INDEX
Enjoy a luxurious and relaxing time in Northern Hokkaido (Dohoku)
Heal your body with an onsen soak
Sample various sake in the local breweries
See the best hot springs, sake, and wine in Northern Hokkaido (Dohoku).
Dohoku - the very word conjures images of snow-covered cliffs, winter activities, and a silvery-white world where temperature can drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius or lower. There is, however, much more to Dohoku than that. This region in Northern Hokkaido (not to be mistaken with Tohoku, the northeastern part of Honshu) is also home to onsen, sake, and some of the finest liquor.
Picture this: it is a cold winter day. You spent hours skiing and exploring the outdoors yesterday, and now, you’re looking for somewhere to relax.
You head to the onsen for a soak, allowing the mineral waters to relax your tired muscles and soothe your mind. The breathtaking view overlooks a snowy landscape, adding to the ambiance.
After your bath, you take a sip of the local sake and sample Furano wine, a wine native to the region. With each sip, you can taste the distinct flavors of the region’s local Japanese spirits, adding to the exquisite luxury of your experience.
Sounkyo Onsen and Shirogane Onsen in Dohoku are famous for their therapeutic benefits and beautiful, natural surroundings. Japanese onsen are places to enjoy mineral-rich water and sites to immerse yourself in scenic landscapes and stunning natural views of the mountains beyond.
Situated within Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido is an onsen resort called Sounkyo. In the summer, it’s a beautiful place to enjoy spectacular nature scenes through hikes that take you to mountains and falls. Come winter, the area transforms into a magical winter wonderland of ice and snow.
Hotel Taisetsu is one of the popular hot springs hotels in Sounkyo. It is known for its stunning natural scenery, including towering cliffs and the nearby Ishikari River. The hotel serves as a base for exploring several nearby attractions, including hiking trails in the national park.
You’ll find diverse room types, including Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats and futons. You can also opt for Western-style rooms. Many rooms have spectacular views that peek into the surrounding mountains and gorges.
Hotel Taisetsu has its own onsen facilities, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxing soak in its mineral-rich waters. They provide indoor and outdoor baths which you can enjoy the whole year round.
Address: Sounkyo Onsen, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 078-1701
Opening hours: Open all year round
How to get to Hotel Taisetsu: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Asahikawa Airport Line to Asahikawa Station. Take the Dohoku Bus “Sounkyo/Kamikawa Line” to Sounkyo or the shuttle bus (limited period, reservation required) to Hotel Taisetsu.
Established in 1923, the Sounkaku Mountain Resort 1923 features over a hundred rooms spread across multiple floors. They accommodate everyone from individual travelers to large groups.
The resort serves as a gateway for those looking to explore the outdoors and various seasonal attractions. You can see flower gardens in the summer and spectacular foliage of red and gold in the fall. During winter, it is the home of the popular Ice Waterfall Festival, featuring ice sculptures and illuminated displays.
You can also enjoy their high-quality onsen, which is known for its transparent, tasteless, odorless waters. The onsen is gentle on the skin, making it ideal for guests who have sensitive skin or are looking for somewhere to relax.
Address: Sounkyo Onsen, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 078-1701
Opening hours: Open all year round
How to get to Sounkaku Mountain Resort 1923: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Asahikawa Airport Line to Asahikawa Station. Take the Dohoku Bus “Sounkyo/Kamikawa Line” to Sounkyo or the shuttle bus (reservation required) to Sounkaku Mountain Resort 1923.
Biei is a picturesque town in the heart of Hokkaido. It is known for its stunning rural landscapes, vibrant flower fields, and gently rolling hills. Biei is also home to one of the best onsens in Japan, where you can enjoy a relaxing soak among stunning natural views.
Mori no Shizuku RIN (formerly known as Daisetsuzan Shirogane Kanko Hotel) is a charming onsen located in the Shirogane district of Biei. In June 2024, the hotel was rebranded with new suite rooms, a renovated buffet dining area, a new cafe, and a renovated lobby area.
