Short holiday mood!
A tour of the hot-spring spots in and around Kushiro

The Eastern Hokkaido area boasts an abundance of charming hot springs.
Many can be enjoyed on a day trip or within the city, while experiencing the holiday mood with a partner or friends.
Here we introduce four easy-to-reach spots ideal for taking a short break.

A convenient way of refreshing yourself from within:
Kushiro Rural-City Civic Center Yamahana Onsen Refre

The closest hot spring to the suburbs is Refre, a 30-min drive away. With a zoo and horse-riding facilities also available, it’s an ideal place for a date.
Watch the animals, ride a horse and then take a dip in the hot tub – a great way for a couple to spend some time, Hokkaido style.
“Watch your step”. “Thank you” … In winter, what better excuse to a hold hands?
The chloride spring, 100% direct from source, is known as warming water, ensuring your body retains the heat long after you have finished bathing.
The bathhouses are swapped for male and female use every other day, so the different atmospheres of both the “Mountain Bathhouse” and “Flower Bathhouse” can be enjoyed.
What’s more, the medicated bath’s aroma changes according to the day of the week, and a steam sauna is also available. The line up of aromas, including rose and lavender, is particularly popular among females.
After relaxing in the hot spring, why not enjoy a medicinal lunch? Restaurant Hanashinobu offers a menu that incorporates yakushokudogen (medicine and food have the same origin), the yakuzen concept of daily meals that keep you healthy.
Enjoy “rice topped with Hanzawa Farm Angus Beef” and “Akan momiji soy-milk tantan noodles”.
The on-site shop sells freshly picked, locally grown vegetables, freshly laid eggs and freshly baked bread.

Kushiro Rural-City Civic Center Yamahana Onsen Refre
Address: Yamahana 14-sen 131, Kushiro, Hokkaido
Tel. 0154-56-2233
Bathing only: 10:00–22:30 (last admission 21:30)
Open every day
Fees: adults ¥620; junior high school students ¥520; elementary school pupils ¥310
Spring quality: sodium chloride saline hot spring (neutral hypertonic hot spring)
Spa facilities: large bathtub, Jacuzzi, jet bath, steam sauna, cascade bath, cold water bath, medicated bath, outdoor bath
Amenities: shampoo, conditioner, liquid body soap (or bar soap), hair dryer
Suitable for: neuralgia, recovery from fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains, poor circulation, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, bruising, sprains, hemorrhoids, physically weak children, chronic digestive disorders, chronic skin disorders, convalescence, chronic gynecological disorders, scars, burns, general health promotion
Website: http://www.refre-yamahana.jp/

Beautifying hot spring for smoother skin! Tsurui Northern Village HOTEL TAITO

If you want to treat that special woman in your life, we recommend Taito in the village of Tsurui, about an hour by car from Kushiro.
Known as a beautifying hot spring, it’s located just far enough away to drop into while taking a drive.
Females emerge from the spa even more beautiful than before! There’s no reason not to go!
The beautifying qualities originate from the spring water – a type that helps aid exfoliation and which flows constantly from source. The hot water also warms the body and improves circulation, and is great for relieving stiffness in shoulders.
What’s more refreshing after taking a bath than enjoying a “Tsurui tancho soft-serve ice cream” made with lashings of fresh milk?
“You’d probably like this.” “Go on then, I’ll have a bit.”
In this way, even those who don’t usually like sweet foods can enjoy the taste.
One of the dishes popular among males is the “Butadon” (rice topped with pork) made with the Akan Pork brand of pork.
The soy-sauce-based rich, sweet ‘n’ spicy sauce is deliciously satisfying.
“The butadon is great!” “They have ‘katsu meat’, too!”
“Katsu meat” is a famous Kushiro dish of meat sauce spaghetti topped with a pork cutlet.

