10 Hot Spring Hotels for an Unforgettable Hokkaido Stay!

10 Recommended Onsen Hot Spring Accommodations in Hokkaido

1. Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga

Built on the banks of Lake Akan in eastern Hokkaido, local hot spring water flows abundantly into the many baths of the one-of-a-kind Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga resort.

There are a wealth of bathing facilities to explore, with the highlight being the scenic open-air bath on the 8th floor, which flaunts magnificent panoramas of Lake Akan and the Akan Mountain Range.

There are also rock baths, jacuzzis, and a dome-shaped rooftop sauna! You can even use the baths of sister hotel “Tsuruga Wings,” giving you plenty to do during your stay.

There are a number of different guestroom types, such as comfortable traditional Japanese-style rooms, scenic rooms with views of Lake Akan, and luxurious rooms with private open-air baths for a truly special experience.

2. Choyo Resort Hotel

Located in the nature-abundant Sounkyo Onsen, Choyo Resort Hotel is famous for its two types of natural hot springs: a sodium-bicarbonate spring and a sulfur spring, both of which are renowned for their beautifying effects. There are several different baths to relish these rich waters, including open-air baths immersed in nature and more.

Other pleasures include stimulating bedrock baths, steamy saunas, and reservable private baths to enjoy as a family. Guestrooms are just as varied, from traditional Japanese-style rooms to those with both beds and tatami mats, as well as others equipped with massage chairs to fit one’s every need. After a long day of discovery, you can chill out while listening to the Ishikari River through the windows as you doze off.

3. The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort

The sheer beauty of Lake Toya makes it a popular getaway for domestic tourists, proudly presented to the world as the venue of the 34th G8 Summit in 2008.

On the shoreline is the Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort, where all guestrooms are treated to uninterrupted vistas of the striking Lake Toya, allowing its magnificence to be fully absorbed. Better yet, take in the scenery from the hot springs, which offer equally enrapturing lakeside panoramas.

We particularly recommend the “Tenku” open-air bath on the top floor, which is cleverly designed to blend seamlessly with the surface of the lake, giving you the liberating feeling of being one with the great outdoors.

After you’ve taken in the scenery, tour the various hot springs, including both large shared baths and private reservable baths, before sweating it out in several types of sauna.

There is also a diverse lineup of hotel restaurants, including a lake view buffet and a Japanese course meal served in a private room. With dining options for all, this slice of paradise brings out the best of Hokkaido’s unrivaled produce.

4. Hakodate Hotel Banso

Just a 5-minute drive from Hakodate Airport, Hakodate Hotel Banso is located in Yunokawa Onsen, famed as Japan’s “closest hot spring town to an airport.” This beloved resort boasts a history of more than 350 years, and Hakodate Hotel Banso presents the best of its high-quality hot springs.

The hotel offers a wide assortment of baths, including an open-air bath with a cool seaside breeze, barrel baths for some time alone, and a bed-style bath where you can lie down and sprawl out. There is also an aromatic sauna serving as the finishing touch to your total relaxation.

Guestrooms were designed to be on the forefront of comfort and functionality, with proper beds instead of futons. After a warm bath, indulge in local delicacies at the hotel restaurant, which features a buffet of fresh Hakodate seafood and skilled chefs preparing sushi right on the spot!

5. Lake Saroma Tsuruga Resort

Part of Abashiri Quasi-National Park in northeast Hokkaido, Lake Saroma is the third largest lake in Japan, and its immaculate beauty is a sight for sore eyes. Right on the shoreline is the secluded Lake Saroma Tsuruga Resort, famed for its unobstructed views of the setting sun surrounded by nothing but pristine wilderness. Photogenic vistas spread out before the spacious shared bath, helping guests quickly forget about the stresses of urban life.

The high-quality hot spring water is renowned for its heat-retention properties, and is full of iron-containing chloride that evenly warms the body. You can make your way through a number of unique baths, including a wide indoor bath and open-air bath made from 700 tons of stone.

Lake Saroma can also be appreciated from the guestrooms, lounge, and restaurant, which serves both buffets and course meals featuring the best of the region's coveted fresh seafood!

