Lake Sapporo Observation Decks: Which of the Four Shows Jozankei Dam

Lake Sapporo is the reservoir behind Jozankei Dam, in the mountains just above Jozankei Onsen, Sapporo's own hot spring town. Four viewpoints with free parking line the road along the lake, the 1st to 4th Observation Decks (in English searches and maps they often appear as Sapporo Lake 1st Observation Deck and so on), and each shows the lake differently. If you want to see Jozankei Dam, stop at the 1st Observation Deck, about 10 minutes from the hot spring town and a little over an hour from central Sapporo by car.

1Where are the Lake Sapporo observation decks?

All four are on road 1, the Otaru–Jozankei road (Hokkaido prefectural road 1, also called the Jozankei Lake Line), which runs from Jozankei Onsen over a mountain pass to Otaru. Coming up from Jozankei, the 1st Observation Deck is the first one you reach, about 10 minutes from the hot spring town; coming over the pass from Otaru, you reach the 4th first. The map board at the 1st Observation Deck shows how the lake, the dam and the four decks fit together.

From the 1st Observation Deck toward Otaru, the 2nd is past two tunnels, the 3rd is just across a bridge from the 2nd, and the 4th is a little further on. Each has its own free car park, and all four are on the left side of the road heading toward Otaru. Japan drives on the left, so if you drive up from Jozankei you turn in without crossing traffic, and you can stop at them in order. The further along you go, the fewer people there are.

2Can you see Jozankei Dam from the 1st Observation Deck?

Yes. Of the four, the 1st Observation Deck has the best view of Jozankei Dam: across the lake, beside a wooded hill, the concrete wall of the dam stretches along the far shore. When I went on October 24, 2023, the trees on the hills had turned yellow.

It is less a lookout than a parking area, with room for 20 to 30 cars. It was the busiest of the four, but I don't think you would have trouble finding a space. There is a Lake Sapporo monument and a public toilet, the only toilet at any of the four decks (Jozankei Dam page of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, which runs the dam (Japanese), as of November 2026).

3What does the 2nd Observation Deck look like?

From the 2nd Observation Deck, Jozankei Dam is only just in view, and trees surround the deck, so the lake felt a little harder to see. In autumn that means looking at the lake through red and yellow leaves.

The car park is a little smaller than at the 1st Observation Deck, but few people stop here, and I parked without any trouble.

4Can you walk down to the water at the 3rd Observation Deck?

Yes. The 3rd Observation Deck is just across the bridge from the 2nd. Here you can walk down from the car park and see Lake Sapporo right at the water's edge, instead of looking down on it as you do from the others. The way down is not a hard walk.

5What can you see from the 4th Observation Deck?

At the 4th Observation Deck, you climb a small rise right in front of the car park and look out over Lake Sapporo from above. The path up is not hard either. In autumn you see the lake and the mountains beyond it over the tops of the colored trees.

6Which observation deck should you stop at?

If you only stop once, make it the 1st Observation Deck: it has the dam view and the only toilet. With more time, stop there first and then go on to the 3rd, to walk down to the water, or the 4th, to look over the lake from above.

7Can you visit Lake Sapporo in winter?

Yes, in daytime. Road 1 past the observation decks is closed every night from 19:00 to 7:00 the next morning from November 2, 2026 to April 20, 2027, from Jozankei over the pass to the Otaru side. All four decks are inside the closed section, so in winter plan to be back in Jozankei, or through to the Otaru side, by 19:00 (Sapporo Minami Ward road closures (Japanese), as of November 14, 2026). The photos here are from the autumn colors on October 24, 2023. I have not seen the decks in winter, so I can't tell you how much snow is cleared from the car parks. Expect a snowy mountain road from November to April.

How to drive on snow and ice, and where to check road conditions before you set off, are in the winter part of my driving guide.

Driving in Hokkaido: A Local's Guide to Renting a Car and the RoadsHow to rent a car and drive in Hokkaido, from a Sapporo local who drives every week: the license you need, expressway tolls and the Hokkaido Expressway Pass, road rules, and winter driving.

