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Kotan Onsen

Hokkaido · コタン温泉

Kotan Onsen is a hot spring town in Hokkaido, Japan. Officially the water is classed as bicarbonate spring.

Getting there

From Sapporoabout 5½ h
CarNot needed
JR PassCovers the train
  1. Train to Kawayu-Onsen Station (JR)
  2. Local bus

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

Bicarbonate spring

The water here

Bicarbonate spring 炭酸水素塩泉

Smooth, slightly slippery water. Often nicknamed bihada-no-yu, the water for beautiful skin.

More photographs

From Wikimedia Commons. Tap a photo for the photographer and licence.

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 — HokkaidoInns with a private bath — Hokkaido

More on tattoos and onsen

Where to stay

Onsen inns — Teshikaga Town

Opens Rakuten Travel, which lists inns in English. Onsen Guide earns a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Hot spring towns nearby

Kawayu Onsen (Hokkaido)Hokkaido · 川湯温泉Same area
Bicarbonate spring+3
Wakoto OnsenHokkaido · 和琴温泉Same area
Simple spring
Kussharokohan'onsengōHokkaido · 屈斜路湖畔温泉郷Same area
Simple spring+3
Mashū OnsenHokkaido · 摩周温泉Same area
Chloride spring
Sankō OnsenHokkaido · 三香温泉Same area
Simple springSulfur spring
Kussharokohan'onsengōHokkaido · 温泉Same area
Simple spring+3

Similar water elsewhere

Towns further away with the same kind of water — useful if this one is hard to reach or fully booked.

Tsunashima OnsenKanagawa · 綱島温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Takeo OnsenSaga · 武雄温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Yunō OnsenKagoshima · 湯之尾温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Tateyama OnsenToyama · 立山温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Nitchū OnsenFukushima · 日中温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring
Yabuzuka OnsenGunma · 藪塚温泉Also bicarbonate
Bicarbonate spring

The numbers

Address in Japanese
北海道川上郡弟子屈町屈斜路

Figures from the town's Japanese Wikipedia article.

Read more

Japanese Wikipedia

Planning a first soak? Read how an onsen stay works, and what to do if you have tattoos.