Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei

This is a review of our stay at Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei.

On a snowy day in late January, we visited Jozankei Onsen in Sapporo to celebrate our wedding anniversary and enjoy onsens of Hokkaido. Since we were visiting Hokkaido all the way from Tokyo, we decided to stay at this particularly popular ryokan in Jozankei Onsen. To get straight to the point, we found it to be a perfect ryokan for a celebration, with a room rate that was not too expensive despite being a luxury ryokan, and service and enjoyment that went above and beyond the price. The ambience inside the ryokan was also very relaxing, so much so that we felt that we could have such a quiet stay here in the suburbs of Sapporo. It was conveniently located about 40 minutes from Sapporo city center by free shuttle bus.

We arrived at New Chitose Airport before noon and took the Rapid Airport Line to JR Sapporo Station. Then, to catch a free shuttle bus, we walked along the underground passage from JR Sapporo Station to Subway Sapporo Station, took the Toho Subway Line, got off at Odori Station, and boarded the free shuttle bus in front of the Showa Building located just outside of Exit 1. When transferring from the Rapid Airport Line to the Toho Subway Line, we walked for more than 10 minutes. First-time visitors to JR Sapporo Station might get lost, so it would be recommended to check this YouTube in advance.

It took us about 40 minutes to reach the ryokan where we would be staying. The ryokan was located a short distance from the center of the onsen resort, up a hill. We got off the shuttle bus in front of a stone gate with an elegant white noren curtain, passed through the stone gate, and entered the ryokan, where we found the reception desk and lobby on the right. The interior and furnishings of this ryokan exuded a unique sense of luxury, blending Japanese, Western, and Chinese design. The reception area was crowded with guests checking in, so we were first shown to the lounge. We decided to wait while enjoying coffee and delicious monaka ice cream. This monaka ice cream was a stylish sweet with mousse layered on top of financier.

After 15 minutes of waiting, we completed check-in formalities here and were escorted to our room by a staff member dressed in a kimono. This time we stayed in a room called Matsukaze, located on the third floor. Upon entering the room, we found a very spacious and modern Japanese-style living room, a Japanese-style room with twin beds next to it, and a bathroom with a private hot spring bath on the other side of the room. The room called Matsukaze was too big for my husband and me.

Then there was a snowy view of the hot spring resort from the room windows, but they were not a special view. The room also had a beer server and a soda water server, which could be used free of charge at any time. Beer lovers will love it. Moreover, when the beer tank is empty, the staff is always ready to refill it for you. There was also a free whiskey available to make highballs. My husband and I immediately took out glasses of jugs from the mini-bar, poured beer from the beer server, and sat down on the couch to enjoy it.

Then, an elegant wooden box was placed on the table, and I excitedly opened it to find a wonderful array of baked cakes inside the wooden box. The pyramid-shaped baked cakes, which included matcha, chocolate, raspberry, and orange flavors, were elegantly sweet and small bite-sized, so we ate them in no time at all.

After this, we decided to change into yukatas and go to the communal bathhouse on the second floor. There are two communal onsen baths with Jacuzzis and saunas, one in a separate hut, and two private family onsen baths on the ryokan grounds. The private family onsen baths on 6F and 7F can be reserved at the reception desk at the time of use, and are free and completely private and locked during the reserved time.

The second floor, where the communal hot spring baths are located, has a sophisticated atmosphere, a relaxation room, a souvenir shop, a gallery, and an osteopathic shop. The space created in the image of a karesansui garden was especially quaint, and the sound of water flowing in the stone wash basin was relaxing. The ryokan’s interior design and furnishings were oriental in style, creating an even more quaint Japanese ambience.

After enjoying the communal onsen baths, we decided to visit the lounge next to the lobby on the first floor. The lounge had a nice blend of Japanese and Western interior design with a small tatami-mat floor. At the counter and sofa corner in the back of the lounge, a wall projector showed famous movies. Sake was available free of charge from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Hojicha milk was offered to those who could not drink alcohol. We enjoyed our sake with homemade potato chips.

After this, we headed to the dining area on the third floor. There were four tables surrounded by a basin of water and three private dining rooms, where diners could enjoy their meals while watching the chefs at the tables cooking. The dining area had a sophisticated interior, but unfortunately, the kaiseki cuisine, which utilizes Hokkaido ingredients, did not leave a lasting impression.

After dinner, we decided to take a walk around Jozankei Onsen district, but it was snowing outside, so we went to the lounge on the first floor, where free Hokkaido shochu (Japanese liquor) and fruit wine are served from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Rare Hokkaido shochu such as milk shochu, kelp shochu, corn shochu, buckwheat shochu, soybean shochu, rice shochu, and fruit wine such as peach, apple, and kiwi were available. Also, pound cake, apple pie, and delicious chimaki (rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves) for the night meal were available.