Tsurui Northern Village HOTEL TAITO
Address: Tsurui Nishi 1-chome 5, Tsurui-mura, Akan-gun, Hokkaido
Tel. 0154-64-3111
Bathing only: weekdays 11:00–22:00 (last admission 21:30); Sun. and public holidays 10:00–22:00 (last admission 21:30)
Restaurant: 11:00–20:00 (last order 19:30) *Reservations required for dinner
Open every day
Fees: adults ¥600; junior high school students ¥500; elementary school pupils ¥400; pre-school age ¥100
Spring quality: sodium bicarbonate hot spring (hypotonic alkaline high temperature spring)
Spa facilities: large, natural hot-spring bathhouse; sauna; outdoor bath
Amenities: shampoo & conditioner, body soap, hair dryer
Suitable for: neuralgia, muscle aches, joint pains, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruising, sprains, burns, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, poor circulation, convalescence, recovery from fatigue, general health promotion, scars, chronic skin disorders, physically weak children, chronic gynecological disorders
Website:http://www.hotel-taito.co.jp/

A downtown natural spa, Natural Hot Spring Hotel Paco Kushiro

Paco, where you can enjoy a hot spring bath with the lads! There’s no better place to relax with friends in a casual atmosphere. There’s also the nighttime view if you come as a couple.
“This model’s cute, isn’t she?”
“Funnily enough, I prefer this entertainer.”
The outdoor bath is equipped with a large monitor. The feeling of freedom afforded by the downtown rooftop bath may provide the chance for you to find out about the tastes and preferences of good friends.
A sauna that’s appealing to men.
When the contest of endurance starts it’s no longer a form of beauty. The cold-water bath and drinking fountain are right next to the exit of the sauna.
Enjoy splendid views of Nusamai Bridge from the spacious rest lounge. Female-only seats are available so that groups of girlfriends can visit at nighttime with peace of mind. The hotel’s body scrub and aesthetic treatment are also popular among females.

Natural Hot Spring Hotel Paco Kushiro
Address: Suehiro-cho 2, Kushiro, Hokkaido
Tel. 0154-32-1126
Bathing only: 13:00–2:00 the following day
Rest space: 13:00–2:00 the following day (light meals from 13:00 to 22:00)
Open every day
Fees: adults ¥720; children ¥410
Spring quality: sodium calcium chloride hot spring
Spa facilities: large bathhouse, sauna, outdoor bath, medicated bath
Amenities: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hair dryer, rental bathing set (robe, bath towel, face towel) plus \360
Suitable for: neuralgia, muscle aches, joint pains, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruising, sprains, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, poor circulation, convalescence, recovery from fatigue, general health promotion, scars, burns, chronic skin disorders, physically weak children, chronic gynecological disorders
Website:http://www.paco.co.jp/kushiro/spa.html

The local’s rest spot, Natural Hot Spring Taikiyu

Taikiyu, a city-center spa used by countless locals, is actually a natural hot spring.
Get naked, share a bath and become friends for life!
Complete with outdoor bath, the quality of the spring water is said to help relieve poor circulation. It also contains an abundance of rich calcium ions, and seasoned regulars like to bathe several times a day from morning to night.
A great place to grumble about work, with men’s talk like “The section manager was sarcastic to me the other day,” and other things that are difficult to talk about normally.
Massage chairs are available for use in the rest lounge, where pictures of Kushiro’s sunsets that adorn the walls add to the physically and mentally relaxing atmosphere.
There is also a dining area, where customers can enjoy a post-bath beer, and the large portions of mori-soba noodles are a popular dish on the menu.

Overnight accommodation is also available at Taikiyu.
It’s an ideal place for sports teams’ training camps, with washing machines available and a large guestroom that accommodates up the 15 people.
¥3,500 per person (+ bathing tax) per night (breakfast not included), with unlimited use of the hot-spring bath!

Natural Hot Spring Taikiyu
Address: Harutori 7-chome 1, Kushiro, Hokkaido
Tel. 0154-46-5558
Opening hours: weekdays 12:00–00:00; Sat., Sun. & public holidays 6:00–00:00
Open every day
Fees: adults ¥440; elementary school pupils ¥140; children under six ¥70
Spring quality: calcium sodium chloride hot spring (mildly alkaline hypertonic low temperature hot spring)
Spa facilities: large bathhouse, jet bath, cold water bath (tepid and low temperature), outdoor bath
Amenities: hair dryer
Suitable for: neuralgia, muscle aches, joint pains, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, stiff joints, bruising, sprains, hemorrhoids, chronic digestive disorders, chronic skin disorders, convalescence, recovery from fatigue, general health promotion, physically weak children, chronic gynecological disorders, poor circulation, scars, burns
Website:http://taikiyu.sakura.ne.jp/index.html