Hi Hokkaido travelers,
Did you know that Japanese people have been using hot springs as a natural remedy for centuries?
Hokkaido is home to a diverse range of onsens. Each hot spring here has its own unique blend of minerals, offering a variety of health benefits.
Today I will share the top 6 onsen destinations.
Let’s dip in!
1. Noboribetsu
Located in the south of Sapporo, Noboribetsu onsen town is one of the most famous and well-known in Hokkaido. It’s also a great day trip destination as six out of all 14 onsen hotels in Noboribetsu offer “Higaeri” drop-in bathing.
✅Health benefits: Noboribetsu is famous for its variety of hot spring waters, earning the nickname “a department store of hot springs” with its 9 different types. The sulfur spring is milky white with a distinctive boiled egg smell and helps with skin problems. The salt spring keeps your body warm for a long time, making it good for nerve pain and back pain.
✨Recommended onsen hotels
2. Sounkyo
Sounkyo is situated in the beautiful Daisetsuzan National Park and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Sounkyo has over 60 spring sources producing waters in different colors and with different scents. Beautiful rocky cliffs at the bottom of the Daisetsu Mountains surround the town. Take a ropeway to Mount Asahidake, the highest mountain in Hokkaido
✅Health benefits: a simple sulfur spring, beneficial for skin inflammation, rheumatism, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
✨Recommended onsen hotels
3. Akan
Located right next to Lake Akan in Eastern Hokkaido, Akan onsen town is perfect for a cozy, relaxing stay. Many outdoor activities are available to explore the Akan Mashu National Park. In Ainu Kotan, a Hokkaido indigenous people’s community, you can learn Ainu culture and get some Ainu crafts. For more info & itineraries, check out my Akan guide.
✅Health benefits: Akan’s clear spring water is gentle on the skin, and suitable for everyone from babies to the elderly.
✨Recommended onsen hotels
4. Utoro, Shiretoko
Located on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Utoro is the center of Shiretoko tourism. Dipping in a hot spring is the best way to relax after enjoying outdoor activities in the great nature of Shiretoko. For more info & itineraries, check out my Shiretoko guide.
✅Health benefits: Utoro onsen features a hydrogen carbonate spring, which is said to ease muscle pain and soreness.
✨Recommended onsen hotels
5. Tokachigawa
Located near Obihiro city in Eastern Hokkaido, Tokachigawa onsen is a rare feature thanks to its unique underground geography that was formed with trees and reeds accumulated over several million years. The indigenous Ainu people used to call this onsen a pond of medicine because of its health benefits.
✅Health benefits: The water is rich in minerals and plant biomass, which moisturize and smooth the skin like body lotion. Also known to be effective for nerve pain and muscle pain.
✨Recommended onsen hotels
6. Yunokawa
Located in Hakodate city in Southern Hokkaido, Yunokawa Onsen is a beautiful onsen town with a long history dating back to the 15th century. A fun place to visit nearby is Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, where you can see monkeys bathing in a hot spring, from December to early May.
✅Health benefits: The water is scent-free, clear, and silky, containing natrium and calcium that keeps you warm for a long time.
✨Recommended onsen hotels
🤗Want to know more? Read a full list of Hokkaido onsen destinations & tips.
Happy travel planning!
Best,
Yuuka
