Jozankei Onsen, located in the suburbs of Sapporo, Hokkaido, is a popular hot spring resort where you can enjoy beautiful nature and hot springs in every season. With excellent access from Sapporo city and New Chitose Airport, numerous hot spring inns line the Toyohira River valley, offering stunning views of fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and snowy landscapes throughout the year. In this article, we've carefully selected six recommended hot spring inns in Jozankei Onsen perfect for families and couples.

Jozankei Onsen, located along the Toyohira River valley

First, let's introduce some basic information about Jozankei Onsen, including its water quality, features, and how to get there. After that, we will guide you through our recommended hotels and inns.

The water quality moisturizes the skin and helps retain body heat.

Jozankei Onsen has 56 hot spring sources, mainly along the banks of the Toyohira River and around the onsen town. The water quality from all these sources is a sodium chloride spring (neutral, hypotonic, high-temperature), which is colorless, transparent, and rich in salt. When you bathe in it, the salt adheres to your body and prevents sweat from evaporating, creating a warming effect. It is said to leave your body feeling warm and your skin moisturized after bathing. In the vicinity of Jozankei Onsen, there are also Koganeyu Onsen, Hoheikyo Onsen, and Usubetsu Onsen (Oku-Jozankei Onsen), each with its own distinct water quality.

Steam rises from the banks of the Toyohira River.

The onsen town has footbaths and spots where you can make onsen tamago (hot spring eggs).

The history of Jozankei Onsen began in 1866 when the ascetic monk Miizumi Jozan, guided by the Ainu people, discovered the spring source and established a therapeutic bathhouse. Thanks to its abundant hot springs and beautiful natural scenery that changes with the seasons, it developed into a thriving onsen town, often called "Sapporo's back parlor." In recent years, with an increase in international tourists, new hot spring accommodations have been built, and cafes and other eateries have opened one after another, further enhancing its appeal. Its easy access from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport is another key point of its charm and popularity.

The Futami Suspension Bridge, a famous scenic spot, is just a few minutes' walk from the Jozankei Onsen town.

Access to Jozankei Onsen is generally by car, bus, or taxi. By car, the journey takes about 50 minutes from downtown Sapporo, about 80 minutes from New Chitose Airport, and about 60 minutes to downtown Otaru. National Route 230, which connects Sapporo to Jozankei Onsen, is a two-lane road on each side all the way to the onsen town, making it an easy drive.

The Jozankei Onsen Kappa Liner bus

If you're using public transportation, the reservation-only "Jozankei Onsen Kappa Liner" bus, which runs from Sapporo Station via Susukino to Jozankei Onsen, is recommended. It's a direct, express-type bus that gets you to the onsen town in about 60 minutes from Sapporo Station. Additionally, there is a local bus from Sapporo Station via Susukino to Jozankei Onsen (approx. 80 minutes) and another local bus from Makomanai Station on the Namboku subway line to Jozankei Onsen (approx. 47 minutes).

Jozankei Onsen has a large number of hot spring hotels and inns. While all of them are wonderful, we have selected and will introduce six that stand out for their unique features, such as their baths, guest rooms, and cuisine.

Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione

Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione is a resort hotel with a total of 296 rooms. Located along National Route 230, it is easily accessible and boasts a prime location with a direct view of the Toyohira River valley below. Another great perk is the free shuttle bus service (for hotel guests only, reservations required) to and from Sapporo Station.

The Japanese-style bath with a mural of wildflowers

In addition to the large public bath with an open-air bath and sauna, some guest rooms feature private onsen baths with a view. The spacious public bath area for both men and women includes two large indoor baths, one open-air bath, and one löyly sauna each.

The open-air bath, renovated in 2024

The open-air bath has a roof overhead, making it comfortable even on rainy or snowy days, and you can see the mountains lining the Jozankei valley over the privacy wall. The hotel also features a shampoo bar where you can choose your favorite shampoo and conditioner, and the powder room attached to the changing area has individual partitions, ensuring a comfortable bathing experience.

