Hot Springs & Well-being The ultimate sauna experience surrounded by Hokkaido nature

Hakuginso, halfway up the Tokachi Mountain range in central Hokkaido, is regarded as one of northern Hokkaido's must-see sauna places among sauna enthusiasts. You can experience heated temperatures in the freshly fragrant sauna chamber built completely of hiba (Japanese cypress) with steam rising from the water poured over the sauna stones. Enjoy a cold water bath with spring water from Mt. Tokachi after a great day of sweating, and then take an outdoor air bath in the fresh air that can only be found at 1,000 meters. You can also enjoy the combination of sauna, water bath, and snow plunge during the snowy season to experience the sensations of sauna trance.

Here, you can enjoy one of the world's rare moor hot springs, which is designated as a Hokkaido Heritage. Natural materials from Tokachi, such as birch stumps and deer antlers, are used to decorate the sauna chamber. The steam from the moor hot spring includes high levels of organic acid, which is commonly found in skin care products and will moisturize and smooth your skin. The water bath here uses underground water from Satsunai River, which was once titled the clearest river in the country. You can also find seats in the open-air bath to soak up the sun and relax while taking in the fresh air.

Situated in Shiretoko, known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kitakobushi Shiretoko boasts superb views over the majestic sea of Okhotsk. On the top floor (8th floor), there are two saunas in which you can see Shiretoko's hills and the sea through the windows. In winter, you can also see the ice floes drifting on the waters, creating a spectacular view. Every 15 minutes, the automatic loyly machines will throw water onto the sauna stones made of magma that was found 30 kilometers underground in Hokkaido. The soothing music playing in the background was composed using the sounds of Shiretoko's nature, such as the singing of birds and the creaking of drift ice. With your senses, experience the beauty of nature that will take your sauna session to the next level.

Located on a hill overlooking the Kushiro Marsh, this guesthouse is limited to 10 people per day. Inside the sauna are a beautifully-curved cypress bench and a wood-burning stove resembling a locomotive. Through the large windows, you can admire the sprawling view of the marsh, where red-crowned cranes and Ezo deer sometimes visit. Also, in winters, you can see Hokkaido's only steam train running across the marsh. After taking a sauna, cool off in the cold bath of groundwater that comes from Lake Mashu infiltrating through the lake bed, and go outside to feel the fresh air of the rich natural environment that The Geek has to offer. From cool summers to winters with temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius, you can encounter different faces of nature every season. Have a blissful time relaxing both your body and soul.

Sauna tents, which use the heat of a wood-burning stove placed inside, can be used at various outdoor locations, including lakesides and beaches. One of the best locations to try the tent is the Shisorapuchi River, the headwaters of the Sorachi River. Here, you can rent a tent and enjoy a sauna by the beautiful clear stream from July to early November. Unlike public saunas, you can have the room to yourself; you can keep the temperature as you prefer and throw some aromatic water onto the hot stones. Experienced staff will help if you need guidance. Take a dip into the stream to cool down and feel the fresh air, and you will forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Boasting a luxurious mobile cabin in their lush and vast private campground overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Moving Inn, Tokachi hosts only one group of guests per night. Here, you can experience a one-of-a-kind sauna in the sauna trailer connected to the cabin. The wood-burning sauna heater used can heat up to around 120 degrees. In the summer, the cabin is planned to be moved into the woods along with its sauna trailer. Sometimes only the sauna is separated for a special event; it has been used by the river in the cold months so that the guests could plunge into an ice pool on the frozen river to cool down. This moving cabin and sauna keep hopping around Tokachi to offer various unique ways that showcase the beauty of nature.