Day Trips from SapporoKawayu Kanko Hotel: Acidic Sulfur Baths in Kawayu Onsen
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- Strong, acidic sulfur water that you can smell from the entrance
- In the middle of Kawayu Onsen, a few minutes from Mt. Io and close to Lake Kussharo
- A good base: Lake Kussharo on day one, Lake Mashu the next morning
- Day bathing 13:00–21:00, 1,000 yen for adults
Kawayu Kanko Hotel is a hot spring hotel in the middle of Kawayu Onsen, the hot spring town between Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu in eastern Hokkaido. It is not flashy, but the water is the real thing: strong, acidic sulfur water that you can smell from the moment you walk in. I stayed here on my eastern Hokkaido road trip, and it makes a good base for the lakes.
What is Kawayu Kanko Hotel like?
The hotel is in Kawayu Onsen, inside Akan Mashu National Park, with Mt. Io and Lake Kussharo close by. Because it is right in the hot spring town, it is easy to go out for a walk or for dinner. It is an older, large onsen hotel that takes tour groups as well as independent travelers.
The water: strong, acidic sulfur
The best thing about the hotel is the water. Kawayu Onsen is one of the most acidic hot springs in Japan, and here you feel it with every sense. The smell of sulfur greets you at the entrance and follows you down the corridors, so the whole building smells of the spring.
In the bath, the water makes your skin feel tight, and the smell of sulfur stays with you. It is not for everyone, but if you like onsen, it is worth trying once, and after a day at the cold lakes it warmed me right through.
Location: a quiet base for the lakes
- Mt. Io (Iozan), the steaming volcano, is a few minutes away by car, and you can see it from the hotel
- Sunayu on Lake Kussharo, where hot water bubbles up through the sand on the shore, is close
- Lake Mashu is an easy drive the next morning
That makes a natural two-day route: Lake Kussharo on day one, a night in Kawayu Onsen, and Lake Mashu on day two.
The hotel is in the middle of the town, so after your bath you can walk to a restaurant or an izakaya, then come back for another bath. At night the town is quiet. For dinner, Inakaya Genpei, in the town, serves local food with drinks.
Who is it for?
It suits travelers who care most about the water, want a calm stay rather than a resort, and like to walk around the hot spring town in the evening, after a full day out at the lakes.
Practical information
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Check-in / out | 15:00 / 10:00 |
| Day bathing | 13:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00), 1,000 yen for adults, 700 yen for children (age 3 to elementary school). Hours can change on some days |
| Phone | +81-15-483-2121 |
See the official site (in Japanese) for rooms and plans.
Kawayu Onsen on a road trip
Kawayu Onsen is the natural place to stay between Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. My eastern Hokkaido road trip has the route around the three lakes, with Kawayu Onsen as the base for the first night.
Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan: A Local's Eastern Hokkaido Road TripA two-night road trip around Lake Kussharo, Lake Mashu and Lake Akan to the Kushiro Wetland, from a Sapporo local who drove it: the order that works, what each lake is like, the boat to the marimo, and weather and driving tips.
Lake Mashu Observatory No. 1: The Classic View, Parking and the FogA local's guide to Lake Mashu Observatory No. 1 in eastern Hokkaido: the view, the Kamuy Terrace shop, how the three observatories compare, parking and what to do if the lake is in fog.
FAQ about Kawayu Kanko Hotel
Q1. Can you visit Kawayu Kanko Hotel just for a bath?
Yes. Day bathing is 13:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:00), 1,000 yen for adults.
Q2. What is the water like at Kawayu Onsen?
Strong, acidic sulfur water, among the most acidic in Japan. It smells strongly of sulfur and makes your skin feel tight.
Q3. Is Kawayu Onsen a good base for Lake Mashu?
Yes. It sits between Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu, a few minutes from Mt. Io.