Jozankei

Jozankei is Sapporo’s celebrated onsen resort town, nestled in a steep river valley in the Minami ward just 30 kilometres south of the city centre yet feeling entirely worlds apart. The town has served as Sapporo’s therapeutic escape since the late 19th century, when hot spring waters were first developed by a Buddhist monk named Jozan Miyabe — the settlement’s name honouring his legacy. Geothermal waters here reach temperatures of around 60–80°C and are prized for their sodium chloride composition, considered beneficial for rheumatism, fatigue recovery, and skin conditions. Dozens of ryokan and hotels line the Toyohira River, most offering private and communal baths fed directly by natural springs. The autumn foliage season from late September through November is Jozankei’s most spectacular period: the surrounding maple and birch forests ignite in layers of crimson, orange, and gold reflected in the river below, drawing photographers and romantics from across Hokkaido. Free foot baths and hand baths are dotted along the riverside walkway, offering visitors a gentle introduction to the town’s thermal culture without requiring a full inn stay. Jozankei is also the gateway to Hoheikyo Dam and the wilderness trails of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park hinterland.