11 Best Hokkaido Hotels And Ryokans With Private Onsen (+ How To Save Money)
Want to experience Japan’s unique onsen culture, but afraid of baring it all in front of strangers? Try private onsen hotels in Hokkaido!
My first ever onsen experience was in Hokkaido in a traditional grand hotel. It was quite awkward initially but after getting used to it, I’ve learnt to appreciate the little details that make an onsen experience unforgettable.
Now that I know what to expect, I’m always on the look out for hotel and ryokan deals especially if they come with private onsens. There are many popular onsen towns in Hokkaido such as Jozankei, Lake Toya, and Noboribetsu. I promise you’ll never get bored exploring them!
In this article, I’ll be sharing my compilation of Hokkaido’s best hotels and ryokans with a private onsen. If you’re on a tight budget, we have affordable options too – such as day use private onsens.
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In a rush? Here are my top picks
This list could go on and on, so let me share my top 3 picks. I’ve booked one of them my next trip too!
| Best for | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-conscious travelers | Hotel Neuschloss Otaru | From $156 USD (Check prices) |
| Luxury seekers who love scenic views | The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort | From $531 USD (Check prices) |
| Flexible travelers who don’t mind day-use onsens | Hana Momiji | From $232 USD (Check prices) |
Most affordable hotels and ryokans with private onsen
Price range: < $250 USD per night
Firstly, let’s start with the most affordable private onsen hotels you can find in Hokkaido. There aren’t many, so make sure to book in advance to secure the best prices!
Compared to more luxurious onsen hotels, these hotels might be harder to reach by train or have fewer amenities and services. On the bright side, you can take the chance to go on a Hokkaido road trip so that you can set your own pace.
1. Hotel Neuschloss Otaru (Otaru)
Hotel Neuschloss Otaru has a European-Japanese vibe to it, and the name itself means “New Castle”.
It is perched on top of a coastal cliff that overlooks the ocean, which sunset lovers will really enjoy. Nearby, you also have the Otaru Aquarium and the Old Aoyama Villa. We personally enjoyed a sunrise from our bath when we stayed here!
Since it was built in 2003, some of the decor and furniture is a bit outdated, but I’d say it’s a fair trade-off given the affordable price. It’s also relatively close to Sapporo, making it an easy side trip from the bustling city.
If you want to enjoy a luxurious onsen experience without the hefty price tag, I highly recommend Hotel Neuschloss Otaru. Don’t forget to add on the hotel meals as it’s all part of the experience. For ideas on how to make a Hokkaido self-drive itinerary out of this hotel stay, check this article.
🎯 Review score: 8.3
⭐ Star rating: 4 stars
💰 Price: From $156 USD ($210 SGD)
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen in room, massage, public bath, sauna
🗣️ What guests say: Although the hotel looks a bit dated, they thought it was worth it because of the private onsen and the ocean view from the rooms. They also enjoyed the add-on meals.
If you’re a fan of the coast, Heiseikan Shiosaitei offers the best views from the open-air onsen baths.
From the moment you enter the lobby, all the way till you get to soak in the onsen in your room’s balcony, the ocean views are front and center of your experience here. No matter if it’s sunny, cloudy, or snowy, you’ll be able to enjoy the view in comfort.
These ryokan style rooms are the perfect setting for a slow day indoors when you’re not soaking in the onsen. You can also indulge in the hotel’s buffet-style meals, especially the seafood which is not to be missed in Hokkaido.
There are a variety of Ryokan-style rooms depending on your budget, but it’s safe to say this is one of the more affordable hotels in Hokkaido with a private onsen. Why not take this chance to visit Hakodate?
🎯Review score: 8.7
⭐Star rating: 4 stars
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen on balcony, massage, public bath, sauna
💰 Price: From $221 USD ($297 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They enjoyed the ocean view and the seafood section at the meal buffets, which makes up for the hotel being far from the city center of Hakodate.
3. Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei (Lake Shikotsu)
Wouldn’t it be so relaxing to have an open-air private onsen in your yard? Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei offers this exclusive experience without the hefty price tag.
If you’re coming from the New Chitose Airport, it only takes a 35-minute drive to get here. Being close to Lake Shikotsu, the atmosphere of the hotel is peaceful and relaxing.
During the day, you can take a walk to the lake shore, admire the changing leaf colors in fall, and visit other nearby onsens.
Aside from your own room, guests can also book the hotel’s onsen facility for private day-use at an additional cost.
