Hokkaido, nicknamed the "Kingdom of Hot Springs," boasts the largest number of hot springs in Japan, with 251 locations!

While each hot spring has its own unique character, perhaps the one that is most widely known throughout Japan is "Karurusu Onsen."

This name is also used as the product name for bath salts from a major manufacturer... I'm sure many of you have seen it at supermarkets or drugstores at least once.

However, it seems that not many people know what kind of hot spring it is or where it is located.

This time, we'll introduce you to the Karurusu Onsen!

1. The origins of Karurusu Onsen and the origin of its name
2. Day trip to Karurusu Onsen
3. I stayed at Orofre Lodge!
4. Access to Karurusu Hot Springs
Summary

Karurusu Onsen is a small hot spring resort located 8km from Noboribetsu Onsen.

It is said to have been known as a medicinal bath among the Ainu people since ancient times, but in Japanese history, it was discovered about 130 years ago, in 1886 (Meiji 19).

It remained as it was for a while, but its remarkable medicinal properties became apparent, and in 1899 (Meiji 32), it was officially opened as a hot spring.

By the way, where do you think the name "Carlus" comes from?
Incidentally, many place names in Hokkaido originate from the Ainu language...

Here's the origin of the name!
Image source: Wikipedia/Bobak Ha'Eri

This is Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary), a spa town in the Czech Republic.

It was named "Karlusu Onsen" because its water quality is similar to that of the hot springs here. What a stylish name!

Most of the accommodations in the Karurusu Onsen hot spring area use natural hot spring water that flows directly from the source. It's a paradise for hot spring enthusiasts!

Here are three accommodations that are relatively easy for day-trippers to use.

They're all within a 5-minute walk of each other, and the prices are reasonable, so you can easily go on a hot spring hopping spree!

[Suzuki Ryokan]
A long-established inn in Karurusu Onsen, offering a hot spring experience where you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of the Showa era.
This inn is extremely popular with the locals.
Reception hours: 13:00 - 19:30 (Bathing available until 20:00)
Price: 500 yen (250 yen for children)
Open-air bath: None
Rest area: Available (inquire for details)

[Mori no Yu Yamashizukan]
Located in the Karurusu Onsen area, this new inn is popular for the meticulous service provided by its young proprietress.
We also boast an open-air bath without a roof. Furthermore, we have a hot spring bath approved by the public health center for drinking, making this the only place where you can actually drink the hot spring water!
Reception hours: 12:00 - 19:00 (Bathing available until 20:00)
Price: 600 yen (300 yen for children)
Open-air bath: Yes
Break room: None

[Yumoto Orofre-so]
This inn, formerly a public lodging facility, is characterized by its simple style.
Since its complete renovation in 2007, its popularity has skyrocketed, and it has become one of the top-ranked accommodations on travel websites.
Reception hours: 12:00 onwards (bathing available until 20:00)
Price: 500 yen (200 yen for children)
Open-air bath: Yes
Rest area: Available, until 16:00 PM

Accommodation reservationClick Here(You will be redirected to the Jalan.net page)　　

Also, a little further away from these three accommodations, on a hill, is "Hotel Iwai."
This hot spring also boasts an open-air bath, and day trips for bathing are available!

[Hotel Iwai]
Reception hours: 11:30 - 18:00 (Bathing available until 20:00)
Price: 500 yen (300 yen for children)
Open-air bath: Available, closed in winter.
Break room: None

Accommodation reservationClick Here(You will be redirected to the Jalan.net page)　　

I had the opportunity to stay at Orofre Lodge one autumn day, so I'd like to share my experience!

☆A word of caution first☆
There are absolutely no shops other than inns at Karurusu Onsen!

There are no convenience stores, and not even any stores selling groceries.

The nearest convenience store in Noboribetsu Onsen is a 13-minute drive away (as of November 2015).

Each hot spring inn has vending machines for drinks and some basic snacks and sweets, but please buy anything else you might need in advance!

-----

We arrived at Orofre Lodge by car in the evening.

The Noboribetsu River flows beside the inn, and a faint scent of sulfur hangs in the air.

The sound of the flowing river, the rustling of the trees, and the birdsong bring peace to my heart.

But it's a little cold...

