Best Hokkaido Onsen Towns: Noboribetsu, Jozankei & Toyako Compared

Why Hokkaido Has Some of Japan’s Best Onsen Towns

Hokkaido is volcanic country, and that geology pays off for travelers in one obvious way: hot springs. The island has more onsen towns per capita than almost anywhere in Japan, and many of them are wrapped around dramatic landscapes — a steaming volcanic crater in Noboribetsu, a sleepy lakeside in Toyako, a forested gorge in Jozankei. For first-time visitors planning a Hokkaido trip, picking the right onsen town can be the difference between an okay night in a regional ryokan and an unforgettable one.

This guide compares the three best Hokkaido onsen towns for first-time visitors — Noboribetsu, Jozankei, and Toyako — and walks through where to stay, how to get there, what to expect at the hot springs, and which town fits your trip best. Whether you’re after a luxurious kaiseki dinner, a day-pass dip, or a hot-spring-hopping itinerary, here’s how to plan it.

Hokkaido Onsen 101

What Makes Hokkaido Onsen Different

Hokkaido sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, so the island is dotted with active volcanoes — Mt. Yotei, Mt. Showa-shinzan, Mt. Usu — that feed the hot springs. The water often comes out high in sulfur, sodium chloride, or iron, depending on the source. That gives Hokkaido onsen a distinct mineral character: white-cloudy sulfur baths in Noboribetsu, clear soft baths in Jozankei, and iron-rich rust-colored baths in Toyako.

If you’re brand new to Japanese ryokan culture, our best ryokan experience in Japan guide walks through etiquette, what to wear, and what to expect at dinner.

Best Time for a Hokkaido Onsen Trip

Honestly, any season works — but winter is unbeatable. Sitting in an outdoor rotenburo while snow falls onto your shoulders is the kind of experience that stays with you for years. Summer is also lovely, especially at lakeside onsen towns where the breeze rolls in over the water.

Noboribetsu: The Most Famous Hokkaido Onsen Town

Why Noboribetsu Stands Out

Noboribetsu is Hokkaido’s most well-known onsen town, and for good reason. The town sits below Jigokudani — “Hell Valley” — a 450-meter-wide volcanic crater that hisses with steam, sulfur, and bubbling streams. The crater is the source for nine different mineral waters, which is unusual; most Japanese onsen towns share a single source. That means a single ryokan in Noboribetsu can offer four or five different baths, each with a different mineral profile.

Best Things to Do in Noboribetsu

Walk the wooden boardwalks across Jigokudani at golden hour, when the steam rises through the slanted light. Continue up to Oyunuma Pond, a 130°C lake whose runoff feeds a natural footbath in the forest. Try the Dai-ichi Takimotokan, a giant ryokan with seven different baths under one roof — a day-pass dip is around ¥2,000 and one of the best-value onsen experiences in Hokkaido.

How to Get to Noboribetsu from Sapporo

The Hokuto limited express runs from Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu Station in about 70 minutes (¥4,480). From the station, a 15-minute bus or taxi ride brings you up the mountain to the onsen district. Most ryokan offer free shuttles.

If you’re combining onsen with city sightseeing, our best things to do in Sapporo guide covers the city you’ll likely use as a base.

Jozankei: Sapporo’s Backyard Hot Spring

Why Jozankei Is the Easiest Option

Jozankei is just 45 minutes from downtown Sapporo by bus, which makes it the easiest hot spring escape on the island. The town hugs a forested river gorge, and most of its 20+ ryokan have outdoor baths overlooking the water. The water here is sodium chloride — clear, slightly salty, and famously good for sore muscles. Locals have been using these springs since 1866, and the place still has a low-key, lived-in feel that pricier resorts have lost.

Best Things to Do in Jozankei

The Futami Suspension Bridge over the gorge is the iconic photo spot — particularly stunning during koyo (autumn leaves) in mid-October. Walk to the riverside footbath at Iwato Kannon-do, then wander to the seven natural rotenburo dotted along the river. In winter, the small Yukitouro snow lantern festival lights up the town in early February.

How to Get to Jozankei from Sapporo

The Donan Bus from Sapporo Station Bus Terminal takes 75 minutes (¥790 one-way). Many Jozankei ryokan run free shuttles directly from Sapporo Station — check when you book.

If you’re new to Hokkaido and still planning your bigger itinerary, see our Hokkaido travel guide for first-time visitors.

Toyako: The Lakeside Onsen with Volcano Views

Why Toyako Is the Most Scenic

Lake Toya is a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption 100,000 years ago, and the onsen town that wraps around its southern shore has the best view of any hot spring town in Hokkaido. From your ryokan window you’ll see the lake in the foreground, Mt. Usu in the middle distance, and Mt. Showa-shinzan — a baby volcano that pushed itself up out of farmland in 1944 — beyond. Several ryokan have lakeside rotenburo where you bathe staring straight at the volcanoes.

