Koganeyu Onsen, Sapporo’s Hidden Hot Spring Retreat (Plus, Private Bath!)
We discovered Koganeyu Onsen whilst on holiday in Sapporo, but now as residents, we frequently visit what might be our favourite local onsen here! Traditionally onsens are separated with a male and female onsen and you bathe in them naked. This may seem daunting or uncomfortable at first as a Westerner, or perhaps you’d like to be able to enjoy the traditional Japanese onsen with your loved ones, well Koganeyu has a private onsen too, so it’s a perfect hidden gem to know about on your travels.
This is the perfect escape from the outside world, you’ll be greeted by a sacred 700 year old tree on the way in, and there’s massage chairs, additional treatments available and delicious food to enjoy in the restaurant afterwards so you could spend all day here if you really wanted to.
Koganeyu is one of four public onsens being served by the ground water under the rich forests of Jozankei. Here’s everything you can expect from your visit to Koganeyu, with up to date pricing and how to get here.
Koganeyu Onsen, Sapporo’s Hidden Hot Spring Retreat (Plus, Private Bath!)
Location: 25 Koganeyu, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2274
Parking: Free!
Facilities: Changing rooms with lockers and amenities, Indoor hot spring baths with natural sulfur-rich onsen water, Open-air baths (rotenburo), Dry sauna, Mist/steam sauna, Cold plunge bath (mizuburo) for cooling down after the sauna, Outdoor relaxation area for cooling off between baths, Private reservable baths available for groups or couples, Rest lounge / relaxation area, Restaurant serving meals and snacks, Massage chairs and relaxation services.
How to get here by public transport using the FREE shuttle bus:
- Take the Namboku Subway Line from Sapporo Station or Odori Station to Makomanai Station (last stop).
- Exit Makomanai Station and walk about 30 metres to the shuttle bus stop area outside the station.
- Board the free Koganeyu Onsen shuttle bus.
- The journey takes around 30 minutes and drops you directly at Koganeyu Onsen.
- The shuttle runs a few times per day, so check the schedule in advance.
When you arrive to Kogeneyu you are greeted by the most incredible sight. Shown below is the Koganeyu Katsura Memorial Protected Tree which is estimated to be over 700 years old! It is said that the priest Jozan was on a pilgrimage, he rested one night at the base of an old tree, and the spirit of the tree appeared to him in a dream and showed him the source of the sacred spring that saves all living beings. When Nakatani Yazaemon came into possession of this land in 1893, he named it Koganeyu.
Take some time to take in the sheer beauty of this sacred tree when you arrive, and leave. It’s incredibly grounding, and incredible to even begin to perceive what this tree has survived and seen over the course of its life.
Public Onsen
This is up to date pricing for entry as of March 2026 and will be updated if there are any changes.
Admission Fees
| Category | Weekdays | Sat, Sun & Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (junior high school & above) | 1,000 yen | 1,200 yen |
| Children (elementary school) | 500 yen | 500 yen |
| Children aged 0–3 | Free | Free |
Special Time Discounts
| Category | Weekdays | Sat, Sun & Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Morning bath (until around 8:30) – Adults | 900 yen | — |
| Morning bath – Children | 400 yen | — |
| Evening bath (after around 8:30) – Adults | — | 1,000 yen |
| Evening bath – Children | — | 400 yen |
Rental Items
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Face towel | 100 yen |
| Bath towel | 120 yen |
| Yukata | 200 yen |
| Towel set | 220 yen |
| Sauna wear | 350 yen |
For the public onsen and any rental items, you can purchase these from the ticket machine as you arrive and you’ll be given a coupon. Don’t forget to take your shoes off first and put them in a locker (free) before handing in your coupons at the desk to get access to the onsen.
The onsen at Koganeyu uses natural sulfur spring water sourced directly from the spring, which is typical of traditional Japanese hot spring facilities in the Jozankei area near Sapporo. Traditionally, the public onsen is separated by gender with a separate male and female onsen. The cost is considerably cheaper than the private onsen experience.
The type of natural water varies from onsen to onsen across Japan. At Koganeyu, it is classified as a simple sulfur spring (単純硫黄泉 / tanjun-iōsen).