Hybrid löyly sauna

There are various types of guest rooms, including Western-style and Japanese-style rooms. For those who value privacy and a sense of exclusivity, the rooms with a private onsen bath with a view are the best choice. The Western-style room with a private onsen bath is spacious, at about 80 square meters, and features a soft, warm atmosphere with wood on the walls and floors, allowing for a luxurious and relaxing stay. The onsen bath by the window offers a panoramic view of the Jozankei valley and mountains, providing a different perspective of the stunning scenery compared to the public open-air bath.

Living room of the Western-style room with a private onsen bath

The private onsen bath in the Western-style room

In addition to rooms with private onsen baths (available in Western and Japanese-Western styles), there are various other room types, including rooms with a private sauna, standard Western rooms, Japanese rooms, and Japanese-modern rooms that have tatami flooring but a Western-style feel.

Sample image of the dinner buffet

For meals, you can enjoy dinner and breakfast at the buffet restaurant, which is based on a "Marche Style" concept. The buffet features about 80 different Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, and you can enjoy freshly made items like hand-pressed sushi, beef steak, and stone-oven pizza from the live kitchen inside the restaurant.

Live kitchen

Onigiri (rice balls) are also served at breakfast

Guests staying in rooms with a private sauna or a private onsen bath have access to a dedicated dining area, where they can enjoy a creative seasonal kaiseki meal made with carefully selected ingredients in a private setting. You are sure to enjoy a premium stay with both the hot springs and the dining experience.

*Photos provided by Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione

Hana Momiji

Hana Momiji is an annex of the long-established Jozankei Onsen inn, Shikanoyu, located right by the Toyohira River. Situated in the center of the Jozankei Onsen town, it's conveniently located for strolling to souvenir shops, the Tsukimi Bridge with its views of the Toyohira River valley and the town, and Jozan Gensen Park where you can enjoy footbaths and make onsen tamago (hot spring eggs). A free shuttle bus service (for hotel guests only, reservations required) to and from Sapporo Station also makes access very convenient.

The view of the valley from the top-floor public bath, "Fugetsu," is spectacular.

The view from the open-air bath at "Fugetsu" is also incredible.

The hot spring water is a blend of three different sources. Among them, the "Shikanoyu" spring is a renowned source that gushes out directly beneath the public bath along the Toyohira River. Guests can use three different bath areas: the observation bath "Fugetsu" on the top 12th floor, the "Momiji-yu" with its impressive Japanese garden-like open-air bath, and the public bath (with an open-air bath and sauna) at the affiliated Shikanoyu inn. Additionally, there are three private baths, each with a different character.

"Momiji-yu," where the autumn leaves and snowy scenery are beautifully reflected.

The private baths come in three types: "Ama-no-yu," located on the top floor with mountain views; "Maru-yu," featuring a ceramic tub made of Shigaraki ware; and "Kaku-yu," a luxurious bath made of hinoki cypress. They are available by reservation for 60-minute sessions. Some accommodation plans include one complimentary use of a private bath, so if you're interested, choosing such a plan is a sure way to enjoy it. While the three public baths are appealing, the private baths are truly exceptional. Be sure to go bath-hopping within the inn!

Ama-no-yu

Maru-yu

Kaku-yu

Guest rooms include several types of Japanese-style rooms for 3 to 6 people. The premium floor "Kokonoe" features Western-style twin rooms with in-room showers, while the top-tier premium floor "urara" offers twin rooms and suites where you can enjoy free-flowing hot spring water in your own room. The variety of room types allows you to choose based on how you want to spend your stay.