8Jozankei Dam or Hoheikyo Dam?

Jozankei has two dams, and they are easy to mix up. Jozankei Dam, completed in 1989 as Sapporo's second reservoir after Hoheikyo Dam, holds back Lake Sapporo, and you see it from the road: the 1st Observation Deck looks at it from the lake side (Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, as of November 2026). Hoheikyo Dam is on the other side of the hot spring town, in a gorge. You cannot drive to it: you park at the Hoheikyo car park, about 15 minutes by car from the town, and ride a windowless electric bus for about 10 minutes, then walk across the top of the dam.

Hoheikyo prices and season are as of October 2026. On my day in Jozankei I did both: Hoheikyo Dam in the morning, then the observation decks in the afternoon.

Hoheikyo Dam: The Electric Bus, Autumn Leaves and Parking Near JozankeiA local's guide to Hoheikyo Dam above Jozankei: the windowless electric bus up the gorge (2026 season and fares), the view from the dam and the water release, autumn crowds and parking, and how to get there from Sapporo.

9How to get there from Sapporo

Jozankei Onsen is about an hour by car from central Sapporo (Sapporo Station or Shin-Sapporo); no expressway is needed. Roads out of the city get busy in the morning and evening, so allow an hour and a half then. From the hot spring town, take Route 1 up the mountain toward Otaru, and the 1st Observation Deck is the first you reach, about 10 minutes on.

On my Jozankei day trip, I left Hoheikyo Onsen, the hot spring on the way to Hoheikyo Dam, at 13:50, drove back through the hot spring town and reached the 1st Observation Deck at 14:10. From the 4th, I turned back the way I came, through Jozankei toward Sapporo, and reached Hakkenzan Kitchen & Marche, a winery café below Mt. Hakken, about 20 minutes after leaving the 4th deck. Then I stopped at Koganeyu Onsen, a day-use hot spring on the way back into the city, before heading home.

Hoheikyo Onsen: Source-Flowing Baths and Indian Curry Near JozankeiA local's guide to Hoheikyo Onsen near Jozankei: the source-flowing open-air bath, tattoos, the famous Indian curry and the wait, prices, hours, and how to get there by car from Sapporo.

10How long to stay

Stopping at all four decks in order, including the drive between them, took me about 40 minutes: I reached the 1st at 14:10 and left the 4th at 14:50.

11Location and parking

This is as of November 2026. Before a late-autumn or winter visit, check the closure dates on the Sapporo Minami Ward road closure page (Japanese). The map for each deck is in its section above.

12FAQ about the Lake Sapporo observation decks

Q1. Which Lake Sapporo observation deck has the best view of Jozankei Dam?

The 1st Observation Deck. You see the concrete wall of the dam across the lake. From the 2nd it is only just in view.

Q2. What is the difference between Jozankei Dam and Hoheikyo Dam?

Jozankei Dam holds back Lake Sapporo, and you see it for free from the 1st Observation Deck by the road. Hoheikyo Dam is on the other side of Jozankei Onsen and is reached by an electric bus from its car park, which runs only from early May to November 3.

Q3. Can you see Jozankei Dam up close?

Yes, from the Jozankei Dam Downstream Park, a park below the dam where you look up at it. It has a separate entrance from the observation decks; park in the park's first or second car park. In 2026 the park was open from April 25 to November 3, 9:00 to 17:00, with free entry, so it is closed for the rest of the 2026 season (as of November 14, 2026). You cannot see the lake from the park; to see it, climb the 402 steps beside the Jozankei Dam Museum to the top of the dam, about 15 minutes (Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, as of November 2026).

Q4. Can you drive past Lake Sapporo at night in winter?

No. From November 2, 2026 to April 20, 2027, Road 1 past the decks is closed from 19:00 to 7:00. In winter, plan to be back in Jozankei or through to the Otaru side by 19:00.

13Jozankei day trip by car

Lake Sapporo is one stop on my day trip from Sapporo, with Hoheikyo Dam, two day-use onsen and a winery café on the same route.

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.