Hoheikyo Onsen

Hōheikyō Onsen is the only one in Sapporo where the baths are filled with hot water sourced directly from the ground. There are both indoor and outdoor hot springs, plus an on-site spa that provides body and foot massages and skin treatments. For more active travelers, the onsen also organizes seasonal activities such as canoeing, camping, and snowshoeing. If you’re feeling hungry, the on-site restaurant serves Indian curries and naan, soba noodles, and jingisukan.

Hōheikyō Onsen is best visited independently, preferably after hiking or biking in the forest near Sapporo. Some tours, such as bicycle tours, stop at the hot springs after a day of outdoor activities. Other package tours purchased from tourist info counters at the main Sapporo Station and Sapporo TV Tower include bus transfers and entrance fees for most onsen in the area.

• The hot springs allow alcohol, so you can sip some local beer while soaking.

• Hōheikyō’s baths are separated by gender but switch daily so men and women can experience both.

• Soap and shampoo are included with admission; towels are available for a small fee.

• Children 2 and under enter for free; those between 3 and 11 enter at a discount.

Hōheikyō Onsen is about 22 miles (35 kilometers) southwest of central Sapporo. The bus ride from the Sapporo Station Bus Terminal on the Kappa Liner can reach the hot springs in about 80 minutes. A free shuttle from Makomanai Station runs once daily, departing mid-morning and returning mid-afternoon.

The hot springs are open daily, year-round, from mid-morning to late at night, with the last entrance just over an hour before closing. Visitors can time their visit with seasonal activities, such as snowshoeing in the winter and camping and canoeing in the summer. Hōheikyō’s baths are separated by gender but switch daily, so check the schedule in advance if there’s a particular bath you’d like to visit.

Travelers visiting Hōheikyō Onsen have the chance to do more than soak in hot springs. From the middle of June to the end of October, Hōheikyō organizes canoeing trips, with packages including hot spring baths and curry from its on-site restaurant. Come winter, visitors can dine in an igloo house and explore the surrounding forest on snow shoes. In spring and summer, camping is available. A barbecue "house" can be used year-round.