The hotel features four types of cabins: a suite, a modern Japanese twin room, a Japanese-style room, and a Western-style room. You’ll find indoor and outdoor onsen baths with hot spring water flowing directly from the onsen. You can soak in the mineral-rich waters, which are good for the skin, and enjoy all its health benefits. During winter, guests can enjoy the special experience of soaking in an open-air bath surrounded by snow. Day bathing is also available.
Mori no Shizuku RIN’s buffet dining room offers Japanese cuisine using many local ingredients. It is close to popular spots, such as the Aoi Ike (a lake with magical blue waters) and the flower gardens of Biei, making it an ideal base for sightseeing in the area.
Address: Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-0235
Opening hours: Open all year round. One-day bathing is available from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (last admission is 8:30 PM).
How to get to Mori no Shizuku RIN: From Asahikawa Airport, take Furano Bus Lavender until Biei Station. Take Dohoku Bus 39 or 42 "Biei・Shirogane Line" to Shirogane Onsen or the free shuttle bus (reservation required) to Mori no Shizuku RIN.
After your bath, enjoy the rich aroma and deep taste of local sake. Asahikawa and the rest of the region are some of Hokkaido's most famous sake-producing areas. Their rich history and quality brews have placed it on the map of alcoholic beverages.
Founded in 1661, Otokoyama has built a reputation for high-quality sake. It uses pure spring water from the Daisetsuzan Mountains and is characterized by its clear, dry taste. Each Otokoyama sake has its own unique flavor and aroma and can be enjoyed on a variety of occasions.
Otokoyama mixes traditional methods with modern techniques to create its sake. It has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Monde Selection Award, making it one of the first sake brands to achieve international recognition. It won the Grand Gold Medal in World Selection 2024 of Spirits and Liqueurs.
The brewery also features a sake museum that shows the history and art of sake brewing. Visitors can view ancient sake-related literature and tools used in the brewing process. The museum also features artworks depicting Otokoyama Sake, including pieces by renowned Ukiyo-e artist Utamaro.
You can enjoy free tastings of various types of Otokayama sake at the store. You’ll also find a kids’ corner, a café stand, and a giant bottle slide at the Ochoko Square in front of the store.
Address: 7-1-33 Nagayama 2-jo, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido Prefecture 079-8412
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Cafe and tasting until 4:30 PM)
How to get to OTOKOYAMA SAKE PARK: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Asahikawa Airport Line to Asahikawa Station. Take the Dohoku Bus to Nagayama 2-jo-6 chome bus stop. Walk for about two minutes to get to Otokoyama Sake Park.
Founded in 1899, Takasago Brewery is the oldest sake brewery in Asahikawa. It uses Hokkaido sake rice and fresh water from the Taisetsu Mountains to brew its special sake.
Some representative brands include “Kokushimusou” and “Asahikamui,” as well as seasonal brewery-specific sake.
You can tour the brewery to see the sake production process by making reservations. You’ll also be able to see antique posters, bottles, and other artifacts about the history of sake.
Address: 17-1 Miyashitadori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido Prefecture 070-0030
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
How to get to Takasago Brewery: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Asahikawa Airport Line to Miyamaedori East bus stop. Walk a few minutes to the Takasago Brewery. It is also a 15-minute walk from Asahikawa Station.
Kamikawa Taisetsu Brewery is a relatively new sake brewery, established only in 2017 with the purpose of promoting Hokkaido-made sake. It is one of the few new breweries established in Japan in recent years due to the growing interest in artisanal sake production.
Located in view of the natural beauty of the Taisetsu Mountains, the location of the brewery itself is strategic. It gets high-quality, fresh water, known for its purity and ideal temperature for sake production, from the Taisetsu Mountains. Locally-grown rice - another essential ingredient for brewing sake—is available in the area.
The brewery only operates on a small scale, giving meticulous attention to detail for every step of the sake-making process. Each batch of moromi (the fermenting mash) is handmade using traditional techniques. The result is high-quality, flavorful sake that communicates “made in Japan” to the rest of the world.
Address: 25-1 Asahimachi, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 078-1761
Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (summer), 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (winter)
How to get to Kamikawa Taisetsu Brewery: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Asahikawa Airport Line to Asahikawa Station. Take the Dohoku Bus “Sounkyo Line” to the Kamikawa High School bus stop. Walk a few minutes to the Kamikawa Taisetsu Brewery.
Established in 1877, Michizakura Brewery used to be in Honshu before relocating in 2020.
Michizakura Brewery employs both traditional and modern techniques to enhance the quality of its sake. It uses locally sourced ingredients and maintains high standards throughout the brewing process. The company strives for sustainable sake production by managing the water used in the brewing process and recycling waste.
Michizakura Brewery brews several types of sake, including “Suisei” and “Kitashizuku,” with spring water from Daisetsuzan. Visitors can enjoy the gentle taste of sake together with fresh seafood and agricultural products from Hokkaido.
Address: Nishi 2 Kita 23, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-1402
Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM (closed on Tuesdays)
How to get to Michizakura Brewery: Take a taxi from Asahikawa Airport. The ride will take approximately 20 minutes.
Aside from Hokkaido sake, you’ll find an abundance of other alcoholic beverages in Asahikawa, such as wine and beer. In recent years, Hokkaido has emerged as a notable region for wine production, thanks to its unique climate. Hokkaido now ranks third in the country in wine production after Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. The region is known for its relatively cool climate—conducive to growing high-quality grapes.
Furano Winery is a prominent winery established in 1972 in Furano, Hokkaido. It was developed to take advantage of the region’s ideal climate for viticulture. The winery stands on a hillside overlooking the city of Furano, surrounded by a stunning landscape of rolling hills and lavender fields. At a distance, you can see the Daisetsuzan mountain range.
Furano Winery grows a variety of grapes suitable for winemaking, including popular varieties such as Mūller-Thurgau, Kerner, and Pinot Noir, as well as Furano 2-go, an original hybrid of wild grapes native to Furano and one of its wine grape varieties. The area’s continental climate with a large temperature difference between day and night helps to grow sweet, flavorful grapes.
Wine tasting and tours of the underground barrel and bottle-aging cellars are available. You’ll find a selection of red, white, and rosé wines. Over the years, Furano has won several awards in national wine competitions. Nearby, you’ll find a restaurant that serves food that pairs well with Furano wines.
Furano hosts the Furano Wine Grape Festival every year to celebrate the harvest of the crops. There are fun activities, such as grape stomping and wine pairing with local foods. By drinking the wine while experiencing the natural beauty of the Furano region, visitors can taste and feel the wine’s terroir better and gain a deeper appreciation of the local wines.
Address: Shimizuyama, Furano City, Hokkaido Prefecture 076-0048
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
How to get to Furano Winery: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Asahikawa Airport Line to the Jyuujigai bus stop. Take a taxi to Furano Winery.
Ishi-tei is a modern Japanese-style accommodation near Furano Winery. Each room follows different concepts, such as food, book, picture light, style, and sky. Its location near Furano Station makes it easily accessible for travelers, allowing guests to explore the surrounding attractions and enjoy the natural beauty of the region.
Address: 5-1 Hinodemachi, Furano City, Hokkaido Prefevture 076-0025
Opening hours: Open all year round
How to get to Ishi-tei Furano: From Asahikawa Airport, ride the Lavender Bus or JR Furano Line to Furano Station and walk to Ishi-tei Furano.
Next time you visit Dohoku, treat yourself to a nice, long soak in Sounkyo Onsen and Shirogane Onsen. Afterward, enjoy local food with some sake and wine. While you’re at it, visit the sake breweries in Asahikawa and its nearby places. This luxurious experience is one you shouldn’t miss.
Explore Dohoku today with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass.
Share
SHARE