An Unforgettable Day at Jozankei Hot Spring Town

I have been living in Japan for 6 years now and every year I make sure I visit a hot spring. My love for hot springs is the only reason I haven't gotten a tattoo just yet. Although there are places where I could get away from the strict rules, I just want to avoid the hassle of covering them. 

After I hike, it is a must to visit a nearby hot spring to relieve the aching muscles and to relax. People around me say that the best time to visit hot springs is during winter and I couldn't agree more. 

After a year of postponing our trip to Hokkaido, my husband and I finally went a week ago. I had a blast, minus the flight cancellations that I experienced going back to Tokyo. And yes, I said cancellations, with an "S" because of the snowstorm. 

But despite the heavy snow, it didn't stop us from enjoying one of Sapporo's nearby onsen towns, Jozankei.

Just a 55-minute bus ride from Sapporo Station (located below ESTA Building at Bus Stop 12), Jozankei is a lovely and quaint town that is worth visiting. Since it was supposed to be our last day in Hokkaido, we wanted to make the most out of what the town can offer.

The earliest bus leaves at 10:00 AM but we got on the 11:00 AM one so we arrived around noon at Jozankei. The first thing we searched for was a Ramen Karaku and found a small and cozy one just a few steps away from the bus stop that we got off at.

Miso Ramen 

Spicy Miso Ramen 

After getting our fill of some delicious miso ramen, we paid a visit to a temple near the shop. This temple is called Iwato Kannondo and what's unique about it is that it is home to 33 statues of "kannon" also known as the goddess of mercy. These statues are placed in a cave that you can access behind the altar of the temple after dropping 300 yen as an entrance fee. 

Iwato Kannondo

After our visit to the temple, we decided to explore the area on foot. We originally wanted to go to Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei which is a few steps away from the temple for a dip but at the time we went, they were off-limits to non-staying guests so I recommend that you check in advance. The staff there was kind enough to recommend us to another hotel that offers day-trip hot spring visitors.

So we wandered around dragging one suitcase with us because we couldn't find lockers around the area. As we explored, we couldn't help but feel mesmerized by all the white glory surrounding us. The mountains were wrapped in snow and it was still snowing as we roamed around.

Perhaps we got so mesmerized by the beauty of the place or probably because as proper tourists, we ended up getting lost.

Yet we were lucky enough to find a free foot bath along the way. The best thing about it is it was free! We soaked our weary feet in the "Taro-no-yu Footbath for Friendship". It wasn't my first time to experience free foot baths but what made this one special was the fact that I was surrounded by snow and I thought I appreciated the warmth in my feet more because of that.

And if you visit a hot spring town, using the free foot bath is never enough. So while relaxing at the footbath, we searched for hotels in the area that offer a day trip visit. The search led us to Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione. You can reach this hotel after walking 4-5 minutes from the footbath area. You can also drop by Jozankei Shrine on your way there if that fancies you.

 Jozankei Shrine

The hotel charged us 1,100 yen per person (big and small towels included) to use their baths located on the third floor. Take note that we visited on a weekday so we were lucky enough to enjoy our baths more since it wasn't crowded at all. I could relax in the big baths by myself most of the time. It also has a small sauna which I enjoyed alone. There was also a shampoo counter where I could choose from different types of shampoo. Of course, I couldn't get a picture of that since using cameras are off-limits once you get in.

Hotel Lobby 

Bakery+Cafe located on the first floor of the hotel (next to the lobby)

After our bath, we enjoyed more quiet time at the cafe on the first floor. You can also come out and enjoy a foot bath while eating but we were already satisfied so we decided to stay inside instead. 

The hotel also had a souvenir shop which was really convenient for those who are a bit pressed for time. After that, we decided to head back to Sapporo Station, but it was still snowing so we waited at the hotel. Luckily, there was a bus stop across the shrine just two minutes from the hotel.

The bus that stops here will take you directly to Sapporo Station. You can pay by cash or you can use your IC Cards.

As we head back, the snow kept pouring and we were starting to worry about the flight back to Tokyo. However, because we were so relaxed, it was more difficult to panic. Thanks to Jozankei, we felt like we ended our trip with a sense of peace and comfort which somehow prepared us for the stressful cancellations ahead. And no, I don't think I will be getting a tattoo soon.