Day Trips from SapporoOnsen Near Sapporo: A Local's Guide to Day-Trip Hot Springs
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- Closest: Tsukisamu Onsen in Sapporo city (25 min by car); classic hot spring town: Jozankei (1 hr)
- Best single pick: Hoheikyo Onsen in Jozankei, a huge source-flowing open-air bath for 1,300 yen
- Tattoos: Hoheikyo Onsen and Dai-ichi Takimotokan are widely reported to accept them; private baths at Koganeyu from 3,800 yen
- Without a car: free shuttle buses from near Makomanai subway station to Koganeyu, Hoheikyo and Yunohana
Sapporo has hot springs inside the city and many more within a day's drive: a river valley of onsen inns an hour south, a lake you can see from the bath, and a volcanic valley where the water comes out of the ground steaming. I live in Sapporo and have bathed at every onsen in this guide on my days off. Here I pick the ones I would send a visitor to, with the drive time, the day-bathing price, which ones accept tattoos, which have private baths, and how to reach some of them without a car.
Does Sapporo have onsen?
Yes. There are natural hot springs inside the city, including large day spas you can reach by subway and bus, and Sapporo's own hot spring town, Jozankei, is in the southern part of the city about an hour's drive from the center. Within about two hours you also reach Noboribetsu, one of the most famous onsen towns in Japan, and onsen that look out over the Sea of Japan, Lake Toya and Mt. Yotei.
Most onsen in Japan open their large shared baths to day visitors, so you do not need to stay the night. You pay at the entrance, usually 600 to 2,500 yen, and can stay as long as you like.
The best onsen near Sapporo at a glance
These are the onsen I recommend most, nearest first. Drive times are from central Sapporo, and prices are for one adult on a day visit as of October 2026.
| Onsen | Area and drive | Day price | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsukisamu Onsen | Sapporo city, 25 min | 1,600–1,700 yen | Big open-air rock bath without leaving the city |
| Banya no Yu | Ishikari coast, 40 min | 900 yen | Brown seawater-like spring and bathing capybaras |
| Koganeyu Onsen | On the way to Jozankei, 1 hr | 1,270 yen | Renovated in 2025, with private baths |
| Hoheikyo Onsen | Jozankei, 1 hr | 1,300 yen | Huge mountain open-air bath, Indian curry, tattoos OK |
| Marukoma Onsen | Lake Shikotsu, 1 hr | 1,200 yen | Bath right on the lakeshore (Fri–Sun only) |
| Dai-ichi Takimotokan | Noboribetsu, 2 hr | 2,500 yen | Five kinds of water above Hell Valley, tattoos OK |
| Misaki no Yu Shakotan | Shakotan, 2 hr | 1,200 yen | Open-air bath above the blue sea (April–November) |
| Toya Kohantei | Lake Toya, 2.5 hr | 1,200 yen | Top-floor bath looking over the lake |
| Makkari Onsen | Below Mt. Yotei, 2.5 hr | 600 yen | Mt. Yotei straight ahead from the open-air bath |
If you have one afternoon, go to Hoheikyo Onsen. If you want the most memorable view and can drive two hours, choose Takimotokan in Noboribetsu, Misaki no Yu in Shakotan or Toya Kohantei, and combine it with sightseeing there. Looking for other trips as well? My guide to day trips from Sapporo compares all of them.
Day Trips from Sapporo: A Local's Guide to Where to GoThe best day trips from Sapporo, chosen by a local who drives them: Otaru, Jozankei, Noboribetsu, Shakotan, Lake Toya and Biei, with drive times, train options and the best season for each.
Onsen in Sapporo city
These are close enough for an evening after sightseeing, and big enough to spend a few hours in.
Tsukisamu Onsen
Tsukisamu Onsen is a large natural hot spring in Toyohira ward, about 25 minutes by car from Sapporo Station and close to the Sapporo Dome. It has a spacious open-air rock bath, a hot sauna and a salt sauna, and big rest areas and a restaurant, so it is popular with local families. The water is a sodium chloride spring, which keeps you warm long after you get out. It costs 1,600 yen on weekdays and 1,700 yen on weekends and holidays, and is open from 10:00 to midnight, with a cheaper early-morning bath from 6:00 to 9:00.
Banya no Yu
Banya no Yu is on the Ishikari coast, about 40 minutes north of central Sapporo. Its water is 100% from the source and dark brown, a so-called fossil seawater spring, and it warms you to the core. The sauna runs at about 90°C with high humidity. The real surprise is the capybaras: they live on site and soak in their own hot spring bath, looking extremely pleased with themselves. It costs 900 yen and is open from 10:00 to midnight; in winter it may open only on Fridays to Sundays, so check before you go.
Jozankei: Sapporo's hot spring town
Jozankei is a hot spring town in the valley of the Toyohira River, about an hour south of central Sapporo and still inside the city. There are over 20 inns, and many take day visitors. On the way you pass Koganeyu, and beyond the town is Hoheikyo, so with a car you can choose by the kind of bath you want.