Best Things to Do in Toyako

Take the ropeway up Mt. Usu for views over the still-steaming Showa-shinzan. Cruise the lake on the round-trip ferry, stopping at Nakajima Island. From late April through October, Lake Toya hosts a nightly fireworks show over the water — one of the longest-running fireworks festivals in Japan. Try the local milk and cheese at the lakeside ranches.

How to Get to Toyako from Sapporo

The Hokuto limited express to Toya Station takes about two hours (¥6,000), with a 20-minute bus connection to the onsen district. It’s farther than Jozankei or Noboribetsu, so plan an overnight rather than a day trip.

Where to Stay: Best Hokkaido Onsen Ryokan

Comparing the Three Towns

Pick Noboribetsu for the most dramatic landscape and the widest variety of mineral baths under one roof. Pick Jozankei for the easiest access from Sapporo and the most relaxed atmosphere. Pick Toyako for the views and the summer fireworks. If you have time, do two of the three on the same trip — Jozankei + Noboribetsu pairs especially well.

Use Booking.com to compare Noboribetsu ryokan for the most direct comparison of room types, kaiseki meal plans, and onsen variety. Jozankei and Toyako ryokan are equally easy to find on Booking.com.

Day-Pass Onsen Without Staying Overnight

You don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy these towns. Most large ryokan sell day-pass entry to their baths for ¥1,500–¥2,500. It’s a great option if you’re visiting Sapporo and only have time for a half-day onsen visit to Jozankei.

If you’re visiting in winter, our Hokkaido winter activities guide shows how to combine onsen days with skiing and snow festivals.

Onsen Etiquette and What to Expect

The Basics

You’ll bathe nude, separated by gender. Wash thoroughly at the seated showers before entering the bath. No towels in the water — set the small towel on the side or fold it on your head. No swimsuits in the bath. No phones in the bathing area.

Tattoos in Hokkaido Onsen

Many Hokkaido ryokan are more relaxed about tattoos than mainland Japan. Even so, smaller tattoos can be covered with skin-tone cover stickers (sold at most large drugstores). Some ryokan offer private kashikiri-buro (rented family baths) you can reserve for an hour for full privacy.

What to Pack

The ryokan provides everything — yukata, towels, slippers, soap, shampoo. You can show up with just a small bag and be perfectly comfortable.

How to Book a Hokkaido Onsen Trip

What to Book Ahead

For peak winter weekends and the New Year holiday, book three to four months ahead — top Noboribetsu and Toyako ryokan sell out fast. Off-peak weekdays you can often book a few weeks in advance. Compare ryokan options on Booking.com’s Hokkaido onsen pages — the filters for “private bath in room” and “kaiseki dinner included” are particularly useful here.

FAQ

What is the best onsen ryokan in Hokkaido for first timers?

Noboribetsu’s Dai-ichi Takimotokan is the easiest first ryokan — large, English-friendly, with seven different baths under one roof. Jozankei View Hotel is a great Sapporo-adjacent alternative.

How to get to Noboribetsu from Sapporo?

Take the Hokuto limited express train from Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu Station (about 70 minutes, ¥4,480), then connect by bus or shuttle to the onsen district.

What’s a good day trip onsen from Sapporo?

Jozankei. It’s 45 minutes from central Sapporo by bus, and most of the major ryokan sell day-pass bath entry for ¥1,500–¥2,500.

Is Noboribetsu worth visiting?

Yes — Hell Valley alone is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Hokkaido, and Noboribetsu’s water variety means each bath feels different. It’s the most “wow” of the three towns covered here.

Can you visit Hokkaido onsen with tattoos?

More easily than in mainland Japan. Many large Hokkaido ryokan are tattoo-friendly or allow small tattoos to be covered. Booking a private kashikiri-buro is the surest workaround.

Related Articles

You might also like:

• → Hokkaido Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
• → Best Things to Do in Sapporo: City Guide
• → Hokkaido Winter Activities

Final Thoughts

Hokkaido’s onsen towns are the kind of detour that turns a good Japan trip into a great one. Three takeaways: pick Noboribetsu for the dramatic landscape, Jozankei for easy access from Sapporo, and Toyako for lakeside fireworks views; book peak-season ryokan three to four months ahead; and don’t skip the kaiseki dinner — it’s half the experience. Whether you have one night or three, an onsen ryokan stay will likely be the part of your Hokkaido trip you talk about for years.

Ready to plan? Compare Hokkaido onsen ryokan on Booking.com or browse Hokkaido onsen day passes and tours on Klook.