[2025 Sapporo ] Travel Guide for Hōheikyō Hot Spring (Updated Mar)

In addition to hot springs, maple viewing is a must in Sapporo in autumn. I heard that Hoheikyo Onsen is quite famous among locals, so I decided to visit with my friends during my annual leave. 📍Address: 〒061-2301 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Minami Ward, Jozankei 608-2 🚗Transportation: Take the 7H bus to Hoheikyo 🕙Opening hours: 10:00–22:30 🌟Highlights: Hoheikyo is located in the suburbs of Sapporo. In addition to hot springs, there are also Hoheikyo Dam, Futami Jozan Road, Jozankei Shrine, and more. It is recommended to spend half a day here. Hoheikyo Dam is the water control center of Sapporo. In autumn, the area is covered with colorful trees. The red maple leaves and the gurgling dam water form a beautiful autumn picture. Hoheikyo Onsen is the largest open-air hot spring in Japan, which can accommodate 200 people at the same time. It is also known as the backyard of Sapporo. Enjoying the maple leaves while soaking in the hot spring is a wonderful experience! 📌Tips: ✅Hoheikyo Dam has hiking trails, a cable car, an observation deck, and other facilities. On a sunny day, it is recommended to hike to the observation deck to enjoy the beautiful red, blue, and green maple leaves! ✅Be sure to try the popular local Nepalese restaurant ONSEN Canteen. The restaurant offers a variety of curries, which are said to be made with dozens of spices. They are delicious with Indian naan. ✅If you want to bring souvenirs to your friends in China, hot spring buns are a good choice. There are several long-established brands here. It is recommended to go early in the morning, as they may be sold out by the afternoon. ✅In addition to Hoheikyo, the nearby Jozankei is also a popular maple viewing and hot spring destination. Futami Suspension Bridge is a great place to take photos of the maple leaves. It is recommended to include it in your itinerary! ✅Starting in October, you can take the limited "Five Maple Leaves" shuttle bus to visit the maple viewing spots around Hoheikyo and Jozankei. There are also fruit picking and BBQ activities.

I found that buying a Jotetsu bus all day unlimited ticket to travel Jozankei hot spring town is a economic and convenient way to enjoy the hot springs and the scenery in this beautiful mountain town. The cost of the ticket is ¥2000 which including free access one of the onsen in the town. We used the ticket to access Hoheikyo Onsen which located at the last bus stop. The onsen has great snowy mountain view. It was such a relaxation and peaceful place to enjoy! We also used the ticket to shop in the downtown when returning to Sapporo station. It was such a great experience to enjoy Japanese onsen culture in Sapporo! #2024wish

4-day trip to Hokkaido, experiencing the snowy scenery of the north ❄️, outdoor hot springs in the snow (Toyohira River Hot Spring ♨️), night view of Otaru Canal, penguins 🐧 taking a snowy walk in Asahiyama Zoo, and the terrace of the forest elves in Furano. PS: The most important thing is the seafood feast at Sapporo Seafood Market 🦀️🦐🐟, Hokkaido's Genghis Khan grilled lamb. Huimei also made Shiroi Koibito cookies by herself. Fall in love with Hokkaido, see you next time 👋👋