Jozankei Onsen Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's RouteA local's day trip from Sapporo to Jozankei by car: Hoheikyo Dam in autumn colors, two day-use onsen, Lake Sapporo's viewpoints and a winery café, with bus, parking and seasonal tips.
Hoheikyo Onsen
Hoheikyo Onsen is my first recommendation near Sapporo. It is just below Hoheikyo Dam, and the water flows straight from the source with no added water and no reheating. It is slightly cloudy and soft on the skin, and the open-air bath is kept at about 39°C, cool enough to stay in for a long time while you look at the forest. There is no sauna; this is a place for the water itself.
The restaurant inside is famous for its Indian curry, with lamb or chicken curry and naan, and many people come as much for that as for the bath. Lunchtime in the autumn color season is very busy, so allow time. Day bathing costs 1,300 yen, from 10:00 to 22:30 (last entry 21:45), and parking is free.
Koganeyu Onsen
Koganeyu has been a healing spring since the Meiji era and reopened after a renovation in June 2025, so the building inside is new. The water is faintly cloudy and silky, and in the open-air bath you can soak in the source water or in a small pot bath surrounded by mountains. There is a dry sauna with automatic löyly and a mist sauna, and the restaurant serves soba made from 100% Hokkaido buckwheat.
Day bathing is 1,270 yen for adults, from 10:00 to 23:00 (last entry 22:00), with an early-morning bath from 6:00 to 9:00. There are also private baths for 90 minutes, 3,800 yen on weekdays and 4,300 yen on weekends and holidays.
Yunohana Jozankeiden and Hotel Shikanoyu
Two more good choices in Jozankei. Yunohana Jozankeiden is a big day-use spa with many baths and a Finnish sauna renovated in 2023, with an outdoor resting area facing the mountain; it costs 1,180 yen. Hotel Shikanoyu is an old inn in the center of the town with a sauna added in 2022 and two cold baths, and it costs 1,500 yen with towels included.
Lake Shikotsu: a bath on the lakeshore
Marukoma Onsen is an inn right on the shore of Lake Shikotsu, about an hour from Sapporo and 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport. From the bath you look across the clear water to Mt. Fuppushi. The indoor bath has three pools at different temperatures, the water is milky and slightly silky, and the sauna's cold bath uses lake water.
Day bathing is only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10:00 to 14:00, and costs 1,200 yen. A private outdoor bath for day visitors costs from 5,500 yen for 50 minutes.
Lake Shikotsu Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's RouteA local's day trip to Lake Shikotsu by car: the Okotanpe viewpoint, a lakeside bath at Marukoma Onsen, lake trout for lunch and the underwater boat, plus the ice festival and winter tips.
Worth the two-hour drive
These take two to two and a half hours each way, so make the onsen part of a full day of sightseeing there.
Noboribetsu: Dai-ichi Takimotokan
Noboribetsu is Hokkaido's best-known onsen town, built around Hell Valley, a volcanic valley of steaming vents. Dai-ichi Takimotokan, the inn at the top of the valley, has a huge two-level bathhouse with five kinds of spring water: as you walk in, big windows look straight out over Hell Valley. Downstairs are the saunas, outdoor baths and baths you can lie or walk in. Day bathing costs 2,500 yen, from 9:00 to 18:00, and towels are free. It is about two hours from Sapporo, or a little over an hour from New Chitose Airport.
Noboribetsu Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: Hell Valley, Onsen and Where to ParkA local's day trip from Sapporo to Noboribetsu by car: Hell Valley, Oyunuma, the bear park and a day bath at Takimotokan, with tolls, parking and winter driving tips.
Shakotan: Misaki no Yu
Misaki no Yu stands on a cliff above the sea on the Shakotan Peninsula. On a clear day, the deep "Shakotan blue" water fills the view, and you can lie down outside after the sauna and look out over the Sea of Japan. The water is cloudy and silky. It is open from April to November, 11:00 to 19:00, closed on Wednesdays, and costs 1,200 yen.
Shakotan and Cape Kamui Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's RouteA local's day trip from Sapporo to Shakotan by car: Cape Ogon, Shimamui Coast, a sea urchin bowl, Cape Kamui and a sea-view onsen, with tolls, opening hours, closures and the bus alternative.
Lake Toya: Toya Kohantei
Toya Kohantei is a hotel on the lakeshore, and its bath is on the 9th floor: you soak looking over the whole of Lake Toya, with Mt. Yotei behind it. Cooling off after the sauna with this view is wonderful. Day bathing costs 1,200 yen, from 13:00 to 19:00.
Lake Toya Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's Route, Viewpoints and OnsenA local's day trip from Sapporo to Lake Toya by car: Mt. Usu, a lakeside lunch, an onsen with a lake view and the quiet viewpoints on the north shore, with tolls, parking and winter tips.
If you cannot decide between Noboribetsu and Lake Toya, I compare them here.
Noboribetsu or Lake Toya: Which Day Trip from Sapporo Is Right for YouNoboribetsu or Lake Toya? A Sapporo local compares the two day trips by drive time, tolls, train access and highlights, and explains whether you can do both in one day.
