Jozankei Onsen Sapporo

Jozankei Onsen is located in the Minami-ku district of Sapporo in southern Hokkaido, approximately 30 kilometres from downtown Sapporo, where chloride-rich thermal springs flowing through a forested river gorge on the Toyohira River have provided restorative bathing for residents and visitors of Japan's northernmost major city since the 19th century. The sodium-chloride mineral composition of Jozankei's thermal waters carries properties valued in Japanese onsen culture for warming the body, supporting circulation, and conditioning the skin, particularly welcome in Hokkaido's cold climate where winter temperatures can drop well below zero in the snow-covered gorge landscape. Named after Buddhist monk Jozan Mitsuya who opened the springs to public bathing in 1866, Jozankei Onsen is celebrated in autumn for the extraordinary maple foliage that turns the Toyohira River gorge gold and crimson—making it Sapporo's most beloved seasonal retreat for thermal bathing and autumn colour viewing within the city's own mountain district.