Readme before you journey
Jozankei
Jozankei is a small hot spring town located closest to Sapporo city. We visited after the peak of the autumn foliage season, so the scenery was a bit dry.
Some parts of the water were still yellow, so the goal of the trip was to soak our feet and search for kappa.
Hokkaido Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Nijo Fish Market / Maruyama Park + Hokkaido Shrine
Nijo Fish Market:
- A bustling market offering a wide variety of fresh seafood, including salmon, crab, and uni (sea urchin).
- Visitors can enjoy a lively atmosphere and sample delicious seafood dishes at the market's restaurants.
Maruyama Park:
- A beautiful park located in the center of Sapporo, known for its cherry blossoms in the spring and its autumn foliage.
- The park also features a zoo, a botanical garden, and a museum.
Hokkaido Shrine:
- A Shinto shrine dedicated to the pioneers who settled Hokkaido.
- The shrine is known for its impressive architecture and its serene atmosphere.
Additional notes:
- The order of the attractions can be adjusted to fit your preferences.
- Consider checking the opening hours and admission fees for each attraction before your visit.
- Public transportation is readily available to reach all three locations.
Hokkaido University / Former Hokkaido Government Office / Sapporo Clock Tower / TV Tower / Tanukikoji Alley
Day 2: Jozankei
Day 3: Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill / Otaru
Day 4: Hakodate
Day 5: Aomori and return to Tokyo.
There are several ways to get to Jozankei from Sapporo, including the Kappa Line, a direct bus that only stops at the first three stations before heading straight to Jozankei.
Alternatively, you can take the Jotetsu Bus, a public transportation service that travels to Jozankei. This bus operates on a regular schedule with stops along the route.
We will review the outbound leg with Kappa Liner and the return leg with Jotetsu Bus.
For express bus Kappa Liner to Jo-Sang-Ke
Bus tickets can be purchased at bus stop number 12. The Bus Station is located at Esta shopping mall in Sapporo Station.
Initially, we read reviews suggesting the need to purchase tickets a day in advance. However, upon inquiring, we were advised to purchase tickets on the day of travel and queue for the bus.
This morning, we took the subway to Sapporo Station. We walked towards Esta shopping mall and followed the signs to the Bus Station.
Looking for a bite to eat in the mall. There are some restaurants open for breakfast. At first, I thought there were no restaurants open at all.
This is likely due to the location being a bus station, which provides a convenient and accessible environment for businesses to operate.
Travel information http://jozankei.jp/en/access/#access2
We will depart on the first bus at 11:00 AM.
Purchase a one-way ticket for 770 yen.
Purchase a ticket and wait at bus stop number 12. The Kappa bus stop will look like this: a picture of a hot spring.
A bus that looks like this.
Image Credit: LS Lam
The vehicle has a single entrance and exit point located at the front door.
The journey took approximately one hour, during which I enjoyed a comfortable ride and fell asleep.
The tentative itinerary is as follows:
The red dots indicate bus stops, and the circled areas represent approximate tourist attractions.
Please note that the outbound and inbound buses will take different routes.
The route from Sapporo will run 2-3-7-6-5-4-8-9.
On the way back to Sapporo, the route will be 9 - 8 - 7 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 2.
Apologies for the unordered numbers. This figure was created before the actual trip.
If you are confused, please refer to this.
Please wait on the correct side of the road for the return bus.
If you are interested in learning more about kappa, you can visit the following website: http://jozankei.jp/en/about/kappa.php
I will inform you of the location and image of the Kappa at that point.
Unfortunately, several rides were closed for maintenance during my visit.
Our journey began with us choosing to get off at the Jozankei Yonomachi bus stop. The bus has a screen at the front that displays the name of the next stop.
Upon reaching our desired stop, we pressed the button to disembark. We opted for a leisurely stroll, collecting kappa along the way, and headed towards the iconic red bridge at Futami Park.
Collect Kappa
On the way to Futami Bridge
You will meet the king of the kappa.
Extremely dry. It would be much more beautiful if you came during the peak season.
At Futami Bridge.
From Futami Bridge, walk back to the main road.
On our way back to the main road, we will pass Gensen Park, where you can enjoy a free foot bath. Additionally, at point number 10 on the Google map (Iwato Kannondo), there is also a free foot bath available.
On the side of the main road.
The Gankake Te Yu (The Praying Hand bath of Kappa's Family) is a hot spring located in the onsen town of Yudanaka.
This is a sacred spot where wishes are said to be granted. To make a wish, one must first pay respects to the King of Kappas and then approach this point.
The method of praying is to use a ladle to scoop up the water from the fountain and pour it over the head of the kappa, then use your hands to catch the water that comes out of the kappa's mouth.
Recite "On-kappa-ya-un-ken-so-wa-ka" three times and make a wish.
Following the map, we continued walking to the Jozankei Onsen Museum, the tourist information center. We stopped to look around briefly, but our main goal was to find a restroom.
The kind officer opened the staff bathroom for us to enter through the back of the office.
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Kappa on the way
Our primary destination for foot soaking is the Ashiyu Free Hot Spa for Foot, located at point 6.
When visiting the free footbaths, please bring a towel. If you don't have one, you can purchase one from the tourist information center as you walk by.
Kappa next to the foot bath
The last stop on our tour of the city was a bakery.
Before watching the movie "Bread of Happiness," I felt a strong desire to visit a bakery in Hokkaido, even if it was just a similar one.
So I stopped by this shop.
Virgin Baccano
Unfortunately, we arrived too late and there was only one type of bread left. So we had soft cream instead.
The atmosphere in the restaurant
Like in the movies, just this was enough to make me happy. We sat there to avoid the cold until they were about to close the shop, and then we went home.
Initially, we intended to wait for the Kappa bus. However, we did not want to wait until it got darker, so we decided to board the Jotetsu bus if it arrived first.
Wait for the bus to arrive on the correct side, as we have observed its route.
Bus stop sign looks like this
Image credit: metrobabel
The green sign with an upward arrow indicates the bus stop for Kappa buses. The blue sign displays the name of the stop and the bus schedule.
We were waiting at the Jozankei Ohashi bus stop, which was just an open space on the side of the road. It was incredibly cold.
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Image credit: metrobabel
To board the Jotetsu bus, please use the rear entrance. Remember to keep your ticket as proof of boarding from which station.
Boarding Guide
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Passengers can exchange coins at the driver's side, as payment is made in coins. The front of the bus displays the next station and the fare table. Passengers should check the number on their ticket, which they receive when boarding, to determine the fare. The fare increases with the ticket number.
If you want to get off before the final stop, please press the bell. The bus is similar to those in our country. In the evening, after school, it gets very crowded.
If you are going to the final destination, you can ride the train until the end of the line. Prepare enough coins for the fare and insert them into the coin slot along with your ticket, as shown in the picture.
For those who want to see the Jotetus bus schedule.
As shown on http://www.jotetsu.co.jp/bus/global/index.html.
This concludes our one-day tour of Jozankei.
Panoramic view at dusk
For dinner tonight, we're back in Sapporo.
Nestled in Soi Ramen, a haven for ramen enthusiasts, lies a plethora of small eateries. However, be prepared for a quick bite as the constant influx of customers necessitates a swift turnover.
Follow our travel adventures on https://www.facebook.com/whenigoto.
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whenigo
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 8:52 PM