🎯Review score: 8.8
⭐Star rating: 5 stars
🛁 Amenities: Day-use private onsen for guests, private onsen in room, public onsen
💰 Price: From $267 USD ($359 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They enjoyed the relaxing stay near the lake with good food provided in the kaiseki meals even though the hotel is on the older side.
Best luxury hotels and ryokans with private onsen
Price range: >$350 USD per night
For a more luxurious stay with more amenities, consider one of these highly-rated hotels and ryokans. They tend to be in popular onsen towns like Noboribetsu and Jozankei, but you can find many great options all over Hokkaido.
If you want more assurance about the quality of food and service, I highly recommend checking out these places.
4. Otaru Asari Classe Hotel (Otaru)
Otaru Asari Classe Hotel is located near the Asarigawaonsen Ski Resort, making it one of the best places to stay in winter. It is also just a 40-minute drive away from Sapporo and is a popular getaway from the city.
This hotel offers spacious rooms that are a blend of both Japanese and Western style. The highlight would most definitely be the open-air onsen bath attached to the rooms, especially in winter where you can see the snow outside your room.
Many rooms also include a massage chair – the perfect upgrade for an onsen hotel stay.
🎯Review score: 8.0
⭐Star rating: 3 stars
🛁 Amenities: Massage chair and private onsen in room, public onsen, fitness center, squash court, tennis court
💰 Price: From $281 USD ($378 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: Although the hotel is a bit further from Otaru city, the hotel’s comfortable amenities made up for it.
5. Grand Blissen Hotel Jozankei (Jozankei)
Enjoying the outdoor scenery while soaking in your private onsen is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Grand Blissen Hotel Jozankei is the perfect place for that with its modern rooms.
One of the best times to visit is during fall, and you’ll get to admire it from your private onsen. You can also use the public open-air onsen in the hotel.
No matter which time of year you visit, the hotel’s various onsen facilities showcase the changing seasons through the surrounding scenery. They also have a Finnish Sauna to complement the onsen experience.
Since Jozankei is one of the more popular onsen towns in Hokkaido, you’ll find plenty of shops and cafes to visit while you’re exploring.
🎯Review score: 8.9
⭐Star rating: 5 stars
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen in room, public onsen, Finnish Sauna, spa treatment
💰 Price: From $346 USD ($465 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They liked the views from the hotel, the modern rooms, and the proximity to nearby attractions like the Futamitsuri Bridge.
6. Ryotei Hanayura (Noboribetsu)
Looking for a ryokan with a private onsen? Ryotei Hanayura is your best choice because it has an open-air onsen attached to the room on the balcony.
Noboribetsu is another popular onsen town in Hokkaido which produces its own natural hot spring water. You can also visit the Jigokudani Valley nearby during the day.
The public onsens in the hotel are also incredibly scenic, such as the outdoor baths in a relaxing garden setting. Besides the amazing view of the surrounding, be sure to try their kaiseki meals to round off the experience.
🎯Review score: 9.2
⭐Star rating: 4.5 stars
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen in room, public onsens
💰 Price: From $394 USD ($530 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They loved the modern ryokan, spacious onsens, and food provided in the kaiseki breakfast and dinner.
7. The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort (Lake Toya)
For the best view of Lake Toya from your private onsen, The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort is hands down the most value-for-money choice.
This luxurious resort almost guarantees you a view of the onsen, and exclusive use of their Black silica bedrock sauna which you can book.
If you’re on a lower budget you could opt for just the room and pay for a day-use private onsen instead. Only guests are offered this option, which is a great way to save money while enjoying the premium hotel facilities.
The hotel also has a rooftop onsen that overlooks the lake. You might even be able to stargaze or watch some fireworks from there.
🎯Review score: 9.0
⭐Star rating: 5 stars
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen in room, day-use black silica bedrock sauna, day-use private onsen, rooftop onsen, sauna
💰 Price: From $531 USD ($714 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They enjoyed the comfortable and luxurious stay, and the quality of amenities in the hotel made up for the lack of other shops nearby.
8. Otaru Korakuen (Otaru)
Otaru Korakuen is a traditional ryokan in Otaru with rooms that include open-air private onsens. Even if you don’t book a room with an onsen, they are available in the hotel for private day use.
There are several room types to choose from, ranging from traditional ryokans to a Japanese-Western mix room style.
