Quick answer
Hokkaido's onsen experiences range from ¥1,000 to ¥40,000+ per person, with Dai-ichi Takimotokan being a top recommendation for its unmatched variety of baths. These onsen offer a unique experience compared to the main island, with space, wildness, and a sense of being at the edge of the world. This guide covers the 12 onsen that Reddit's travel community recommends most consistently.
- Best overall
- Dai-ichi Takimotokan
- Top pick
- Dai-ichi Takimotokan
Top verdicts
- Dai-ichi Takimotokan: Sulfur · Noboribetsu in Noboribetsu Onsen with a ¥2,000 / Stay from ¥15,000 spend range
- Jozankei Onsen (Mori no Uta): Sodium · Near Sapporo in Jozankei, Sapporo (1hr by bus) with a ¥1,500 / Stay from ¥15,000 spend range
- Nonokaze Resort (Lake Toya): Lakeside · Toyako in Lake Toya, Toyako with a ¥20,000/person with meals spend range
Hokkaido sits on some of the most geothermally active land in Japan, and it shows. The island has over 250 hot spring areas — more than any other prefecture. From the sulfurous steam of Noboribetsu's Hell Valley to the crystal-clear lakes of Shikotsu, Hokkaido's onsen offer something you won't find on the main island: space, wildness, and a sense of being at the edge of the world.
Whether you're planning a day trip from Sapporo or a multi-day onsen pilgrimage across the island, we've got you covered.
Area map
1. Dai-ichi Takimotokan
Start with:
- 1. Dai-ichi Takimotokan
- 2. Jozankei Onsen (Mori no Uta)
- 3. Nonokaze Resort (Lake Toya)
- 4. Marukoma Onsen (Lake Shikotsu)
- 5. Asahidake Onsen Yumoto Yukomansou
- 6. Bourou Noguchi Noboribetsu
- 7. Sounkyo Onsen
- 8. Hōheikyō Hot Spring
- 9. Kawayu Onsen
- 10. Ko No Sumika (Lake Toya)
- 11. Tokachigawa Onsen
- 12. Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
All 12 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dai-ichi Takimotokan | Sulfur · Noboribetsu | ¥2,000 / Stay from ¥15,000 | Noboribetsu Onsen | |
| 2 | Jozankei Onsen (Mori no Uta) | Sodium · Near Sapporo | ¥1,500 / Stay from ¥15,000 | Jozankei, Sapporo (1hr by bus) | |
| 3 | Nonokaze Resort (Lake Toya) | Lakeside · Toyako | ¥20,000/person with meals | Lake Toya, Toyako | |
| 4 | Marukoma Onsen (Lake Shikotsu) | Lakeside · Chitose | ¥12,000/person | Lake Shikotsu, Chitose | |
| 5 | Asahidake Onsen Yumoto Yukomansou | Mountain · Daisetsuzan | ¥10,000/person | Asahidake, Higashikawa | |
| 6 | Bourou Noguchi Noboribetsu | Luxury · Noboribetsu | ¥40,000/person | Noboribetsu Onsen | |
| 7 | Sounkyo Onsen | Mountain · Daisetsuzan | ¥8,000/person | Kamikawa, Daisetsuzan NP | |
| 8 | Hōheikyō Hot Spring | Outdoor · Near Sapporo | ¥1,000 day use | Minami-ku, Sapporo | |
| 9 | Kawayu Onsen | Acidic · Akan-Mashu NP | ¥8,000/person | Teshikaga, eastern Hokkaido | |
| 10 | Ko No Sumika (Lake Toya) | Luxury · Toyako | ¥30,000/person | Lake Toya, Toyako | |
| 11 | Tokachigawa Onsen | Moor Spring · Tokachi | ¥6,000/person | Otofuke, Tokachi | |
| 12 | Noboribetsu Grand Hotel | Mixed Springs · Noboribetsu | ¥10,000/person | Noboribetsu Onsen |
1Dai-ichi Takimotokan
Sulfur · Noboribetsu
Verdict: Sulfur · Noboribetsu in Noboribetsu Onsen with a ¥2,000 / Stay from ¥15,000 spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Sulfur · Noboribetsu in Noboribetsu Onsen with a ¥2,000 / Stay from ¥15,000 spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Sulfur · Noboribetsu · Noboribetsu Onsen
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥2,000 / Stay from ¥15,000
- Price / value
- ¥2,000 / Stay from ¥15,000
- Why it made the list
- The undisputed Reddit favorite. If you only visit one onsen in Hokkaido, make it this one. The day pass is a steal at ¥2,000 — you could easily spend 3–4 hours cycling through the different baths. Staying overnight lets you enjoy the baths after day visitors leave. Combine with a walk through Jigokudani Hell Valley in the morning.
