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Bankei Onsen

Hokkaido · 蟠渓温泉

Bankei Onsen is a hot spring town in Hokkaido, Japan. The water leaves the ground at 65–92°C, hot enough that it has to be cooled before anyone can get in. Officially the water is classed as chloride spring, sulfate spring and sulfur spring. 3 inns take visitors here.

Getting there

From Sapporoabout 2½ h

CarNot needed

JR PassCovers the train

Train to Datemombetsu Station (JR)
Local bus, about 40 min

Fly into New Chitose. Times are rough estimates worked out from station locations, not a timetable — check the exact route on Google Maps.

Chloride springSulfate springSulfur spring

The water here

Chloride spring 塩化物泉

Salty water. The salt leaves a thin film on the skin, so you stay warm well after leaving the bath.

Sulfate spring 硫酸塩泉

Clear water with a faintly bitter taste. Known for holding heat.

Sulfur spring 硫黄泉

The classic rotten-egg smell and milky white water. It can tarnish silver jewellery, so take it off.

With tattoos

Many public baths still turn away visible tattoos, and the rule is set by each bath, not by the town. The reliable way round it is to bathe privately: a room with its own open-air bath, or an inn with a private bath you can book for yourselves.

Rooms with an open-air bath — Hokkaido Inns with a private bath — Hokkaido