One of the most popular activities during a trip to Hokkaido is visiting hot springs.

Hokkaido, which boasts the largest number of hot springs in Japan, offers a wealth of attractive hot springs, from famous hot springs representing Japan to hot spring resorts popular with locals as places to relax, and hidden hot springs known only to connoisseurs!

One of the great pleasures of visiting hot springs in Hokkaido is being able to enjoy them while surrounded by nature. However, Hokkaido is vast, and there are limits to the number of hot spring resorts you can visit during your trip.

So, this time, we'll introduce seven popular hot spring resorts that are perfect for your first trip to Hokkaido—not just the source of the spring, but carefully selected ones! We'll give you a brief overview of the locations and highlights of the hot springs, as well as the characteristics and effects of the water.

<Table of Contents>
1. Jozankei Onsen
2. Noboribetsu Onsen
3. Toyako Onsen
4. Sounkyo Onsen
5. Akan Lake Hot Springs
6. Tokachigawa Onsen
7. Yunokawa Onsen
Summary

Jozankei Onsen is located in Minami Ward, Sapporo City. Situated about 26 km south of downtown Sapporo, within the naturally rich Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it has long been cherished as Sapporo's inner retreat.

A hot spring resort town spreads along a gorge in the upper reaches of the Toyohira River, which flows through the central part of Sapporo City, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons.

There are approximately 56 hot spring sources in Jozankei Onsen. Most of them are said to be naturally bubbling up from the banks or riverbed of the Toyohira River, which flows through the hot spring town.

This colorless, transparent, and soft-textured hot spring is a sodium chloride spring that tastes salty when licked, and is one of the most popular types of hot springs.

When you soak in a hot spring, the salt in the water adheres to your body and prevents sweat from evaporating, making you feel warm and cozy.

It is also said to have effects such as relieving symptoms of neuralgia and muscle pain, and improving digestive health.

*Recommended points of Jozankei Onsen*
・A hot spring resort that's close to and easily accessible from central Sapporo!
・A large-scale hot spring resort with an abundant supply of hot spring water!

Noboribetsu Onsen, located in Noboribetsu City, is easily accessible from New Chitose Airport by expressway in about an hour, attracting many tourists from both Japan and abroad.

The surrounding area offers many spots where you can experience Hokkaido's dynamic nature firsthand, such as Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a crater formed by a volcanic eruption, and Oyunuma, where hot springs gush from the bottom of the lake. There are also theme parks like Marine Park NIX and Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura.

Because it can be enjoyed by people of all ages, this hot spring resort is highly recommended for first-time visitors to Hokkaido.

The main attraction of Noboribetsu Onsen is undoubtedly its wide variety of hot springs. With nine different types of hot springs, including the milky-white sulfur springs with their distinctive aroma, it's often called a "department store of hot springs."

In addition to day-trip hot springs, the hot spring town also has public bathhouses, so it's a great place to enjoy a hot spring tour.

*Recommended points of Noboribetsu Onsen*
・A leading hot spring resort in Hokkaido! A wide variety of spring types!
・Approximately 1 hour by car from New Chitose Airport!

Toyako Onsen is a hot spring resort area where hot spring inns line the shores of Lake Toya. Many of the open-air baths offer views of Lake Toya and Mount Usu, making it one of the most scenic hot spring resorts in Hokkaido.

Toyako Onsen offers a variety of activities and local cuisine, making it an attractive destination. It's also easily accessible, just about a 90-minute drive from New Chitose Airport, allowing you to easily enjoy a resort-like experience.

The hot spring water at Toyako Onsen is a sodium chloride spring (neutral, hypotonic, high-temperature spring). It is said to be effective for neuralgia, joint pain, and fatigue recovery.

Soaking in a hot spring while gazing at the beautiful Lake Toya and the majestic Mount Usu would surely melt away the fatigue of your travels.

*Recommended points of Toyako Onsen*
A popular hot spring resort with beautiful lake views!
Fireworks are set off every day from late April to October!

Sounkyo Onsen is located about an hour and a half's drive from Asahikawa Airport. Situated at the foot of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, the surrounding area is dotted with scenic spots and natural wonders that are representative of Hokkaido.