Koganeyu’s natural onsen water is rich in minerals that contribute to its soothing qualities. It contains sulfur, which gives the water its distinctive mineral scent and is often associated with skin benefits, along with silica (metasilicic acid), known for leaving the skin feeling smooth and soft. The water also includes small amounts of sodium and other dissolved minerals, all naturally heated as it rises from deep underground. Together, these mineral-rich waters are commonly believed to help with skin irritation, improve circulation, ease fatigue, and relax tired muscles and joints.
Pictures are not allowed in the public onsen, but here you can enjoy the indoor hot spring baths with natural sulfur-rich onsen water, open-air baths (rotenburo) overlooking the surrounding forest and river, Dry sauna, Mist/steam sauna, Cold plunge bath (mizuburo) for cooling down after the sauna and an outdoor relaxation area for cooling off between baths.
There’s actually no time limit on how long you can stay, and you could easily spend your whole day here, there is so much to do both inside and outside the public bath. However, it’s recommended that a single soak should be 10-15 minutes before cooling down and then re-entering. Mostly people repeat this cycle around 2-3 times, but it totally depends on how you feel, and manage hot water of this nature.
Private Onsen Experience & Cost
Private Bath (90 minutes)
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | 3,800 yen |
| Weekends & holidays | 4,300 yen |
| Weekdays (with disability certificate) | 2,800 yen |
| Weekends & holidays (with disability certificate) | 3,300 yen |
Whilst we can’t share images from within the public onsens, we can in the private one so we can fully show you what you can expect here. You can’t reserve the private onsen by phone, and we usually turn up on the day to do so. The cost of the private onsen gives you full access to it for 90 minutes, and it’s slightly cheaper on weekdays.
There are three private onsens available and we have tried them all now, and we’ve been here during the autumn and winter. As you can see below, the view is beautiful, no matter the season. The perfect switch off from the outside world, and the added benefit that you can enjoy this experience together.
This private onsen can be used for couples or groups so it really is a great choice if you are on vacation and don’t want to be split up by the separate onsens.
Inside the private onsen, you initially enter into a changing area with bench, sink and all the amenities you could possibly need. Skin lotion, shower caps, razors, hairbrushes and even hair styling products for men! Very typical of Japanese hospitality which I love.
Towels and bath mats are provided so you don’t need to worry about bringing your own for the private onsen experience. You get a set of 3 bath towels and 3 hand towels in the onsen.
The sliding door separates the onsen from the changing room, with washing facilities, shampoo, conditioner and body wash to use before stepping into the onsen.
You’ll leave feeling so relaxed and refreshed, it’s honestly one of our favourite ways to relax together here in Hokkaido!
The Restaurant
After enjoying a rejuvenating onsen, what better way to continue the experience by grabbing a hearty meal or a parfait in the restaurant. They do an incredible selection of hearty set meals, drinks and desserts to cool you down after the onsen.
You order these via a screen and it can be switched to English as well, once paid it will print out your coupons to hand to the staff at the counter. One thing to note is that a lot of the sets sell out around lunch time, we visited around 3pm one day and pretty much everything had gone. It gets very popular, so just be mindful of that!
There’s plenty of seats to sit down and enjoy your food and you don’t feel like you’re being rushed.
In the below photos we got their signature hot dish which is Koganeyu ginger zangi which is Hokkaido-style fried chicken dish where the chicken is marinated with ginger, so delicious, and a must try!
Then to cool down we tried the Uji Kintoki, a traditional Japanese dessert made with shaved ice (Kakigori) topped with matcha (green tea) syrup and sweet red bean paste.
It was surprisingly light, and so refreshing. Unlike ice cream, it didn’t taste too sweet and I didn’t feel stuffed after it. Another Japanese staple that you must try if you come here! We were so impressed with the food and hope to catch the set options here on our next visit.
Other Facilities
If you wanted to, you could easily spend an entire day here relaxing. There are massage chairs in two locations which send you to sleep, and cost ¥300. There are other beds you can relax on and a private area for paid massages should you wish to rejuvenate even more during your visit.
There are so many quiet spaces you can take yourself to with two tatami rooms as shown below where you could sit and curl up with a good book, before or after your onsen experience.
There’s also a souvenir shop which is packed full of Hokkaido gifts, and another room that you can sit and relax in, with plenty of vending machines to get a cold or warm drink after an onsen.
This is our favourite onsen in Sapporo, it’s accessible and offers so many incredible facilities that it makes a trip here so worth it!
Let us know in the comments below if you have any other questions, and if you plan to visit here!