The "Yamanami Twin" room on the "Kokonoe" floor

The "Premier Suite" on the "urara" floor

For meals, dinner is a Japanese kaiseki set course, and breakfast is a buffet with about 50 Japanese and Western dishes. For the dinner kaiseki, you can choose from four different menus with varying main ingredients and presentation styles. Each course allows you to savor a variety of dishes made with seasonal ingredients, including carefully selected seafood from Hokkaido. Guests staying on the "urara" floor can enjoy their kaiseki dinner in a semi-private dedicated dining area, depending on their meal plan. If you want to fully enjoy both the hot springs and your meals in a private setting, be sure to book a plan on the "urara" floor.

Sample image of one of the kaiseki meals, the special kaiseki "Ayane"

The breakfast buffet features Japanese and Western dishes using local ingredients, including sashimi, side dishes, bread, and salads.

*Photos provided by the Shikanoyu Group

Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei

Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei is an accommodation where every guest room is equipped with its own onsen bath. In addition to bathing in your room, you can also fully enjoy the hot springs in the large public baths. A free shuttle bus (for hotel guests only, reservations required) is available from Odori Nishi 5-chome in downtown Sapporo, making it easily accessible for those without a car. Please note that this facility is for guests of elementary school age and older. Families with young children are encouraged to visit and enjoy this adult-oriented inn once their children are older.

The indoor bath of the public bath "Hisen-no-yu"

The open-air bath of the public bath "Katsuragi-no-yu"

The hot spring water comes from the hotel's own private sources. There are three sources that gush naturally from the riverbed of the Toyohira River, which flows through the Jozankei Onsen town. Guests can bathe in a rich onsen water created by blending these sources, each with different mineral contents like salt and iron. There are two types of public baths, "Hisen-no-yu" and "Katsuragi-no-yu," which are switched between men and women at different times of the day, so it's highly recommended to try both. Both have indoor and open-air baths, as well as a sauna with an auto-löyly function every 15 minutes, allowing for a relaxing time in the spacious bathing area.

The open-air bath at the detached bathhouse "Mori-no-yu"

For those who want to experience the atmosphere of a traditional therapeutic bathhouse, a visit to the detached bathhouse "Mori-no-yu" is a must. It features a dimly lit indoor bath and an open-air bath that feels like you're in a forest, both with free-flowing spring water. As this is a place purely for enjoying the hot springs, amenities and showers are intentionally not provided. There's also a post-bath lounge with healing music, where you can feel the traditional Japanese scenery in the bath and spend a comfortable, relaxing time.

The view from the private bath is exhilarating.

The guest rooms come in a wide variety of sizes, from 45 to 160 square meters, and each has a unique lineup with different bathtub shapes, atmospheres, and window views. All guest rooms have their own private onsen bath fed by the hotel's source, and some rooms even have a private sauna.

A guest room with a private sauna

The bathroom of a room with a private onsen bath—of course, it's hot spring water.

An example of a spacious guest room

Meals are served kaiseki-style for dinner and a Japanese set for breakfast, allowing for a calm and leisurely dining experience. All dishes make abundant use of ingredients like seafood from Otaru and Funka Bay in Hokkaido, vegetables from the hotel's own farm, and meat from a butcher shop located in Jozankei.

Image of the "Suizan Gozen" dinner

There are three dining venues. "Kuwanoki" is a restaurant with various seating types like tables, sunken kotatsu, tatami rooms, and counter seats where you can watch the charcoal grilling. "Shoan" offers a private feel with semi-private rooms. "Yuai Shichiseki" is a special dining venue with only four tables and three private rooms. You can choose your meal from several options when booking, such as the "Suizan Gozen" or "Shichiseki no Zen."

The dining venue "Shoan"

The special dining venue "Yuai Shichiseki"

The hotel also has a lounge with self-serve complimentary coffee and tea, a gift shop, and a bookstore. The bookstore has about 2,500 books for sale and even provides private rooms where you can stretch your legs and read. Like a great literary author, you might find it stylish to spend a relaxing time with a good book and a hot spring.