Mt. Yotei: Makkari Onsen
Makkari Onsen is a source-flowing hot spring at the foot of Mt. Yotei, the volcano called "Ezo Fuji" for its Mt. Fuji-like cone. From the open-air rock bath, the mountain stands right in front of you, close enough to see the gullies on its slopes. The outdoor bath is a little cool, so you can stay in and watch the mountain. It costs only 600 yen, opens at 10:00 from April to September and at 11:00 from October to March, closes at 21:00, and is closed on Mondays.
Tattoo-friendly onsen near Sapporo
Many onsen in Japan still refuse guests with tattoos, and near Sapporo that includes large city spas such as Teine Onsen Honoka, which says so on its official site. These two are the ones travelers and tattoo-friendly onsen guides most often report as accepting tattoos:
- Hoheikyo Onsen (Jozankei): widely reported to welcome tattooed guests in all the shared baths
- Dai-ichi Takimotokan (Noboribetsu): often listed as tattoo-friendly, though some travelers say small tattoos had to be covered with patches
If you would rather not worry, book a private bath. Koganeyu (from 3,800 yen for 90 minutes) and Marukoma Onsen (from 5,500 yen for 50 minutes) both offer them to day visitors. Rules can change, so ask at reception or check the official site before you go.
Private onsen for day visitors
A private bath, called kashikiri, is a bath you book for your group alone. It suits couples and families who want to bathe together, people who feel shy about bathing with strangers and people with tattoos.
- Koganeyu Onsen: 90 minutes for 3,800 yen on weekdays and 4,300 yen on weekends and holidays, about an hour from Sapporo
- Marukoma Onsen: a private outdoor bath by Lake Shikotsu, from 5,500 yen for 50 minutes for up to four people, on its day-bathing days (Friday to Sunday)
Many inns in Jozankei also have rooms with their own bath if you decide to stay the night.
Onsen near Sapporo without a car
Some onsen run free shuttle buses from subway stations in Sapporo. Times change by season and buses can fill up, so check the official site before you go.
| Onsen | Where the bus leaves | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Koganeyu Onsen | Makomanai Station (Namboku subway line) | Four round trips a day; book your return when you arrive |
| Hoheikyo Onsen | Near Makomanai Station, 10:00 | One round trip a day, first come first served; returns at 15:00 |
| Yunohana Jozankeiden | Makomanai Station (Namboku subway line) | See the timetable on the official site |
To reach the Jozankei hot spring town, the Kappa Liner express bus runs from Sapporo Station in about an hour; book by 17:00 the day before. For Noboribetsu, the train and a local bus work well too. For Shakotan, Lake Toya and Makkari, a car is much easier.
Onsen etiquette for first-timers
If this is your first onsen, these are the basics. Nobody expects visitors to get everything right, but these points matter.
- Bathe naked. Swimsuits are not allowed in the shared baths, which are separated for men and women.
- Wash before you get in. Sit at the shower stools and wash your body and hair before entering the bath.
- Keep your towel out of the water. Put your small towel on your head or at the side of the bath.
- Take it slowly. The water can be hot. Get in gradually, drink water, and get out if you feel dizzy.
- Dry off before the changing room. Wipe yourself down with your small towel so you do not drip on the floor.
Most onsen sell or rent towels, and shampoo and soap are usually provided, so you can come with nothing.
Onsen near Sapporo in winter
Winter is the best season for an outdoor bath: snow falls on the water while you soak in the heat. Hoheikyo, Koganeyu and the inns of Jozankei are all good for this, and they are on main roads that are cleared of snow. Noboribetsu is easy too, since most of the way is on the expressway.
From November to April, expect snow and ice on the roads. Choose main roads, check the weather on the day, and leave extra time. Misaki no Yu in Shakotan closes from December to March.
FAQ about onsen near Sapporo
These are the questions people most often ask.
Q1. What is the closest onsen to Sapporo?
Among the onsen in this guide, Tsukisamu Onsen is about 25 minutes by car from Sapporo Station. For a classic hot spring town, Jozankei is about an hour south.
Q2. What is the best onsen near Sapporo for a day trip?
Hoheikyo Onsen in Jozankei, about an hour away, for its large open-air bath and source-flowing water. If you can drive two hours, Dai-ichi Takimotokan in Noboribetsu is the most impressive.
Q3. Are there tattoo-friendly onsen near Sapporo?
Yes. Hoheikyo Onsen and Dai-ichi Takimotokan are widely reported to accept tattoos. Private baths at Koganeyu or Marukoma Onsen are another option.
Q4. Can I go to an onsen near Sapporo without a car?
Yes. Koganeyu, Hoheikyo and Yunohana Jozankeiden run free shuttle buses from near Makomanai subway station, and the Kappa Liner bus goes to Jozankei from Sapporo Station.
Q5. How much does a day at an onsen near Sapporo cost?
Usually 600 to 2,500 yen for an adult. Makkari Onsen is 600 yen, Hoheikyo is 1,300 yen and Dai-ichi Takimotokan is 2,500 yen.
Q6. Can I use a private onsen near Sapporo on a day trip?
Yes. Koganeyu has private baths from 3,800 yen for 90 minutes, and Marukoma Onsen at Lake Shikotsu has one from 5,500 yen for 50 minutes.