Hokkaido Otaru City
A superb hot spring inn with an alkaline beauty bath from its own natural spring and a self-löyly sauna scented with birch.
"Otaru Kourakuen" is a hot spring ryokan in Otaru, Hokkaido, with its own natural spring source. The alkaline simple hot spring that wells up on the property has a pH of 8.4 and is cherished as a beauty bath that leaves the skin smooth and silky. The large public bath is equipped with an authentic Finnish sauna scented with vihta, and self-löyly is possible using aroma water infused with vihta. After the sauna, you can cool off in a refreshing cold plunge bath with continuously flowing groundwater pumped up from the property, then enjoy a premium outdoor air bath while feeling the breeze in the expansive Japanese garden and settle into a state of perfect relaxation.
A gentle simple hot spring using Kourakuen Onsen, the inn's own natural source, which gushes abundantly every day from 500 m below the property. It boasts a high alkalinity of pH 8.4, has an exceptionally soft texture, and is cherished as a beauty bath because it leaves the skin smooth. No tap water is added at all, and the mineral-rich hot spring water warms the body from deep within, with its warmth lingering long after you get out of the bath.
An authentic Finnish sauna adjacent to Iwa no Yu, a large public bath with a vaulted ceiling inspired by a storehouse. The benches are arranged in two levels, and vihta is tucked beneath them, filling the room with a pleasant birch aroma. A large window overlooks the garden, and you can enjoy luxurious sweating in the pleasant heat and humidity of self-löyly while watching the seasonal movement of the trees and the beautiful surface of the pond.
A Finnish-style sauna adjacent to Mori no Yuya, the large public bath. This one is designed to feel more private and relaxing, with curved chairs that let you stretch out your legs and pillows that allow you to lie down. The water for self-löyly is a natural aroma water infused with vihta, enveloping you in the pleasant scent of birch. While listening to the sounds of nature in Otaru outside the window, you can warm your body slowly and thoroughly.
A cold plunge bath using high-quality groundwater lavishly drawn as free-flowing water from a well on the property. The natural water has a mellow, gentle feel and cools the body firmly after the sauna, yet it is not so cold that you cannot stay in it for long, giving you a refreshing sensation. The flow to the outdoor air bath area is smooth as well, and while bathing in the crisp breeze blowing through the garden, you can reach a blissful state of totonou together with complimentary free drinks.
[Day-use bathing] 15:00-22:00 (advance reservation required)