The central area of ​​the hot spring resort has been developed as "Canyon Mall," modeled after a Canadian mountain resort, giving it a European or American feel that doesn't quite resemble a typical hot spring town.

Many inns have open-air baths where you can enjoy bathing while overlooking the Daisetsuzan mountain range, allowing you to relax and enjoy the hot springs while being embraced by nature.

The hot springs at Sounkyo Onsen are simple hot springs and sulfur springs. There are over 60 springs, and the water is colorless and transparent. Its benefits include relief from rheumatism, diabetes, high blood pressure, and skin diseases. The weakly alkaline hot springs are gentle on the skin with minimal irritation, so even people with sensitive skin and small children can bathe with peace of mind.

*Recommended points of Sounkyo Onsen*
September is the best time to enjoy the earliest autumn foliage in Japan!
・The "Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival," a mid-winter event, is also highly recommended.

One of the most representative hot spring resorts in eastern Hokkaido is "Akanko Onsen" in Akan-cho, Kushiro City. Located on the south side of Lake Akan, known for being a habitat for the specially protected natural monument marimo (a type of algae) and for its deep forest, the area boasts approximately 150 hot spring facilities and related establishments.

One place you should definitely visit in Akan Lake Onsen is Ainu Kotan, an Ainu settlement adjacent to the hot spring town. You can experience Ainu culture firsthand by watching traditional Ainu dances and visiting the Ainu Life Museum, which recreates an Ainu house.

The hot springs at Lake Akan are simple springs and hydrogen sulfide springs. They are said to be effective for neuralgia, poor circulation, fatigue recovery, rheumatism, chronic digestive diseases, and hemorrhoids. There are also hand baths and foot baths in the hot spring town, so it's a good idea to use them to take a break during your stroll.

*Recommended points of Akan Lake Onsen*
A lake surrounded by a deep forest. Nature is so calming!
・In winter, there are events, activities, and fireworks on the frozen lake!

Tokachigawa Onsen is located about 20 minutes by car from the center of Obihiro City. Situated on the banks of the Tokachi River, which flows through the Tokachi Plain, the surrounding area is a pastoral landscape of pastures and fields. The Doto Expressway runs near the hot springs, making it easily accessible from all over Hokkaido.

Tokachigawa Onsen is a rare type of hot spring in the world known as a moor hot spring. It is a type of hot spring that contains a large amount of plant-derived organic matter, and it is said to have been formed when plants that grew naturally along the Tokachi River accumulated over a long period of time and emerged from a lignite-containing geological layer deep underground in the Tokachi Plain.

The reddish-brown moor hot spring water has a distinctive slippery texture. It's very popular with women because of its high moisturizing effect, leaving their skin feeling soft and smooth after bathing.

*Recommended points of Tokachigawa Onsen*
・A rare and precious moor spring, especially recommended for women♪
Tokachi is full of delicious food, including gourmet dishes, sweets, and dairy products!

Yunokawa Onsen is located in Hakodate City. While hot springs are often found in the suburbs, Yunokawa Onsen is easily accessible from Hakodate Station and Hakodate Airport, making it a convenient base for sightseeing.

Around the hot spring resort area, there are also tourist attractions such as the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, where you can see Japanese macaques bathing in the hot springs from December to early May, and Kōsetsuen Garden, known for its cherry blossoms and autumn foliage.

In the summer, you can see the fishing lights of squid fishermen, and there are fireworks displays, so you can enjoy the area throughout all four seasons.

The hot spring water at Yunokawa Onsen is a sodium chloride spring (neutral, hypotonic, high-temperature spring). It is effective for neuralgia, joint pain, and fatigue recovery, and the body stays warm for a long time after bathing. Yunokawa Onsen faces the Tsugaru Strait. If you stay at a hot spring inn along the coast, you might even be able to enjoy the luxury of bathing while watching the sunset over the Tsugaru Strait.

*Recommended points of Yunokawa Onsen*
・Located just under 10 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport♪
・Convenient location for sightseeing in Hakodate and enjoying the night view of Hakodate!

So, that concludes our list of 7 recommended hot spring resorts for your first trip to Hokkaido.

All of these hot springs are relatively easy to access, and there are plenty of other tourist attractions as well. Be sure to visit them when you travel to Hokkaido!

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