- What to order
- Dai-ichi Takimotokan is a featured pick in this guide.
“Dai-ichi Takimotokan in Noboribetsu felt like the Disney World of onsen. I've been 3x and I live in Japan — it's the most magical onsen hotel I've ever been to!”
— Editor's note
“I cannot recommend Dai-ichi Takimotokan enough. I went there on my 1st trip and was there again last week. They are the best onsen I've ever been to. If you're in Hokkaido, it's kinda a must-do for me.”
— Editor's note
2Jozankei Onsen (Mori no Uta)
Sodium · Near Sapporo
Verdict: Sodium · Near Sapporo in Jozankei, Sapporo (1hr by bus) with a ¥1,500 / Stay from ¥15,000 spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Sodium · Near Sapporo in Jozankei, Sapporo (1hr by bus) with a ¥1,500 / Stay from ¥15,000 spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Sodium · Near Sapporo · Jozankei, Sapporo (1hr by bus)
- Limitations
- winter snow views from the outdoor baths are equally special
- Price / value
- ¥1,500 / Stay from ¥15,000
- Why it made the list
- The easiest onsen escape from Sapporo. Perfect as a day trip with the Mori no Uta lunch + bath combo. One night is the sweet spot — two nights and you might get restless since the town itself is small. Autumn (October) is the magic season here, but winter snow views from the outdoor baths are equally special.
- What to order
- Jozankei Onsen (Mori no Uta) is a featured pick in this guide.
“I love Jozankei — it's beautiful and peaceful and if you're onsen hopping, it's the best. But it's also very close to Sapporo so going for more than one night is probably going to be a bit boring.”
— Editor's note
“Take a look at Jozankei Onsen. I did it as a day trip — day visitor at Mori no Uta + lunch buffet — but you can also stay overnight.”
— Editor's note
3Nonokaze Resort (Lake Toya)
Lakeside · Toyako
Verdict: Lakeside · Toyako in Lake Toya, Toyako with a ¥20,000/person with meals spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Lakeside · Toyako in Lake Toya, Toyako with a ¥20,000/person with meals spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Lakeside · Toyako · Lake Toya, Toyako
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥20,000/person with meals
- Price / value
- ¥20,000/person with meals
- Why it made the list
- Lake Toya is the scenic counterpart to Noboribetsu's onsen intensity. Nonokaze gives you that private bath + lake view combo that Instagram dreams are made of. Great for couples. The lake itself is beautiful for walking, and you can combine with a day trip to Noboribetsu (30 min drive). Lake Hill Farm nearby has incredible gelato.
- What to order
- Nonokaze Resort (Lake Toya) is a featured pick in this guide.
“We stayed at Nonokaze in Lake Toya and the room had tatami and a private onsen bath with lake view. Once in the room, it was peaceful and view was gorgeous. If I had to pick one, it would be Lake Toya especially if you can book a lake-facing room.”
— Editor's note
4Marukoma Onsen (Lake Shikotsu)
Lakeside · Chitose
Verdict: Lakeside · Chitose in Lake Shikotsu, Chitose with a ¥12,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Lakeside · Chitose in Lake Shikotsu, Chitose with a ¥12,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Lakeside · Chitose · Lake Shikotsu, Chitose
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥12,000/person
- Price / value
- ¥12,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The most photogenic onsen in Hokkaido — soaking in an outdoor bath while gazing at the impossibly clear lake is transcendent. Only about 1 hour from New Chitose Airport, making it a perfect first or last stop on a Hokkaido trip. The January Ice Festival is a bucket-list winter experience.
- What to order
- Marukoma Onsen (Lake Shikotsu) is a featured pick in this guide.
“They have family-style private baths at Marukoma Onsen next to Lake Shikotsu. It's not in your guest room, but you can reserve them for your private use.”
— Editor's note
5Asahidake Onsen Yumoto Yukomansou
Mountain · Daisetsuzan
Verdict: Mountain · Daisetsuzan in Asahidake, Higashikawa with a ¥10,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Mountain · Daisetsuzan in Asahidake, Higashikawa with a ¥10,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Mountain · Daisetsuzan · Asahidake, Higashikawa
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥10,000/person
- Price / value
- ¥10,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The onsen for people who want to feel genuinely remote. No crowds, no tour buses — just mountain air, volcanic steam, and silence. Definitely worth the overnight to catch the stargazing and early morning soak. Best combined with hiking in Daisetsuzan in summer or powder skiing in winter. The journey there is half the experience.
- What to order
- Asahidake Onsen Yumoto Yukomansou is a featured pick in this guide.
