Kitano Tamayura Soen — Restaurant in Sapporo

I am new to the onsen experience and have visited Japan twice. My first onsen experience was in Tokyo on my second trip where I hooked up with a friend who has settled in Tokyo and he taught me the ropes.

I went to this one in Hokkaido on my own and it was standard procedure, so this is for those not familiar with the onsen experience and is perhaps a complete novice. I hope it helps.

Take your shoes off at the entrance and place in a small locker on the right hand side of the entrance. You can either be bare foot or socks. You need a 100yen coin for the locker which you get back.

Purchase your ticket from the machine next to reception desk. Put your money in first and everything flashes. Push the adult button top left - the biggest button -480yen. Your ticket is dispensed which you give to reception and walk in.

You can purchase towels big and small if you are out and about and just stumble across this onsen. Otherwise if planned it is probably best to take your own towels.

Enter the onsen, typically blue for men and red for women.

Once in strip off and you can either put all your belongings in a basket or use a locker -100yen which like the shoe locker you get back. Key is on elastic band so you can wear on wrist.

Enter the common area and wash yourself using facilities on the left. Shampoo and body wash is provided at each station.

Wash thoroughly all over, just as you do at home in the shower. Wash hair, and if long tie back. Once washed and rinsed, your free to explore the many baths at your leisure, including a couple outside (and seating area) and a wet and dry steam room.

If you are not comfortable walking around naked, then take your small towel to cover. But to be honest nobody really cares.

When bathing do not submerge your head, this is not appropriate. It is also customary not to hang about too long. 30 mins is probably enough to feel relaxed, but don’t let time govern you here and don’t worry about this, you’ll know when you are ready to leave.

Once you are done leave the common room and gather your things. There a couple of fans in the changing room, which you can stand next too to really cool yourself down. Then slowly dry yourself and put on your clothes. You gonna be hot so take time putting your clothes back on.

If you hired towels then put them in canvas bag next to reception as you walk out the onsen.

I stayed for lunch which I recommend as it’s good food and part of the relaxing experience. They also sell beer, which is ice cold and refreshing. You can get a table and look at the menu - it has pictures so good if you can’t read Japanese. Food and drink is ordered using a machine with same pictures as the menu, which dispenses a ticket which you take to the counter. You are then given a number which you take and return to your table. Free ice water is available on the counter for you to help yourself. I looked out for my food as would not have been able to understand my number being called.

Overall, just to note this place is very popular, so is often busy. But just go with the...

Detail explanation for foreigners!

Travel: JR Sapporo Station JPY170 per trip to Soen , travel towards Otaru. Don’t worry about the platforms with numerous Otaru, just go to the earliest departing time. If all fails, check Google Map or Train master.

Upon arriving 1 stop at Soen, exit West Exit and I front will be 7-11. Walk to the main road and head away from station. About 3-5mins, you will see the bright shinning place (the only bright shinning place at night).

Entry: upon entry, take off shoes and place in the lockers on your right. It will cost JPY100. If you don’t have change (you will need lots of it). This is refundable.

Take your wallet/bags and go to the vending machine and insert money. Per pax is JPY 440. Look for the big button. You will need at least a towel (big) so add JPY130 or bring your own. If you still cannot get it like me, ask counter for help.

Walk inside and blue for men, red for women. Walk inside and choose your baskets. If you have valuable, their is a locker for use at JPY100. Its pretty safe, so I suggest you need not use it.

Go into common bathing area and wash up. The rest is quite standard. Monkey see monkey do.

Once you are done, you can blow dry your hair at JPY10 for 3 mins.

Exit: Once you walk out, you can discard the towel inside a basket right by the information counter.

Food/relax: There is a vending machine for food and it’s quite...

We went on a Saturday night from 22:00 to 23:30pm and it was very crowded. We paid for towels (small + big) only since everything was provided inside. (Shampoo...etc) You have to order from the machine first before you enter, there’s no english instruction on the machine so if you don’t understand anything ask the reception for help, they are friendly. The environment is very clean and even there’s a-lot of people always have place to shower. I think it’s better to come on a weekdays so it more enjoyable. All in all, it’s a good experience and the nearest Japanese style hot spring in the...