6. Tokachigawa Onsen Daiichi Hotel

While most hot springs are mineral based, moor onsen come from plant-based geothermal water with a deep amber color and a gentle, mellow feel. After bathing, one’s skin becomes moist and smooth, earning it the moniker “nature’s lotion.”

You can enjoy these one-of-a-kind hot springs in a variety of styles, such as in the roomy indoor bath or open-air bath accompanied by the blissful sound of a waterfall.

For a more luxurious experience, high-grade guestrooms with private baths allow you to savor these waters without interruption. After bathing, take a break at the “Yuagari Garden Terrace,” and indulge in the local “Moor Onsen Beer” in the footbath!

7. Hotel Mahoroba

Even among the countless hot spring oases of Japan, the world-famous Noboribetsu Onsen stands alone. Natural geothermal water wells up all over the region, most notably in the otherworldly “Jigokudani” (Hell Valley), which was formed by volcanic activity about 10,000 years ago.

Hotel Mahoroba has four types of Noboribetsu hot spring, the most popular being the milky white sulfur spring along with the salt spring, which has deep heat-retention properties.

The bathhouse itself is spread out over two sizable floors, drawing the spring water into a total of 31 different bath types, said to be one of the largest collections in Noboribetsu.

There are also many different types of guestrooms, with the 6-room suite being the pinnacle of luxury. Each has its own uniquely styled open-air bath, and the joy of soaking in privacy is truly unparalleled.

8. Asari Classe Hotel

Asari Classe Hotel is located in Otaru, a port city with a hoard of historic buildings and romantic canalside scenery.

This premium stay features two open-air baths for women and one for men, all with natural stonework weaving together a charming rustic ambiance. Whether surrounded by fresh greenery or snow, both hot springs are always bursting with charm.

In addition, there is an indoor bath with large windows and a sauna, perfect for long, healing rests after a tiring day. There is also an onsite salon with treatments like thalassotherapy, which uses seawater to cleanse, soothe, and revitalize the skin and body.

The hotel contains a number of unique guestrooms, including an airy Japanese-style room that can host up to eight guests. Rooms with private open-air baths use the same water as the large shared baths, so you can soak at your own pace at all hours of the day or night.

Asari Classe Hotel is also complete with a heated pool, squash courts, and a gym. Those taking extended breaks in the hot springs will surely enjoy doing a few workouts to re-energize after bathing!

9. Chalet Ivy Jozankei

Chalet Ivy Jozankei sits in Jozankei Onsen, a 155-year-old hot spring town of mineral-flushed waters reachable in just over an hour by car from central Sapporo. Nestled in a nature-rich valley of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, serenity surrounds you the moment you walk through the door.

In addition to the large shared and outdoor baths, all guestrooms have private baths with water drawn from the hot springs directly. This opulence is balanced with ease of use, topped off with large windows framing the natural splendor sure to take your breath away.

The lounge, restaurant, and other hotel spaces likewise abound with both flair and warmth, and the full range of relaxation facilities, including a salon and gym, will relieve both the body and mind.

10. La Vista Furano Hills Natural Hot Spring

Picture-perfect scenes of lavender fields are synonymous with Hokkaido’s central Furano, and La Vista Furano Hills is the ultimate base to explore all that Furano has to offer.

On the top floor of La Vista is an open-air bath with nothing but sky above. There is also a spacious indoor bath, all made with natural materials like cyprus and stone. Saunas and private baths are also available.

Guestrooms are simple with an emphasis on functionality. They are equipped with state-of-the-art Simmons beds, ensuring you’ll wake up with plenty of energy to keep uncovering the wonders of this magnificent region.

After a soothing bath, cap off your evening with a scrumptious dinner! Both dinner and breakfast are served at the on-site restaurant, and the Italian course dinner comes highly recommended.

A Slower Style of Travel Amongst the Hot Springs of Hokkaido

While adventuring through Japan’s northernmost frontier, save some time for yourself to recharge. Nothing will make the food, sights, shopping, and natural wonders of Hokkaido better than an unforgettable night at one of these recommended hot spring accommodations!

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