After this, we returned to our room to enjoy the private onsen in the room. On the table in the living room were two black lidded bowls and honey ginger tea for the night meal. When we opened the bowls, we found rice balls made of ancient rice, boiled fish called hokke or kasube, and satsuma-age (fried fish cake). We were already full at this point, but for some reason we were feeling a bit peckish after our private onsen. We poured ourselves beer from the beer server in our room and sat down on the couch in the living room to enjoy our night meal, sipping our beer.

The next morning, we woke up a little after 7:00 a.m. and decided to go to the communal onsen baths called Morinoyu. The entrance to Morinoyu is located near the restaurant called Shoan on the second floor of the building. We walked along the corridor for a while, and once outside, we found a hut with a large bathhouse. Once inside, the changing room was retro, or rather old. There was no shampoo, body soap, or shower. It was a large bath with the image of an old-fashioned therapeutic bath where one quietly soaks in the onsen. I liked the quaint atmosphere of the space. The hot spring water was filled with hot-spring flowers that looked like brown pieces of wood floating in the water. Also, there was a pool of hot water flowers in the corner of the bathtub. The quality of the spring water was excellent.

After this we went to the dining area on the second floor for breakfast. When we arrived at the restaurant called Shoan, the staff showed us to a private dinning room. In the center of the dining room was a beautiful dry landscape garden with a tea ceremony room, and the sound of running water could be heard from the stone wash basin. Breakfast was served in the Japanese style with premium ingredients such as crab, sea urchin, and sea bream sashimi. It was a very satisfying breakfast.

After breakfast, we again went to the lounge on the ground floor to enjoy coffee and fresh croissants. From 8:30 to 10:00, fresh bread and yogurt were served.

Unfortunately, the weather during our stay was unfavorable, and it was snowing outside, so we stayed on the ryokan grounds from check-in to check-out. However, the amenities and services were excellent, including the lounge where we could easily enjoy ourselves repeatedly, communal onsen baths, the private onsen in our room, and the private family onsen baths. We would like to visit again in a different season.

Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Agoda

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Is the location easy to access?

The easiest way to get there is to take the free shuttle service. The free shuttle service is available from the front of the Showa Building located near Odori Station at 14:40 or 17:00. To get to the Showa Building from Subway Sapporo Station, take the Toho or Namboku Subway Line, get off at Odori Station, and exit at Exit 1 to find the Showa Building.

When we got off the rapid airport line at JR Sapporo Station and transferred to the Toho subway line, we walked for more than 10 minutes. First-time visitors are recommended to check this YouTube in advance. We were not familiar with the Sapporo Station area and got lost.

Then if you wish to use the free shuttle service, reservations are required in advance. The shuttle bus service often fills up, so inform the staff when you book your room. It is a 40-minute bus ride from the Showa Building to the ryokan.

How about toiletries & in-room amenities?

All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, samue outfits, yukatas, tea bags, a coffee machine with capsules, and bottled water, etc. Room service is not available, but there is a souvenir shop on the second floor where you can buy wine, sake, beer, and snacks, etc. The shop is open between 8:00 and 21:00. Also, there is a drink vending machine on the second floor. There is a convenience store about a 15-minute walk away. 

Then free WiFi reception was excellent in the property. Also, there is one computer available for free use in front of the reception desk on the first floor.

From April 1, 2022, elementary school students and older may stay at this ryokan.

How about In-house Facilities?

There are some indoor and outdoor communal onsen baths with saunas and Jacuzzi on 2F. 

Also, there is a separate onsen bathhouse called Morinoyu on the ryokan grounds where you can enjoy listening to the rustle of trees swaying in the wind and the chirping of birds.

Then there are two private family hot spring baths on 6F and 7F. Reservations are required, free of charge and completely private.

Then the ryokan is built on a slope, so there are many stairs and steps. There are two universal rooms. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing. If you bring people with weak legs, it would be a good idea to book a room with a private hot spring bath.

 Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Agoda

Info about Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei

Style	Luxury Onsen Ryokan
Check-in and out times	15:00/10:00
Estimated Price	80,000 JPY for 2 adults per room
E-mail	reservation@jyozankei-daiichi.co.jp
Internet Connection	Free WiFi in the hotel
Facility Information	Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available
Location	Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei’s MAP
Access	Free shuttle bus from the front of the Showa building Need to book in advance upon request.
Address and TEL	3-chōme-105 Jōzankeionsennishi, Minami-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2303 Tel +81 11-598-2141
Official Homepage	Jozankei Daiichi Hotel Suizantei’s HP *Japanese Only

*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.

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