So, after a short stroll around the area, we checked in and went to our room.
The guest rooms are simple and relaxing.

Accommodations in Hokkaido have excellent insulation, so even if you stay in the middle of winter, your room will be very warm. Rest assured!

☆Now, here's one more thing to keep in mind☆
While mobile phones can be used at Karurusu Onsen, mobile devices such as PHS and WiMAX cannot. (As of November 2015) We recommend checking the service area in advance.

I'll soak in the hot springs before dinner ☆

The hot spring water is free-flowing from the source! (However, they add cold water during the summer when the water temperature gets high.)
Image provided by: Noboribetsu Tourism Association

The hot spring water at Orofre-so is a simple spring.

While that famous bath additive is milky white, the actual Karurusu Onsen is completely colorless and transparent. Furthermore, the distinctive scent of the hot spring is very faint. This is in stark contrast to Noboribetsu Onsen, which has a strong sulfurous smell.

The water feels unremarkable when you first get in, just like a regular bath, but after getting out, you don't get cold for hours, and you really feel lighter and refreshed!

I understand that there was an army sanatorium here during the war, and that certainly makes sense.

After getting out of the bath, it's time for dinner!

This time, I had the "Orofure Gozen" set meal. It's a standard course at this inn, and each dish is beautifully and carefully presented, making it very appetizing!

Of course, they use locally sourced ingredients. The seasoning was just right, bringing out the best in the ingredients, and I finished it all in no time!
Actually, after dinner, I did nothing but fall into a deep sleep...

Karurusu Onsen doesn't have the same kind of entertainment facilities as Noboribetsu Onsen town!

There's no background music like you'd typically hear in a hot spring town.

In the Karurusu hot spring area, where cars rarely pass by, you'll be surrounded by the sounds of nature, both during the day and at night.

This is Hokkaido's first "National Health Resort Hot Spring Area." Let's completely relax here!

I'd love to lie down and relax with my favorite book as a pillow, soak in the hot springs in the middle of the night and in the morning, and then go back to sleep...

It's time for breakfast.

Perhaps because I was soaking up the hot springs, I was absolutely starving, so I ate every last bite of breakfast!
After breakfast, I had some time before check-out, so I took a walk around the neighborhood.
Enjoying the nature of Hokkaido ☆

After my morning walk, I just lounged around in my room again...

It was time to check out, so we left Orofre Lodge.

We recommend accessing Karurusu Onsen by car!

Karurusu Onsen is located deep in the mountains, even more so than Noboribetsu Onsen, so it might seem difficult to access in winter. However, the road to Karurusu Onsen is actually well-cleared of snow, making it just as easy to access as Noboribetsu Onsen!

In winter, as long as the weather isn't too bad, you can go without any problems!

However, please be extremely careful when driving on winter roads!

☆Access from Sapporo area☆
・90 minutes from Sapporo (Take the Hokkaido Expressway and exit at Noboribetsu-Higashi IC)
・60 minutes from New Chitose Airport (Take the Hokkaido Expressway and exit at Noboribetsu-Higashi IC)
10 minutes from Noboribetsu Onsen

(Route from New Chitose Airport to Karurusu Onsen)
Incidentally, you can also get there by public transport, but it's quite a hassle.
(1) First, get to Noboribetsu Onsen by one of the following methods.
・JR Noboribetsu Station → Bus bound for Noboribetsu Onsen (approximately 20 minutes from JR Noboribetsu Station)
- Bus from Sapporo Bus Terminal to Noboribetsu Onsen (approximately 1 hour 40 minutes)
- Bus from New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu Onsen (approximately 1 hour)
(2) Transfer to a bus bound for Karurusu from Noboribetsu Onsen.
There are six buses a day, and the journey takes about 15 minutes. Please note that the bus service is infrequent!

Summary

That concludes our introduction to Karurusu Onsen!

My accommodation report was rather lazy, consisting mainly of soaking in the hot springs and sleeping...
Personally, that's the kind of place I think Karurusu Onsen is, so please forgive me ☆
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reset and refresh yourself.
A hidden retreat...that's the perfect description for this hot spring resort. That's Karurusu Onsen.

If you have the chance, please visit and experience the healing power of Hokkaido's nature!

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