooms, created by the team behind Kashiwaya Ryokan. It opened on August 11, 2026, offering a new way to experience the quiet nature, hot springs, and atmosphere of Shima Onsen.

The concept of KusushiQui is:
“The feeling of staying awakens the feeling of being.”

Rather than simply providing a place to sleep, Kusushiqui was designed as a space where guests can slow down, reconnect with their senses, and experience the subtle beauty of Shima.

A stay surrounded by nature

Shima Onsen is known for its peaceful mountain setting, traditional hot spring townscape, clear rivers, and the beautiful special blue waters known as “Shima Blue.”

Kusushiqui takes this natural setting as an essential part of the experience.

With only two guest rooms, the property offers a particularly private and quiet stay. Each room has been thoughtfully designed to create a connection with the surrounding nature, allowing guests to enjoy the changing light, sounds, and seasons of Shima.

For those looking for a more intimate experience of Shima Onsen, Kusushiqui offers something different from a traditional ryokan stay.

A different way to enjoy Shima Onsen

There is no need to fill your stay with activities.

Take a natural hot spring bath.
Listen to the sound of the river.
Walk through the old hot spring town.
Watch the light change over the mountains.
Or simply do nothing for a while.

This is perhaps one of the best ways to enjoy Shima Onsen.

Kusushiqui is a place for travelers who want to spend more time experiencing the atmosphere of the town and less time rushing from one sightseeing spot to another.

And when you do feel like exploring, the many attractions of Shima Onsen are right outside your door—from historic hot spring buildings and local shops to waterfalls, mountain walks, and the beautiful waters of Oku-Shima Lake.

A new chapter for Shima Onsen

Shima Onsen has long been loved as a quiet retreat in the mountains of Gunma.

With the opening of KusushiQui, there is now another way to stay here—one that places greater emphasis on privacy, nature, and simply being present in the moment.

If you are planning a trip to Shima Onsen and looking for a peaceful place to slow down and experience the town at your own pace, Kusushiqui may be worth discovering.

KusushiQui

A two-room private retreat in Shima Onsen, Gunma, Japan.