Discover Jozankei

Jozankei is a hot spring resort shaped by green gorges in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Forests, riverside scenery and hot springs give the area its distinct character: you can explore a circular trail along the Toyohira, learn more about the history of the resort, or enjoy activities on the water. Deciding which of these aspects you want to define your stay is also a helpful starting point when looking for a holiday rental in Jozankei.

Gorge scenery along the Futami-Jōzan Trail

The Futami Suspension Bridge is a Jozankei landmark. From the bridge, you can look out over Futami Rock and Kappa Fuchi; it also leads to the Futami-Jōzan Nature Trail. The current bridge was built in 1955. It is 23 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, and crosses the Toyohira as an unstiffened suspension bridge.

The approximately 2.5-kilometre Futami-Jōzan Trail is a circular route from Futami Park upstream along the Toyohira to Akaiwa-no-ma. Along the way, it crosses the Futami Suspension Bridge and passes Kappa Fuchi Park, Iko-no-Hiroba and Shin-Sui Park. Water and forest shape the scenery along the trail throughout the year. Wildflowers bloom here in spring, and the leaves change colour in autumn. The walking trail is in the Jōzankei Park area of the national park and takes in the gorge and valley scenery characteristic of the area.

Forest trails and experiences on the water

Asahidake offers another way to experience nature: its rich mixed forest is ideal for a forest bathing walk, where you can unwind in nature. In early spring, Asahidake is also suitable for preparatory hikes. On Nordic walking excursions, certified instructors from the All Japan Nordic Walk Federation guide you through nature. So, as well as a trail through the gorge, there are options focused on the forest and guided walking.

If you want to experience Jozankei from the water, there are several different ways to explore. The Jōzankei-Toyohira River canoe route is an approximately one-kilometre circular course. Its starting point is about a ten-minute walk from the Jōzankei Onsen settlement; in summer and autumn, the route offers impressive scenery. Sapporo-Jōzankei rafting has two routes to choose from: a standard route that follows the river downstream at a relaxed pace, with views of the gorge, and a dynamic white-water route for when snowmelt raises the water level. The main differences described are the character of the ride and the water level.

Hot springs and the history of the resort

Jōzankei’s history as a hot spring resort began in 1866. At that time, the ascetic monk Jōzan was led to the spring by the Ainu. The area was named Jōzankei in recognition of Jōzan’s role in establishing the bathing resort. Water from the Jōzankei spring is a colourless, clear natural sodium chloride hot spring with a mild salty taste; it is neutral, low in osmotic pressure and high in temperature.

The hot spring gives Jozankei another dimension, distinct from hiking and river activities. If you are especially interested in learning about the resort and its history during your trip, you can make this a priority alongside forest and water experiences. When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to first consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay, rather than combining different activities into a single itinerary.

Shrine and Kannon Hall

The area’s cultural history can also be seen in specific places. Iwato Kannon Hall houses 33 Kannon statues in a 120-metre-long cave. The hall was built in 1936 in the hope of developing the Jōzankei Onsen area. Historic shrine architecture in the Shinmei-zukuri style can also be seen in Jozankei.

The trailhead for hiking up Yuhidake is behind Jōzankei Shrine, in the back of the shrine grounds. This makes the shrine a useful landmark for finding a specific starting point for a hike, while Iwato Kannon Hall offers a distinct cultural experience. If you want to balance nature trails, hot springs and culture differently during your trip, you can consider Jozankei through these varied experiences.

To compare more destinations, you can also discover Saroma, Tomakomai, Koshimizu, Obihiro, Teshikaga, Kushiro, Sorachi District and Engaru.

For the main travel overview: Hokkaido.