The compound is huge, and many guests find that one day is not enough for them to enjoy the entire hotel. With several public onsens for hotel guests to use and places to relax with a warm drink, you’ll feel like royalty at the end of your stay.
🎯Review score: 9.2
⭐Star rating: 3 stars
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen in room, public onsen
💰 Price: From $595 USD ($800 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They love the rooms with the open-air private onsens, the high quality service, and food which makes the price tag worth every penny.
9. Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga (Lake Akan)
If you’re headed to East Hokkaido, Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga has amazing rooms with private onsen. They are a luxurious way to immerse yourself into the amazing scenery of Lake Akan.
Aside from private onsens, you can also use the hotel’s outdoor garden or rooftop onsens. You also have the option to book a day use private onsen if you don’t necessarily want to have it in your room.
The buffet meals are one of the highlights here, but you also have the option of walking around the nearby town to check out other shops. Overall, the hotel goes to great lengths to make your stay memorable at any time of year.
🎯Review score: 8.7
⭐Star rating: 4.5 stars
🛁 Amenities: Private onsen in room, outdoor garden and rooftop onsen, steam room, fitness center
💰 Price: From $631 USD ($849 SGD)
🗣️ What guests say: They love the excellent service and outdoor onsens, though the hotel can be crowded during winter due to its popularity.
Hotels and ryokans with day-use private onsen (Best money-saving option)
One of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck is by booking a regular room and then paying for day use of a private onsen in the hotel.
This is ideal if you don’t mind sticking to specific timings, or having to make a separate booking to use the hotel’s private onsen.
These hotels below only have regular rooms, and all guests will have to use either the public or private onsens.
They are the best value options I’ve found so far, and I think they’re worth it if you want the same luxurious private onsen experience.
10. Hana Momiji (Jozankei)
If you’re looking for an authentic onsen experience in a ryokan, Hana Momiji in Jozankei is a popular choice. You can stay in a traditional ryokan, try out one of the onsens, and enjoy a kaiseki meal during your stay.
There are 3 private onsens available, named Kaku-yu (cypress), Maru-yu (ceramic), and Amano-yu (panoramic). It only costs 2,200 Yen per hour to book, so book early to secure your slot.
For potentially less than $300 USD, you get the exclusive 4-star private onsen experience that would’ve cost double in another hotel.
🎯Review score: 9.0
⭐Star rating: 4 stars
🛁 Amenities: Day-use private onsen for guests only, public onsens
💰 Price: From $232 USD ($312 SGD) – regular room without onsen
🗣️ What guests say: They loved the onsen and kaiseki experience, as well as the traditional ryokan rooms that felt authentic.
11. Nukumori-no-yado Furukawa (Jozankei)
Another one of Hokkaido’s top hotels with private onsens available for day use is Nukumori-no-yado Furukawa. It is located at the foot of the mountain, and is incredibly scenic for a short trip out of Sapporo.
It costs 2,200 Yen to use the hotel’s private onsen for 50 minutes, and you need to be a guest to use it. If you can’t get enough of it, some of the public onsens also feature traditional gardens and a waterfall feature along the rocks.
🎯Review score: 9.2
⭐Star rating: 4.5 stars
🛁 Amenities: Day-use private onsen for guests only, public onsens, sauna
💰 Price: From $264 USD ($355 SGD) – regular room without onsen
🗣️ What guests say: They liked that it was traditional yet with modern conveniences, with good kaiseki meals, and a variety of high quality onsens.
Final tips when choosing Hokkaido hotels with private onsen
You don’t need to spend a lot to get the private onsen experience in these Hokkaido hotels. As we saw in this post, it can even cost less than $250 USD per night, even with amazing scenery.
That said, if you really wanted to spend a bit more for that extra luxury, there are countless options for ryokans and hotels with private onsens in your room. Be prepared that room rates will start at $350 USD for some of them. Do also check the price of including breakfast and/or dinner in your stay.
Lastly, if you want to get creative and don’t mind a room without an onsen, you could always book a private onsen for day use at the hotel. That way, you get to splurge on higher quality ryokan (at least 4-stars) with the same budget.
Janice
Janice, a California-based travel writer from Singapore, discovered her love for hiking and camping during her studies in Los Angeles. Through her blog, she now shares detailed itineraries for adventures in California, Asia, and beyond. She also talks about gear recommendations and tips for beginners, hoping to inspire them to explore the great outdoors with confidence.
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