Did you know that there's a hidden gem of a hot spring in Shimokawa Town, Hokkaido, that even hot spring enthusiasts frequent?

Gomi Onsen is one of only 30 hot springs in all of Japan, and only two in Hokkaido, that features a "bicarbonate dioxide spring."
In 1905 (Meiji 38), a man named Kanzaburo Gomi, who managed the area, discovered the hot springs, which led to the establishment of the hot spring facilities.

<Table of Contents>
1. What is a "bicarbonate dioxide spring"?
2. Regular buses from within the town are convenient!
3. Bath time is half price! "Bath Day"
4. Relaxing accommodations within Gomi Onsen
5. Details of "Gomi Onsen"

Bicarbonate-containing springs contain sodium, magnesium, and calcium.
Having all three types of hot spring water together is rare even among hot springs throughout Japan, and in Hokkaido, it can only be found in two locations: Aibetsu Town and Shimokawa Town.

Its effects and benefits include improving blood circulation, which helps prevent arteriosclerosis and lowers blood pressure.
Because it can also help improve poor circulation, this type of hot spring water is particularly appealing to women.

When consumed as a beverage, it is said to be effective for chronic constipation and diabetes.
It is characterized by its affectionate nicknames such as "Heart Bath" and "Beauty Bath."

Gomi Onsen is a cold spring with a temperature of 14.5 degrees Celsius, and accommodation facilities have opened at the site where the hot spring is gushing out.
After several renovations and temporary closures, a new bathroom was added in 1998, resulting in its current appearance.

While typical hot spring facilities usually dig for hot springs to suit the location, Gomi Onsen is a little different from other hot springs in this respect.

Therefore, it is located in a place surrounded by forest, and is a bit of a distance from the city center, about a 5-minute drive away.

However, for those who don't have their own car or for tourists, there's a convenient free shuttle bus within the town.

Buses featuring Shimorin, the mascot character of Shimokawa Town, run five times a day, every 1.5 to 2 hours.

The bus timetable looks like this. "Furepe" refers to the town's event space, "Gardening Forest Furepe," and "Suetake" refers to Suetake Shoten, a store located in the town.

For those coming from outside town, getting on and off the bus from in front of the bus terminal might be the easiest option.

The shuttle bus is scheduled to depart and arrive in conjunction with the Meishi Bus service to Nayoro and Okoppe, making it convenient for people coming from outside the town.

"Bath Day" was launched on a trial basis in July 2017.
Whether you're a town resident or not, the 26th of every month is "Bath Day," and bathing is half price.

"Bath Day," which was started with the hope of "getting even a few more people to visit the hot springs," sees about 1.5 times the usual number of customers flocking to the facility.

We also distribute bath tickets to our regular customers and those who come every day. A set of 13 tickets costs 4,000 yen. We are selling three of these sets for 10,000 yen.
Using this ticket, you can enjoy a bath for about 40 yen less per visit, which is a great deal.

Currently, Gomi Onsen receives around 200 to 300 visitors every day.

About half of our guests are business travelers and the other half are tourists. In addition to local residents, we also have many day-trippers from Shibetsu and Kenbuchi, and we have a large number of loyal Gomi Onsen fans.

There are a total of 17 rooms available for accommodation, including both the main building and the annex. The main building has 8 Japanese-style rooms and 2 Western-style rooms, while the annex has 7 Japanese-style rooms.

A Japanese-style room that can accommodate up to 3 people.

The price is 8,525 yen with dinner and breakfast, 7,445 yen with dinner only, 6,585 yen with breakfast, and 5,505 yen for room only.

Tomato juice is available for unlimited refills at breakfast.
This rich juice, made from fruit tomatoes grown in Shimokawa, is said to be very popular with customers, as it tastes like you're biting right into a fresh tomato.

The dining area "Rindo" also serves as the breakfast venue.

Since 2017, we have also started offering specially priced training camp plans for students.

The plan, which normally costs 8,525 yen and includes two meals, is available for a bargain price of 5,500 yen exclusively for students.
The meals are served in a shared format rather than individual portions, and there are some differences from the regular plan, such as needing to bring your own amenities, but apparently, reservations are already full for December and January.

This would be very useful for things like graduation trips for university students or training camps for junior and senior high school club activities.

Gomi Onsen is a hidden gem known only to those in the know. Why not take a relaxing trip to this secluded hot spring nestled in the forest, far from the hustle and bustle?

Address: Bankei, Shimokawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
Telephone number: 01655-4-3311
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 22:00 PM (Last admission at 21:00 PM)
Check-in: 14:00~
Check-out: ~10:00
Bathing fee: 400 yen (adults), 200 yen (children)
Closed on: one Monday per month (please contact us in advance)
Parking: Available (free)
Official site:http://gomionsen.jp/

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