The Furoya Shoten (Bathhouse Bookstore)

*Photos provided by Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei

Yuraku Soan (Kyoritsu Resort)

Yuraku Soan (Kyoritsu Resort) is a Japanese-style hot spring inn in a prime location with views of the Toyohira River valley, the onsen town, and the mountains. It's easy to get to from National Route 230, and there's also a free shuttle bus service (for hotel guests only, reservations required) to and from Sapporo Station, making it very accessible.

The front desk also has a purely Japanese-style appearance.

The charm of this inn is the variety of baths where you can enjoy the hot springs. In addition to an indoor hinoki cypress bath and an open-air bath with views of the mountains, there are also a rock bath, open-air pot baths, a bedrock bath, a sauna, and private open-air baths.

The indoor hinoki cypress bath in the large public bath area

The open-air bath in the large public bath area

There are four types of private open-air baths, each with a different character. A great feature is that if one is available, you can use any of the four without a reservation. What's more, there's no extra charge for using the private baths, and you can use them as many times as you like. Depending on the timing, you might even be able to try all four!

The hinoki cypress bath in the private bath "Kan"

The rock bath in the private bath "Jaku"

The hiba cypress bath in the private bath "Sei"

The ceramic bath in the private bath "Yu"

The hot springs aren't just in the public and private baths. Every guest room is equipped with its own private onsen bath made of hiba cypress, so you can enjoy the hot springs in your room as well. The rooms include twin, luxury twin, triple, and quad options. All rooms have the functionality of a Western-style room with beds and sofas, yet feature tatami flooring, creating an atmosphere that lets you feel the essence of "wa" (Japanese harmony).

Example of a twin guest room

The private onsen in a guest room

Meals feature carefully selected ingredients from Hokkaido's sea and mountains. For dinner, you can enjoy a Japanese kaiseki course, and for breakfast, a Japanese set meal. There are also Japanese-Western set meals available for children of elementary school age and younger, making it a family-friendly choice. The dining area has counter seats by the window with views of the Jozankei mountains, as well as private rooms, semi-private rooms, and raised tatami seating areas.

Dinner image

Breakfast image

The facility also has a tea room where staff will prepare matcha for you, and a yukata corner where you can borrow a variety of colorful yukata for in-house wear free of charge, allowing you to experience the essence of "wa" with all your senses while enjoying a day of hot spring bliss. This is a recommended inn for those who want to spend a quiet, traditional-style stay combined with modern comforts.

*Photos provided by Kyoritsu Maintenance

Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa Mori no Uta

Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa Mori no Uta is a resort spa and hotel nestled in the forest. Although it's close to National Route 230 where convenience stores are located, it's in a nature-rich location surrounded by green or snowy forests. A free shuttle bus (for hotel guests only, reservations required) from Makomanai subway station makes it easy to visit.

The large public bath with high ceilings and bright sunlight streaming through the windows

The open-air bath adorned with rocks

The water in the baths is, of course, hot spring water. The bright and spacious public bath area has an indoor bath, an open-air bath, and a sauna with a self-löyly feature. There is also a women-only bedrock spa. The hotel also offers a full range of esthetic and relaxation services, including treatment spas for facial esthetics, Thai traditional massage, and a hydrogen bar.

Image of a Deluxe Japanese-Western room

Guest rooms include Japanese-Western rooms and twin Western-style rooms, as well as rooms with a private bedrock bath and rooms where you can stay with your dog. In a separate building, there are maisonette-type cottages with a living room that connects to a wooden deck equipped with an open-air onsen bath. This offers a very private and luxurious space.

The spacious living room of a detached guest room

The open-air bath of a detached guest room—of course, it's a private bath.

While the hot springs and guest rooms are wonderful, the dinner and breakfast at the "Forest Buffet" restaurant are exquisite! The open kitchen in the restaurant features chefs grilling meat right in front of you and pizzas baked in a kiln, and the creative cuisine corner offers a variety of Japanese and Western dishes.

The buffet restaurant "Forest Buffet"

Chefs serve up fresh, hot dishes.