“The onsen at Asahidake Onsen Yumoto Yukomansou was simply extraordinary.”
— Editor's note
“Getting out for an early morning hike or seeing the stars in the dark of night are worth it for me and my travel companions.”
— Editor's note
6Bourou Noguchi Noboribetsu
Luxury · Noboribetsu
Verdict: couples or solo travelers who want privacy and world-class kaiseki
Quick comparison
- Best for
- couples or solo travelers who want privacy and world-class kaiseki
- Strengths
- Known for Luxury · Noboribetsu · Noboribetsu Onsen
- Limitations
- nothing in Noboribetsu matches the overall experience
- Price / value
- ¥40,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The splurge pick. If Dai-ichi Takimotokan is Disneyland, Bourou Noguchi is a private members' club. Best for couples or solo travelers who want privacy and world-class kaiseki. The in-room onsen means you can soak at 2 AM in total solitude. Not cheap, but nothing in Noboribetsu matches the overall experience.
- What to order
- Bourou Noguchi Noboribetsu is a featured pick in this guide.
“Dai-ichi Takimotokan or Bourou Noguchi? If you want the classic massive onsen experience, go Takimotokan. If you want luxury and privacy, Noguchi is the move.”
— Editor's note
7Sounkyo Onsen
Mountain · Daisetsuzan
Verdict: Mountain · Daisetsuzan in Kamikawa, Daisetsuzan NP with a ¥8,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Mountain · Daisetsuzan in Kamikawa, Daisetsuzan NP with a ¥8,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Mountain · Daisetsuzan · Kamikawa, Daisetsuzan NP
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥8,000/person
- Price / value
- ¥8,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The dramatic landscape pick. The gorge setting is unlike any other onsen town in Japan. Best as a base for exploring Daisetsuzan — Japan's largest national park. The smaller, cozier pensions offer more character than the large resort hotels. In autumn, the surrounding mountains put on one of Hokkaido's best koyo (fall foliage) displays.
- What to order
- Sounkyo Onsen is a featured pick in this guide.
“Sounkyo onsen has multiple ryokan-like accommodation options. Another suggestion would be Asahidake Onsen which is less crowded.”
— Editor's note
8Hōheikyō Hot Spring
Outdoor · Near Sapporo
Verdict: Outdoor · Near Sapporo in Minami-ku, Sapporo with a ¥1,000 day use spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Outdoor · Near Sapporo in Minami-ku, Sapporo with a ¥1,000 day use spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Outdoor · Near Sapporo · Minami-ku, Sapporo
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥1,000 day use
- Price / value
- ¥1,000 day use
- Why it made the list
- The hidden gem for Sapporo-based travelers who want a mountain onsen without the long drive. The combination of forest bathing and actual bathing is deeply restorative. The curry is surprisingly good — eat first, soak after. Best visited in autumn for foliage or winter for the snow-covered forest setting. Budget-friendly and authentic.
- What to order
- Hōheikyō Hot Spring is a featured pick in this guide.
🕐 Closed now
Mon10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 10:30 PM
“Hōheikyō Hot Spring — an incredible outdoor onsen in the mountains, available for day use, ideally in the mountains!”
— Editor's note
9Kawayu Onsen
Acidic · Akan-Mashu NP
Verdict: Acidic · Akan-Mashu NP in Teshikaga, eastern Hokkaido with a ¥8,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Acidic · Akan-Mashu NP in Teshikaga, eastern Hokkaido with a ¥8,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Acidic · Akan-Mashu NP · Teshikaga, eastern Hokkaido
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥8,000/person
- Price / value
- ¥8,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The off-the-beaten-path pick for eastern Hokkaido road trippers. You won't find tour buses here — just genuine small-town onsen atmosphere. Mount Io nearby is more impressive than Noboribetsu's Hell Valley according to multiple Redditors, and you'll have it mostly to yourself. Combine with Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo for a full day of volcanic wonder.
- What to order
- Kawayu Onsen is a featured pick in this guide.
“Kawayu Onsen is very cozy and surrounded by beautiful nature and landscapes. Akan-Mashu National Park has some of Hokkaido's most stunning scenery.”
— Editor's note
10Ko No Sumika (Lake Toya)
Luxury · Toyako
Verdict: Luxury · Toyako in Lake Toya, Toyako with a ¥30,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Luxury · Toyako in Lake Toya, Toyako with a ¥30,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Luxury · Toyako · Lake Toya, Toyako
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥30,000/person
- Price / value
- ¥30,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The dream pick for a romantic getaway. A private outdoor onsen overlooking a volcanic caldera lake — it doesn't get more Hokkaido than that. The all-you-can-eat buffet at lunch and dinner is surprisingly generous for the quality. Book a lake-facing room with private bath well in advance — they sell out months ahead, especially in winter.
