1. Access to one of Hokkaido's most secluded mountain hot springs

"Shirogane-so" is located on the western foothills of Mount Tokachi, at an altitude of approximately 1,000m. It is situated along Hokkaido Prefectural Road 966 (commonly known as the Tokachi-dake Skyline).
Following Tokachidake Onsen in the same area, this is another hot spring resort that rivals the highest altitudes in Hokkaido. I visited in early May, and I drove through a landscape covered in snow. It really speaks to how harsh the natural environment is for a hot spring to exist!

"Shirogane-so" is a lodge-style hot spring accommodation. It retains the name "Shirogane-so," which it had when it was used as a mountain lodge, and has been operating since it was newly renovated in 1997.

It seems this was made possible thanks to the enthusiastic support of the locals. Even on this snowy day, it was bustling with many people, and I could really feel that it is a hot spring facility loved by the locals.

2. It reminds me of school camp. I stayed in a simple room.

While many customers use "Shirogane-so" as a day-trip hot spring facility, it is actually possible to stay overnight. And what's even more surprising is the price of the accommodation!

A dormitory room costs 3,100 yen for adults, 2,100 yen for junior and senior high school students, and 1,500 yen for elementary school students (an additional 150 yen per night heating fee applies from November 1st to April 30th). Despite its isolated location, the quality of the facilities and the cost performance are truly impressive.

The two Japanese-style rooms can also be reserved if they are available. At 9,300 yen per room, they are recommended for groups of three or more.

Both the dormitory and the Japanese-style rooms evoke memories of school camps during your student days, and you're sure to feel a sense of peace and relaxation.

If you're staying in a dormitory, there are lockers available where you can store your valuables for free, so it's a good idea to use them.

3. The open-air bath even has a slide! A large public bath with free-flowing hot spring water.

The main attraction of Shirogane-so is undoubtedly its large public bath. The indoor bath, which has a pleasant scent of cypress wood, features not only the main bath (rock bath), but also a bubble bath, a reclining bath, and a waterfall shower.

All the baths use free-flowing hot spring water, a testament to the abundant spring water at the foot of Mount Tokachi. The spring water is acidic sodium-calcium chloride-sulfate spring water. It is a yellowish-brown colorless and almost transparent, and is not very irritating.

The spring water had a smooth, silky texture, and despite being acidic, it was gentle on my skin, which suffers from atopic dermatitis, making it a very pleasant bath.

There are large open-air baths for both men and women, but a mixed-gender open-air bath is also located between them. Swimsuits are mandatory for the mixed-gender bath. If you don't have one, you can rent one for 300 yen.

From the open-air bath, you can enjoy the four seasons of Mount Tokachi, from the beautiful green slopes to the snow-covered, silvery landscape. Surrounded by secluded nature, the experience of soaking up to your shoulders in the spacious open-air bath is truly unique.

Furthermore, the mixed-gender open-air bath has a waterslide, making it a hot spring attraction that's generating a lot of buzz!

4. Also known as a sacred place in the north. A sauna where you can also enjoy löyly (steam).

In a corner of the indoor bath at "Shirogane-so," there is a sauna, which is actually a very popular sauna that is called the "holy land of the north" by sauna enthusiasts from all over the country.

There are two reasons for its popularity. First, you can enjoy a bathing method called löyly. By pouring water onto heated sauna stones, steam is generated, which raises the perceived temperature and promotes sweating.

The second thing you can enjoy after your sauna is a snow dive. After gradually warming your body, you can cool yourself down thoroughly in the snow piled up around the open-air bath.

5. Meals are self-catered. A self-catering style of stay.

Meals are not provided for guests staying at Shirogane-so. Guests are required to bring their own food and cook their own meals. The kitchen is fully equipped with gas stoves, pots and pans, oil, and even plates and chopsticks.

However, there are no seasonings, so be careful. This time, I bought Hokkaido's specialty, Jingisukan (grilled lamb), and Kamifurano pork from Yamazaki Meat Shop in Kamifurano at the foot of the mountain.

Cooking for yourself while traveling is something you don't often do outside of camping, so it's quite fun! If you work together as a family, it's sure to deepen your family bonds. I also cooked a meal for my father for the first time in a long time.

The Genghis Khan with its unique seasoning was delicious, but the Kamifurano pork, which had just the right amount of fat and a rich, high-quality flavor, was also fantastic and paired perfectly with beer!

6. "Shirogane-so" offers a simple way to enjoy a stay at a secluded hot spring.

Located at an altitude of approximately 1,000m at the foot of Mount Tokachi, "Shirogane-so" is one of Hokkaido's leading accommodations, offering comfortable and reasonably priced lodging despite its secluded location.

With its hot springs, sauna, and the opportunity to enjoy self-catering, this simple accommodation offers plenty of attractions. The scenery surrounding the facility changes with the seasons, making you want to visit again and again. This is a superb inn that I hope will continue to maintain its style for many years to come.

Yuhei Tonosho, a cyclist and photographer who delves deep into Japan

Born in 1993 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Cultural History and Department of English Literature. While working as a salaryman, he is a travel writer who travels all over Japan by bicycle and mountain climbing. He captures and shares the changing seasons of Japan with all his senses.

Hokkaido from all over Japan! Find affordable Hokkaido package tours here.

Make your trip even more enjoyable! Book your Hokkaido local experience tour here.

Combine flights and hotels freely for great deals! Dynamic Packages

Introducing our sister site (please check it out if you're interested)