In addition to dishes made with fresh vegetables, fish, and meat, the selection of freshly made sweets from the hotel's Pâtissier Lab is also quite extensive. You'll definitely want to try a little bit of everything.

A wide variety of sweets that will make it hard to choose

Breakfast features a wide array of hotel-made breads.

The hotel's "Forest Lounge" lobby has a fireplace where you can roast your own marshmallows, a library for reading, and live harp concerts four times a day. Enjoy an elegant resort life to the fullest.

*Photos provided by Tsuruga Resort

Hatagoya Jozankei Shoten

Hatagoya Jozankei Shoten is a hot spring accommodation for guests aged 13 and over, based on the concept of "More freely. More spontaneously." It is an affiliated facility of Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei and also offers capsule-style rooms, which are rare in the Jozankei Onsen area. Guests can use the free shuttle bus (for hotel guests only, reservations required) of Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei, which departs from Odori Nishi 5-chome in downtown Sapporo.

The large public bath where you can enjoy the hot springs has an indoor bath, an open-air bath, a sauna, and a cold plunge pool.

The bathhouse is equipped with shampoo, conditioner, body soap, cotton swabs, and a hairdryer, but other amenities and services are kept to a minimum. The concept is a "free" and "spontaneous" stay, so you can bring what you need or buy your favorites from the various items sold at the facility's shop. The shop sells everything from toothbrushes and soap to souvenir sake, sake cups, and T-shirts by various designers.

The shop is fun to browse.

There are a total of five room types. In addition to Western-style and Japanese-style rooms, there are two types of small rooms called "Hatago-no-naka," and the "Kazemachi Onsen Apartment," a 45-square-meter log house with its own onsen, located in a separate building.

Image of a Japanese-style room

"Hatago-no-naka" is like a capsule room, but it's surprisingly spacious, with more floor space and a ceiling high enough to stand up in, compared to traditional capsule rooms. There is a women-only type where multiple individual spaces are arranged in a large room, and a group type with three individual spaces in one room, which is convenient for friends traveling together.

Image of "Hatago-no-naka"

In a separate building on the premises, there is also the "Kazemachi Onsen Apartment," a log house with its own onsen that can accommodate up to three people. It's recommended for those who want a sense of privacy or a stay that feels like living in Jozankei Onsen. You can enjoy the hot springs in a bathtub with the scent of hinoki cypress.

Image of the "Rokudan" yakiniku course

Meals are provided by the butcher shop located inside the inn. Dinner is the "Rokudan" yakiniku course, and for breakfast, you can choose between curry or rice porridge. The butcher shop is a specialty store that supplies meat to hotels in the Jozankei Onsen town and yakiniku restaurants in Sapporo, so the quality and taste of the meat are guaranteed.

Image of the breakfast curry

Image of the breakfast rice porridge

The facility also has a liquor store called "Sakaya Jozankei Shoten," which is well-stocked with alcohol. The drink counter offers about 30 types of alcoholic and soft drinks, and you can enjoy your ordered drinks and snacks anywhere except in the large public bath, making it perfect for mealtimes or a post-dinner drink.

The liquor store's cellar always has about 100 brands of Japanese sake alone.

*Photos provided by Hatagoya Jozankei Shoten

A glimpse of a Jozankei hot spring

Jozankei Onsen is a major hot spring resort located less than an hour from downtown Sapporo. The Jozankei area is famous as a prime spot for autumn foliage, and it gets quite busy in the fall each year. However, the lush green scenery in spring and summer is also beautiful, and in winter, you can enjoy "yukimi-rotenburo" (open-air baths with snow views). It's a destination you can enjoy any time of year. There are numerous accommodation options, including hot spring hotels and traditional inns, all offering excellent facilities and dining. Be sure to find your favorite place to stay, soak leisurely in the hot springs, and take the time to fully relax.

*All information is current as of December 2025.
*Event details are subject to change or cancellation. Please check official websites for the latest information before attending.

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