- What to order
- Ko No Sumika (Lake Toya) is a featured pick in this guide.
“If money is no object, Ko No Sumika with a room including a private outdoor onsen bath was amazing. The public onsen's view facing the lake was spectacular.”
— Editor's note
11Tokachigawa Onsen
Moor Spring · Tokachi
Verdict: Moor Spring · Tokachi in Otofuke, Tokachi with a ¥6,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Moor Spring · Tokachi in Otofuke, Tokachi with a ¥6,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Moor Spring · Tokachi · Otofuke, Tokachi
- Limitations
- Price band: ¥6,000/person
- Price / value
- ¥6,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The scientifically interesting pick. The amber moor water is genuinely different from typical mineral springs — you'll notice the silky texture immediately. Worth combining with a visit to the Tokachi dairy farms and the famous Rokkatei and Ryugetsu confectionery shops. Less touristy than southwestern Hokkaido, and your skin will thank you.
- What to order
- Tokachigawa Onsen is a featured pick in this guide.
“Tokachigawa is unique — the moor spring water is unlike any other onsen in Japan. It feels like bathing in silk.”
— Editor's note
12Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Mixed Springs · Noboribetsu
Verdict: Mixed Springs · Noboribetsu in Noboribetsu Onsen with a ¥10,000/person spend range
Quick comparison
- Best for
- Mixed Springs · Noboribetsu in Noboribetsu Onsen with a ¥10,000/person spend range
- Strengths
- Known for Mixed Springs · Noboribetsu · Noboribetsu Onsen
- Limitations
- Grand Hotel has the chartered bath that many couples specifically seek
- Price / value
- ¥10,000/person
- Why it made the list
- The practical choice for travelers who want the Noboribetsu experience with a private bath option. Dai-ichi Takimotokan has more baths, but Grand Hotel has the chartered bath that many couples specifically seek. The three spring types means you can compare different mineral compositions in one stay. Solid value for money.
- What to order
- Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is a featured pick in this guide.
“I searched in Japanese, but I only found the Noboribetsu Grand Hotel with a private, by-the-hour onsen. Scroll down to 'chartered bath.'”
— Editor's note
Frequently asked questions
What is the best onsen in Hokkaido?
Based on local consensus Dai-ichi Takimotokan in Noboribetsu is the most highly recommended onsen in Hokkaido. It features over 30 different baths with various mineral compositions and is frequently described as 'the Disney World of onsen.' For a more intimate experience, Marukoma Onsen on Lake Shikotsu and Asahidake Onsen are top picks.
Should I visit Noboribetsu or Jozankei?
It depends on your priorities. Jozankei is closer to Sapporo (about 1 hour by bus) and perfect for a day trip or one-night stay. Noboribetsu has more to explore — Hell Valley, better variety of baths, and more of a dedicated onsen town feel. For a deeper experience, Reddit recommends Noboribetsu for 2+ nights and Jozankei for a quick escape.
How much does an onsen experience cost in Hokkaido?
Day-use onsen baths typically cost ¥800–¥2,000 ($5–$14 USD). A ryokan stay with dinner and breakfast ranges from ¥10,000–¥40,000 ($70–$280 USD) per person. Luxury properties like Bourou Noguchi can exceed ¥50,000. Many hotels sell day passes even if you're not staying overnight — Dai-ichi Takimotokan's is around ¥2,000.
Can I visit Hokkaido onsen with tattoos?
Tattoo policies vary by establishment. Many traditional public onsen in Hokkaido still prohibit tattoos, but attitudes are gradually changing. Your best options are: booking a ryokan with a private onsen (kashikiri-buro), visiting more foreigner-friendly establishments like Dai-ichi Takimotokan, or using tattoo cover sheets available at some hotels.
What is the best time to visit Hokkaido onsen?
Winter (December–February) is the most magical time — soaking in a steaming outdoor rotenburo while snow falls around you is an iconic Hokkaido experience. Autumn (October–November) offers stunning foliage, especially at mountain onsen like Asahidake and Sounkyo. Summer is pleasant but lacks the dramatic atmosphere. All Hokkaido onsen operate year-round.
Can I do a day trip to an onsen from Sapporo?
Yes! Jozankei is only 1 hour by bus from Sapporo and makes an easy day trip. Hōheikyō Hot Spring is even closer. Noboribetsu is about 1.5 hours by JR train. Lake Shikotsu is roughly 1 hour by car. All offer day-use bathing options without requiring an overnight stay.