Hokkaido is known as "hot spring paradise" and has the most hot springs in Japan, with a whopping 251 hot spring resorts. You can warm up your body after chilling in the snowy mountains, relax your tired body, or relax while looking at the snowy scenery, and a drink after a bath is the best! Hot springs make winter travel even more fun and attractive. Here we will introduce hot springs that you should definitely soak in if you are traveling around Hokkaido with Sapporo as your base
[Near Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort]
Jozankei Hot Springs
Get a great deal with the "Hot Spring Bathing Pack" at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort!
The nearest hot spring town is about 20 minutes by car from Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. Located within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, this hot spring resort in a lush valley is visited by approximately 2.4 million people annually. It is easily accessible, about an hour from central Sapporo, and has many facilities that can be used for day trips as well as overnight stays, making it very popular. You can enjoy the hot springs in a variety of styles, with packages including hot spring bathing + meals and beauty treatments, or you can enjoy a private open-air bath. There are also many famous restaurants, so you can enjoy gourmet food
Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is currently selling a "Hot Spring Bathing Pack" that includes a one-day lift ticket and admission to five nearby hot springs for day use. This package is available at Jozankei Onsen's "Hotel Shikanoyu," "Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione," and "Yu no Hana Jozanden." The one-day ticket plus access to the hot springs is a bargain at just 6,500 yen
Recently, a trip that has been gaining attention is the "Jozankei Onsen Stay" trip. While immersing yourself in Japanese hot spring culture in Jozankei, you can also take day trips to Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, Niseko, and Rusutsu.
◆Official website: Jozankei Tourism Association official website https://jozankei.jp/
Hoheikyo Hot Springs
Enjoy the atmosphere of hot springs and authentic Indian curry in Sapporo city
Just 35km from Sapporo city, Hoheikyo Onsen is a quiet and peaceful world away from the city, despite being in the city. Driving along National Route 230 towards Nakayama Pass, you'll find the hot spring just past Jozankei Onsen town on your right, so many people stop by when driving from Sapporo to Niseko or Rusutsu, and it's a famous hot spring among skiers and snowboarders. This 100% natural hot spring, where the water is poured directly into the bathtub without any further processing from the source, is rare even nationwide, and as it doesn't come into contact with air, it doesn't oxidize, making it highly effective. The open-air bath is one of the largest in Japan, accommodating 200 people, and the rustic snow-viewing bath is truly relaxing
However, what is more popular and acclaimed than the quality of the hot springs is the authentic curry prepared by a Nepalese chef at ONSEN Shokudo, a specialty of Hoheikyo Onsen
It has a spicy taste with a strong sourness and a smooth texture, and the soft and fluffy naan is baked in a special ceramic oven using a special recipe that makes it incredibly delicious
Many repeat customers come here for the curry, which makes them feel as if they are in Nepal. If you are staying in Sapporo or heading to Niseko, be sure to stop by
Hoheikyo Onsen (day bath)
Opening hours: 10:00-22:30
Price: Adults 1,300 yen
Official website: https://hoheikyo.co.jp/
[Near Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort]
Asarigawa Hot Springs
Enjoy free skiing and hot springs in a hidden spot during your stay in Sapporo
Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort is easily accessible, just 40 minutes by car from Sapporo city, 20 minutes from Otaru, and 65 minutes from New Chitose Airport, making it a great place to enjoy a day trip if you're staying in Sapporo. It's not often mentioned as a ski resort in the Sapporo area, but it has a great location where you can enjoy a long run of about 3,000m from the summit while taking in the spectacular view of the Sea of Japan, and it also has three ungroomed runs and a tree run. It's actually a hidden gem for freeskiers
Asarigawa Onsen, where the ski resort is located, is the only hot spring resort in Otaru, Hokkaido. There are many hot spring facilities in the hot spring town. Among them, Asarigawa Kogen Hotel is a hot spring hotel directly managed by the ski resort. Day-trip bathing is also available at a reasonable price. If you make a reservation, you can also enjoy an authentic dinner made with plenty of seasonal Otaru ingredients. There is also a rest area, which is perfect for after-skiing. If you are planning to travel around Sapporo as your base, Asarigawa should definitely be included in your plans
Asarigawa Onsen Hotel (day bath)
Opening hours: 11:00-20:00 (last admission 19:30)
Price: Adults 800 yen (weekdays) | Adults 1,000 yen (weekends, holidays, New Year's holidays)
◆ Official website: https://asarigawaonsenhotel.com/
[Sapporo Teine Soba]
Teine Onsen Honoka
A full lineup including natural hot springs, open-air baths, saunas, rock baths, and loyly!
This is the closest day-trip hot spring to Sapporo Teine. Teine ski resort staff highly recommend it, saying, "You should definitely stop by." "In addition to Teine Onsen," this spa resort is a place of beauty and healing where you can enjoy a wide variety of relaxation options, including natural hot springs, open-air baths, saunas, bedrock baths, and loyly
"Löyly" is an ancient Finnish sauna program in which aromatic water is poured onto heated sauna stones, and the resulting high-temperature steam is fanned with a fan, creating a pleasant aroma and hot air that promotes sweating. You can also enjoy a variation of this, "Ganbanyoku Löyly." Also, "Unkai Ganbanyoku," where you can bathe in a sea of clouds in nano-mist, is a special experience at Teine Onsen Honoka, the only one of its kind in Hokkaido. What's more, it's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and you can also enjoy delicious food, so there's nothing to complain about
Teine Onsen Honoka (Day Trip Bath)
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Price: Adults Weekdays 1,400 yen / Weekends, Holidays, and Special Days 1,600 yen (bathing wear or towel set included) | Early Morning Rate (5am-9am) Adults 800 yen
◆ Official Website: https://yudokoro-honoka.jp/teine/