Private Onsen in Sapporo | A Luxurious Private Hot Spring Experience

About Sapporo's Hot Springs

Sapporo is a city blessed with abundant hot spring resources. Many of the hot springs within the city are of the "sodium chloride" type, known for their soft, gentle feel on the skin. Your skin feels smooth after bathing, and because the salt in the water slows the evaporation of sweat and boosts heat retention, you stay warm long after you get out.

Features and Benefits of Private Onsen

A "private onsen" (kashikiri onsen) generally refers to a service that lets you reserve and use a specific hot spring facility privately, usually for a set time. There are two types of private onsen in Japan. One is a dedicated bath inside an inn or hot spring facility that you book by the hour; the other is an open-air or indoor bath fed by hot spring water, built right into a guest room.

Benefits of Private Onsen

• Guaranteed privacy: Spend time with just your family or partner, without worrying about other bathers.
• Relaxation: Soak at your own pace without paying attention to anyone around you.
• No language or culture barriers: No need to worry about bathing etiquette in a public onsen.
• Tattoo-friendly: Many facilities welcome guests with tattoos, who often cannot enter Japan's public baths.
• Photos allowed: Since the space is private, you can take photos as keepsakes (depending on the facility).

A Guide to Private Onsen Areas Near Sapporo

There are several hot spring areas around Sapporo, each dotted with its own distinctive private onsen facilities. Here we introduce the main hot spring areas.

Jozankei Onsen

Located in Sapporo's Minami Ward and known as "Sapporo's secluded retreat," Jozankei Onsen is about an hour by car from central Sapporo. Surrounded by a beautiful gorge, it is said to have been discovered some 150 years ago by the ascetic monk Bisen Jozan. Today it is a popular hot spring destination lined with more than 20 inns and hotels.

The waters of Jozankei Onsen are a sodium-calcium chloride spring, ranging from colorless and clear to slightly cloudy white. They are said to help with neuralgia, rheumatism, and muscle pain.

Koganeyu Onsen

A small hot spring area a little way from Jozankei Onsen. It is known for its 100% natural-source "sulfur spring," nicknamed the "Golden Bath" because the sulfur once glittered with a golden sheen. It's a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy an onsen in a quiet, nature-rich setting.

Hoheikyo Onsen

A hidden hot spring area deep in Sapporo's Minami Ward. Tucked even farther into the mountains than Jozankei Onsen, it is known for the stunning gorge-side scenery. One of its onsen facilities is even famous for its Indian-style curry, so you can enjoy both the hot springs and the food.

Onsen Facilities Within Sapporo City

There are also private onsen facilities within Sapporo itself that you can use on a day trip. With easy access from the city center, they make it simple to enjoy a hot spring between sightseeing stops. Some even offer natural moor hot springs, which are highly rated for their skin-beautifying effects.

Private Bath Facilities in Jozankei Onsen

Jozankei Onsen has the largest number of private bath facilities of any hot spring area near Sapporo. Here are a few we especially recommend.

Jozankei Hanamomiji

source:Yahoo travel

Among the inns in Jozankei Onsen, Jozankei Hanamomiji is especially popular with international visitors. This long-established inn lets you enjoy the famous "Shika-no-yu" waters in a panoramic public bath with free-flowing spring water and three private baths, each with its own character. With a hot spring offering views from the 12th floor, Japanese-modern guest rooms, seasonal kaiseki cuisine, and complimentary lounge service, it's an elegant place to take in the beauty of the gorge through all four seasons.

There are three private baths:

• Ten-no-yu (Amanoyu): A private bath on the hotel's top floor, offering sweeping views of the mountains of Jozankei in the national park. Open the bath's door and you can enjoy it as a semi-open-air bath. Holds up to 5 people.
• Maru-yu: A ceramic bath made of Shigaraki ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Its far-infrared effect warms you from the core. Holds up to 3 people.
• Kaku-yu: A spacious bath made of premium hinoki (Japanese cypress). Its pleasant fragrance is known to be relaxing and to have strong antibacterial properties. Holds up to 5 people.

The fee is ¥2,200 (tax included) per session, and you'll need to book either in advance or on the day. Each session lasts about 60 minutes.

Shogetsu Grand Hotel

Founded in 1934, the Shogetsu Grand Hotel features guest rooms that all face the gorge and an open-air bath with free-flowing spring water. With a generous range of lounge services — including a honey bar and post-bath beer — and Japanese kaiseki made from seasonal ingredients, plus a free shuttle bus, it's a grown-up hot spring retreat.

It offers two types of private bath: "Sankei-no-yu," with views of the Toyohira River and the gorge, and "Meiso-no-yu" (the Meditation Bath), where a dome-shaped roof over the tub creates a softly lit space perfect for quiet reflection. Both are designed to make you feel at one with nature and are praised for their relaxing effect.

Jozankei Yuraku Soan

source:Yahoo travel

A relatively new facility that held its pre-opening in November 2022. You can enjoy the spring waters nurtured by Jozankei's natural surroundings in both a large public bath and private baths. The four private baths (hiba cypress, hinoki cypress, ceramic, and rock) each have a different atmosphere, and you can use them for free as many times as you like whenever they're available. Every guest room also comes with a natural hot spring bath, where you can enjoy free-flowing spring water.

Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei

Suizantei is a long-established luxury inn where every guest room has its own hot spring bath, with rooms offering a hinoki bath or open-air bath available too. In the post-bath lounge, local sake and soft-serve ice cream are served for free, and the seasonal kaiseki enjoyed in a private dining room is also well received. With private baths and a free shuttle bus, it's a place to relax at your leisure.

On top of that, the four private baths are also free to use. It's an inn that earns high marks for both the quality of its hot springs and the service it offers.

Private Onsen Facilities Within Sapporo City

There are also several private onsen facilities within Sapporo that you can use on a day trip. Here we introduce facilities easy to drop by between stops on a city tour.

Shinrin Koen Onsen Kiyora

Located in Sapporo's Atsubetsu Ward, "Shinrin Koen Onsen Kiyora" is a day-trip onsen facility where you can enjoy free-flowing natural moor hot spring water — a registered Hokkaido Heritage. Its family baths are popular, available for 90 minutes on weekdays and 60 minutes on weekends and holidays. Amenities such as free rental towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body soap are included.

Yumoto Koganeyu

Located in Sapporo's Minami Ward, this facility is known for its 100% natural-source simple sulfur spring (a weakly alkaline, hypotonic, low-temperature spring). The private bath is made of hinoki, so you can enjoy the fragrance as you soak. With easy access from central Sapporo and a free shuttle bus, you won't have to worry about how to get there.

Kitahiroshima Classe Hotel

The Kitahiroshima Classe Hotel is a resort hotel set on a green hilltop. It is renowned for the yellowish-brown natural moor hot spring of its own private source, "Bihada-no-yu Fu-fu" (the skin-beautifying bath), drawn from 1,500 m underground, and you can refresh body and mind in the open-air bath, sauna, and rock-bath dome. With a Japanese-Western-Chinese buffet, a course menu of local ingredients, and tennis courts, a pool, and a fitness center, it caters to everything from sightseeing and training camps to workcations. It's close to Mitsui Outlet Park, with convenient access of about 40 minutes from both Sapporo and New Chitose Airport.

The private open-air bath is available for ¥1,650 per hour, where you can enjoy 100% natural, skin-beautifying spring water while gazing out at the great outdoors spread before you. It's popular for use by families and couples.

Onsen Etiquette for International Visitors

Japan's onsen culture has its own distinctive etiquette and rules, and even at a private onsen it's important to follow the basics. Here are the points worth knowing, especially for international visitors using one for the first time.

The Basics of Bathing in an Onsen

1. Undress and get ready: Take off all your clothes in the changing room. Store valuables in a valuables locker.
2. Wash before you bathe: Even at a private onsen, the basic rule is to wash your body before getting into the tub. Most private baths have a shower or washing area.
3. Bathe: Ease slowly into the tub. It may feel hot at first, but you'll gradually get used to it.
4. Using your towel: When you get into the tub, don't put your towel in the water. Place a small towel on your head or set it outside the tub.
5. Take a break: Once your body warms up, step out of the tub for a rest. Don't forget to rehydrate, too.
6. Bathe again: When you've cooled down, get back into the tub. Repeating this cycle is the Japanese way to enjoy an onsen.

Etiquette While Bathing

Keep to your time: For time-limited private baths, stick to your reserved time out of consideration for the next guests. As a rule of etiquette, it's best to get out of the tub about 10 minutes before the end and start tidying up.

Keep the bath clean: After use, do a quick clean-up (such as removing stray hairs) so the next guests can use it comfortably.

Keep your hair out of the water: Tie up long hair so it doesn't soak in the bath.

Keep the noise down: It's important to maintain a quiet, calm atmosphere. At night especially, your voice may carry to nearby guest rooms, so avoid talking loudly.

Eating and drinking: Avoid eating or drinking while in the tub.

Photography: A private onsen protects your privacy, but refrain from posting photos to social media without the facility's permission.

Health Precautions

Bathing time: An onsen can put a strain on your body. Beginners especially should start with about 10–15 minutes and gradually extend the time while watching how they feel.

Alcohol and bathing: Bathing right after drinking alcohol can cause blood pressure swings and may be dangerous. Avoid bathing immediately after drinking.

Stay hydrated: You sweat in an onsen, so drink water before and after bathing to prevent dehydration.

When you're unwell: If you're not feeling well, or if you have a condition such as heart disease or high blood pressure, either skip bathing or keep it brief.

About Tattoos

Many of Japan's public baths prohibit bathing for people with tattoos, so one big advantage of a private onsen is that this is far less of a concern. That said, some facilities do have their own rules about tattoos, so we recommend checking in advance.

About Swimsuits

Traditionally, swimsuits are generally not allowed in Japanese onsen. This is to prevent detergent residue and impurities in swimsuits from dissolving into the spring water. Even at a private onsen, bathing nude is the norm in most cases, though some facilities do have private baths where swimsuits are allowed. It's reassuring to check before you go.

