Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Located roughly in the very center of Hokkaido, Tokachidake Onsen sits halfway up Mt. Tokachidake and is the perfect hot spring destination for mountain and nature lovers.

For about half the year, the area is blanketed in snow, and you can enjoy a snowy open-air bath until around June each year. During the coldest months, you might even catch a magical display of “diamond dust” shimmering in the air as you soak in the hot spring. Nestled quietly at an elevation of 1,200 meters, a handful of hot spring inns offer an unforgettable nighttime experience with starry skies so vivid they feel within arm’s reach.

Among these inns is Yumoto Ryounkaku, the highest hot spring inn in Hokkaido. From its open-air bath, which seems to jut out into the sky, you can marvel at breathtaking views of a pure white snowy world and a sea of clouds. The dramatic panorama of the Tokachidake mountain range spreading out before your eyes is simply overwhelming!

- Access: About 30–40 minutes by town bus from JR Kamifurano Station (3 round trips per day)

- Day-use bathing: Available

Along the shores of Lake Kussharo lies a hidden gem: Kotan no Yu, a free outdoor hot spring where you can soak while gazing at the lake and graceful swans. Located just 5 meters from the lake, this unique hot spring lets you experience the beauty of nature up close.

The spacious, stone-built bath faces the expansive lake, and the water level in the tub is nearly the same height as the lake’s surface. As you sink into the hot spring, it feels as if you’re bathing right in Lake Kussharo itself. From November to April, many swans migrate to the lake, and you can enjoy the magical feeling of relaxing alongside these elegant birds as they rest on the water just a few meters away.

For peace of mind, there are separate changing rooms for men and women. Wearing swimwear or wrapping a towel while bathing is also allowed. Why not take a break while admiring the breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Kussharo and the swans gliding by?

- Opening Hours: 24 hours

- Note: There may be times when the bath is unavailable due to scheduled cleaning or weather conditions.

In the Shiretoko area, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, drift ice typically arrives at the Shiretoko Peninsula from late January each year, turning the Sea of Okhotsk into a stunning white landscape. During drift ice season, you can not only admire the ice but also enjoy unique winter activities such as walking on the drift ice or even diving among it.

If you want to warm up after your drift ice adventure, head to Utoro Hot Spring in the Utoro district of Shari Town. As a major base for exploring the Shiretoko Peninsula, Utoro offers a range of hotels and guesthouses. The brownish, cloudy water of its sodium chloride hot spring is known as “Bijin-no-Yu” (Hot Spring of Beauty) for its skin-moisturizing properties, making it especially popular with women.

Taking a relaxing soak while watching the sunset over the drift ice floating on the Sea of Okhotsk is an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience only possible at Utoro Hot Spring.

- Access: About 2 hours 10 minutes by Shari Bus "Shiretoko Airport Liner" from Memanbetsu Airport

- Day-use Bathing: Available

About 100 minutes by bus from Obihiro, you’ll find Japan’s highest-altitude natural lake, Lake Shikaribetsu. Only in winter — and only here in the world — a breathtaking open-air hot spring appears on the frozen lake!

From late January to late March, when the entire lake surface freezes over, the enchanting “Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan” emerges on the ice for about two months. Within this magical snow-and-ice village, you’ll discover ice bars, a concert hall, a chapel, lodges — and, amazingly, an open-air hot spring! This is a real natural hot spring sourced from the lakeside of Lake Shikaribetsu, poured directly into the outdoor bath. As spring comes, it melts away completely — a true limited-time, once-in-a-lifetime hot spring experience you can find nowhere else.

Although the bath is mixed-gender, there are women-only time slots, and wearing a swimsuit is allowed. At night, relaxing in the open-air bath under a sky full of shimmering stars feels truly mystical. Why not immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind moment at this flowing natural hot spring?

- Access: About 100 minutes by Hokkaido Takushoku Bus from Obihiro Bus Center bound for “Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan (Lake Shikaribetsu)”.

About 30 minutes by car from Niseko, you will find Makkari Hot Spring, a popular day-use hot spring loved by hot spring enthusiasts for its stunning scenery.

The main attraction here is the spectacular view of Mt. Yotei from the outdoor bath. Nicknamed the “Ezo Fuji,” Mt. Yotei is one of Hokkaido’s most iconic mountains, and from the outdoor hot spring, you can enjoy an unobstructed, head-on view of this mountain, which closely resembles Mt. Fuji.

Soak in the natural free-flowing hot spring while gazing directly at the magnificent Ezo Fuji, and warm your body to the core as you take in the breathtaking landscape. Inside the rustic log cabin-style building, there is a spacious 45-tatami mat hall where you can relax after your bath and savor a moment of peace.

About 80 minutes by car or bus from JR Sapporo Station, beyond Jozankei Hot Spring, lies the day-use Hoheikyo Hot Spring.

The highlight here is one of Japan’s largest open-air baths, which can accommodate about 200 people, filled 100% with free-flowing natural hot spring water. There are three types of open-air baths, with men’s and women’s baths alternating daily depending on whether the day is odd or even. At night, the area is beautifully illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere that soothes both body and mind. In winter, you can soak while surrounded by an endless snowy landscape.

If you visit Hoheikyo Hot Spring in winter, don’t miss the unique “Kamakura Genghis Khan” experience! From late January to March each year, one of Japan’s largest snow domes is built at Hoheikyo Hot Spring, where you can enjoy Hokkaido’s famous local dish, Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) inside an authentic kamakura. Why not enjoy this special winter activity along with a relaxing hot spring soak?

- Access: About 80 minutes from the bus terminal at JR Sapporo Station by “Jotetsu Bus” Kappa Liner or Hoheikyo Hot Spring Line.

Located on the shore of Lake Shikotsu, Marukoma Hot Spring is a scenic hot spring inn founded in 1915. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing soak while taking in the breathtaking views of Lake Shikotsu.

The highlight is the rustic open-air bath, separated from Lake Shikotsu only by natural rocks. This rare “Ashimoto Yushutsu-yu (bottom-spring hot spring),” where hot water gushes directly from beneath your feet, is said to exist in only about 20 places across Japan.

From the gravel-covered bottom, 50°C natural hot spring water bubbles up, and the water level in the bath changes depending on the water level of Lake Shikotsu itself. The open-air bath has retained its original form since the inn’s founding, and the winter scenery of Lake Shikotsu viewed from this bath is truly extraordinary. Immerse yourself in a dynamic bathing experience surrounded by Hokkaido’s magnificent nature.

- Access: About 50 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport