Asarigawa Onsen

Asarigawa Onsen is a hot spring area along the Asarigawa River in Otaru. Some facilities let you use the hot springs without staying overnight, and there are day-use bath options in the hot spring village and on the Shinko 5-chome side.

What Asarigawa Onsen is like

Asarigawa Onsen is about 20–25 minutes by car from central Otaru. HOKKAIDO LOVE! describes it as “Otaru’s retreat,” with the hot spring area spread along the Asarigawa River.

Beyond the hot spring village are a loop bridge and Asari Dam. The reservoir behind Asari Dam is Lake Otarunai, and a park has been laid out along its shore. In winter, the area is also known as the home of Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort.

The Otaru Tourism Association’s accommodation guide has categories such as hotels, ryokan, minshuku and pensions, vacation rentals and campgrounds. It also lists facilities in the Asarigawa Onsen area.

Where to take a day-use bath

Here, “day-use bathing” means using the hot spring without staying overnight. Reception hours and reservation conditions differ by facility, so please check the official information before you set out.

A private bath (family bath) is one that only your family or group uses, for a set length of time.

Facility	Location (district)	Day-use hours	Reservations	Private / family baths	Official information
Asarigawa Onsen Hotel	Asarigawa Onsen 2-chome	11:00–20:00 (last admission 19:30)	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Barrier-free family bath available. Reservation required, 60 minutes. Day-use hours for the family bath are 11:00–20:00, last admission 19:00.	Asarigawa Onsen Hotel official site
Otaru Asari Classe Hotel	Asarigawa Onsen 2-chome	Weekdays 11:00–18:00 (last admission 17:00); weekends and public holidays 11:00–16:00 (last admission 15:00)	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Otaru Asari Classe Hotel hot spring
Otaru Korakuen	Shinko 5-chome	Sunday to Friday (excluding days before public holidays), 15:00–22:00. Last entry 20:00, up to 3 hours.	Reservation required. Bookings open one week ahead and are accepted up to the day itself.	Private hot spring baths available. Cannot be reserved in advance; available on arrival if there is an opening.	Otaru Korakuen day-use bath
Otaru Natural Hot Spring Yunohana Asaridono	Shinko 5-chome	9:00–23:00	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Yunohana Asaridono
Hotel Musashitei	Asarigawa Onsen 2-chome	5:00–21:00 (last admission 20:00)	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Not stated in the official information. Please check with the facility.	Hotel Musashitei hot spring

Please check each facility’s official site for fees.

The addresses of Otaru Korakuen and Otaru Natural Hot Spring Yunohana Asaridono are in Shinko 5-chome, not “Asarigawa Onsen.” They are some distance from the group of hotels in Asarigawa Onsen 2-chome. Please confirm the location before you go.

Before You Go

Day-use bathing at Otaru Korakuen is by reservation. It is available Sunday to Friday, excluding days before public holidays, and entry starts at 15:00. Reservations are accepted from one week before the day of use up to the same day. The official page does not list day-use bathing for Saturdays or the days before public holidays.

Otaru Asari Classe Hotel has different closing times on weekdays and on weekends and public holidays. Day-use hours end at 18:00 on weekdays and 16:00 on weekends and public holidays, and last admission is one hour before closing in each case.

Asarigawa Onsen Hotel announces closures and changes to use due to maintenance in its official notices. If you are unsure whether you can use the facility on the day, the safest approach is to check the notices before you go.

The City of Otaru’s “Hot Spring Bathing Facilities” page also lists lodging facilities in the Asarigawa Onsen area that do not allow day-use bathing. Even at a place that offers lodging, day-use bathing is not always available.

Water type

The water type for Asarigawa Onsen as a whole is not described consistently across sources and facilities. The City of Otaru’s regional plan describes Asarigawa Onsen as “containing sodium and calcium chlorides.” Each facility’s official page, on the other hand, describes it as follows.

Asarigawa Onsen Hotel lists “calcium-sodium chloride hot spring (hypotonic, weakly alkaline).” Otaru Asari Classe Hotel lists “calcium-sodium chloride hot spring.”

Otaru Korakuen describes the water from its own spring source as a “simple hot spring.” Otaru Natural Hot Spring Yunohana Asaridono lists “sodium-sulfate-chloride spring (hypotonic, weakly alkaline, high-temperature spring).” Hotel Musashitei lists “calcium-sodium chloride hot spring.”

It is easiest to check the water type exactly as each facility’s official page states it.

Getting there from JR Otaru Station

Bus

You can take Hokkaido Chuo Bus. From Stop 2 at the Chuo Bus Terminal at JR Otaru Station, take the bus bound for “Asarigawa Onsen.” It takes about 30 minutes to the “Onsengai” stop.

The stop to get off at depends on your destination. For Asarigawa Onsen Hotel, get off at “Onsen Minami,” a 2-minute walk from the stop. For the center of the hot spring village, the stop to use is “Onsengai.”

Timetables may change. Before you leave, check Hokkaido Chuo Bus’s bus stop timetable.

By car

From central Otaru, take Route 5 and then turn onto Hokkaido Route 1 toward Asarigawa Onsen. The regional guide puts the drive from central Otaru at about 20 minutes; the City of Otaru’s materials say about 25.

From Asari IC on the Sasson Expressway, allow about 5–10 minutes, depending on the facility and the reference point used. Asarigawa Onsen Hotel states about 5 minutes from Asari IC, and HOKKAIDO LOVE! states about 10 minutes to Asarigawa Onsen.

Places to combine with a visit

Beyond Asarigawa Onsen is Asari Dam, and its reservoir is Lake Otarunai. A park lies along the shore, and the City of Otaru’s materials list it as a place in the area around the hot spring village.

If you plan to ski in the area in winter, there is Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort. For where it is and which ski areas you can reach from Otaru, see the article on Ski Resorts You Can Reach from Otaru.

Mt. Tengu is also a sightseeing spot in the hills of Otaru. It is in a different area from Asarigawa Onsen, so if you want to combine the two, including how to get around, see the article on Mt. Tengu as well.

FAQ

How much does day-use bathing cost?

Fees differ by facility. Please check the latest fees on the official page of each facility in the table above.

Can I use a family bath or private bath on a day-use visit?

Asarigawa Onsen Hotel has a barrier-free family bath, available by reservation for 60 minutes, and it has set hours for day-use visitors too. The private hot spring at Otaru Korakuen cannot be reserved in advance and is available on arrival if there is an opening.

Can I get there from JR Otaru Station by bus?

Yes, you can go by Hokkaido Chuo Bus. From Stop 2 at the Chuo Bus Terminal at JR Otaru Station, take a bus toward Asarigawa Onsen. Depending on your destination, get off at stops such as “Onsengai” or “Onsen Minami.”