How to Book a Private Onsen

Online Booking Is Easy

In recent years, many onsen facilities have introduced online booking systems. More and more sites offer English support, making it easy even for international travelers to book.

You'll need the following information when booking:

• Desired date and time
• Number of people
• Name
• Contact details
• Accommodation (if there's a shuttle service)

Booking Through Your Accommodation

If you're staying at a hotel or inn, the easiest way to book a private onsen is through the front desk or concierge. For facilities that don't offer English support or only take phone reservations, it goes more smoothly if you ask the staff at the hotel where you're staying.

Same-Day Bookings

Popular facilities often fill up with advance reservations, but same-day booking may be possible in the off-season or on weekdays. To be sure of getting in, though, we recommend booking a few days ahead — and a few weeks ahead during busy periods.

What to Check When Booking

• Fees and time allotted
• Whether towels and amenities are provided
• Rules about tattoos
• Whether bath towels and face towels can be rented
• Whether amenities such as shampoo and body soap are provided
• The maximum number of people allowed

Day Trip or Overnight Stay — Which Is Better?

There are two broad ways to use a private onsen: a "day trip" or an "overnight stay." Which is better depends on the purpose of your trip, your budget, and how long you're staying.

Benefits of a Day Trip

• Keeps costs down: Enjoy the onsen without paying for accommodation
• Makes good use of your time: Easy to combine with sightseeing in central Sapporo
• Lets you visit several facilities: Enjoy onsen with different water types and atmospheres in a single day

Benefits of an Overnight Stay

• Take your time and enjoy it fully: No need to rush, and you can bathe more than once
• Experience Japan's inn culture too: A complete experience including wearing a yukata and eating Japanese cuisine
• Less travel burden: Rest in your room right after bathing
• Enjoy the onsen at quieter hours, such as early morning or late at night

For international visitors before their trip to Japan, we recommend a one-night, two-day stay at Jozankei Onsen, which is easy to combine with sightseeing in central Sapporo. For those already in Japan, choose between a day trip and an overnight stay to fit your schedule.

Sapporo's Four Seasons and How to Enjoy a Private Onsen

Sapporo has clearly defined seasons, and each one offers a different onsen experience.

Spring (March–May)

As the snow melts, you can bathe while watching fresh green buds appear outside your window. From late April through May especially, the new greenery is at its most beautiful, and the view from an open-air bath is exceptional. Since this is still before the peak tourist season, you can enjoy the onsen in a relatively quiet setting.

Summer (June–August)

Sapporo's summer has low humidity and a comfortable climate. After a day of activities, unwinding in a private onsen from the evening is a great way to ease your fatigue. Summer is especially good for stargazing from an open-air bath. Many facilities are also relatively empty this season, which makes it easier to book.

Autumn (September–November)

An onsen experience during fall foliage season has a special appeal. The Jozankei area in particular is known as a spot for autumn leaves, and an open-air bath surrounded by trees turning red and yellow is exceptional. The best viewing usually runs from mid-October to early November.

Winter (December–February)

Bathing while gazing at snowy scenery is an experience unique to Sapporo. An open-air bath as the snow falls is especially popular with international visitors. The contrast between the cold air outside and the warm water heightens the comfort of the onsen all the more. Winter is also the season when the heat-retaining properties of chloride springs — which keep you from getting cold afterward — really come into their own.

Key Tips for Enjoying a Private Onsen in Sapporo

Sapporo and its surroundings offer many kinds of private onsen, where you can experience Japan's hot spring culture in a private space. For international visitors using a Japanese onsen for the first time, a private onsen is an ideal choice — a place to relax and bathe without worrying about language barriers or etiquette.

Key Points When Using a Private Onsen

• Book ahead for peace of mind: Reserve early, especially for popular facilities or busy periods
• Choose a facility with English support: To avoid communication trouble
• Learn the correct steps before bathing: Understand the basics of Japanese onsen culture
• Enjoy the scenery of each season: Choosing an onsen to match the season enhances the experience
• Enjoy Japanese culture as a whole, from yukata to cuisine: Value not just the onsen but the related cultural experiences too

Sapporo's private onsen offer a precious experience — a chance to heal mind and body amid a busy trip and to touch a deeper part of Japanese culture. Use this article as a guide to find the private onsen that's perfect for you and make your stay in Sapporo all the richer.

The onsen is one of the cultural treasures Japan offers the world. At a private onsen in Sapporo, please enjoy a special relaxation experience you can't find anywhere else.

About the Information in This Article (Please Note)

*Please note that fees commonly vary by season and plan.

In particular, amid recent economic conditions and the recovery of inbound demand, prices may have been revised as the environment surrounding tourism changes.

Please treat the fees introduced in this article as a rough guide only, and be sure to check the latest information on each facility's official website when making a reservation.

*It is generally known that people with tattoos can use a private onsen, but not every private onsen facility permits tattoos. Some facilities set their own rules, so to use them with peace of mind, we recommend checking with each facility in advance.

*Not all hotel booking sites are affiliated with the facilities.

In particular, please note that at long-established small facilities, direct booking by phone is often still the main method.