[Spring Hokkaido Travel Guide] A Hokkaido Hot Spring Trip in Thaw Season as Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Matsumae Castle is a historic castle located at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido. Matsumae Park, developed around the castle, is known as one of Hokkaido’s leading cherry blossom viewing spots.
About 10,000 cherry trees of around 250 varieties—including types originating in Matsumae—are planted here, and thanks to a relay of early-, mid-, and late-blooming varieties, you can enjoy beautiful blossoms for an entire month.

A temple said to have been founded in 826 by Jikaku Daishi (Ennin). Its grounds and surrounding area are developed as “Zenkoji Nature Park,” and it’s also known as the “Temple of Flowers.”
From early to late May, around 1,000 cherry trees color the grounds, including the “Ishiwari-zakura,” which grew as if splitting a massive boulder formed by eruptions of Mt. Usu.

A park located in the center of Mori Town and long cherished as a place of relaxation for locals. Cherry trees were planted to commemorate Emperor Taisho’s enthronement, and the park opened in 1914.
Today it remains a famous cherry blossom spot with 1,000 trees of 17 varieties, centered on Somei Yoshino and including local Mori Town varieties such as Mori Komachi and Aoba Shidare. Some trees are over 100 years old, and in spring a wide range of cherry blossoms bloom throughout the park.

A scenic area representing Noboribetsu, this is the remains of a crater formed by volcanic activity from Mt. Hiyori, with steaming vents and hot spring sources scattered throughout.
A walking path is maintained so you can loop around the area in around 20 minutes, letting you see hot spring water welling up and flowing from close range. In spring, as the snow melts, the footing becomes more stable, making it easy to stop by along with a stroll through the hot spring town.

A hot spring that was born from volcanic activity of Yosomiyama in the Meiji era. Known as a hot spring resort with abundant water volume, the hot spring town is also dotted with free footbaths and handbaths.
Accommodations line the lakeshore, and you can look out over Lake Toya and Mt. Yotei from guest rooms and open-air baths.
In spring, when the view opens up after the thaw, you can relax and enjoy scenery woven by the lake and mountains.

One of Hokkaido’s leading hot spring areas, located in Daisetsuzan National Park and blessed with canyon beauty and abundant hot spring water. Situated at an elevation of around 670 m, the natural beauty that changes with the seasons captivates visitors.
In spring, as the snow melts, fresh greenery overlaps with the canyon scenery, revealing a different look from winter. Nearby are sightseeing spots such as Ryusei Falls and the Kurodake Ropeway.

A comprehensive park spreading across hills near Tokachigawa Onsen. Inside the park, seasonal flowers and grassy lawns extend around the 18-meter-diameter flower clock “Hanakku.”
In spring after the thaw, it’s easy to stroll, and its location also makes it convenient to stop by from the hot spring town. There’s also a free footbath and an observation deck, so you can relax and spend time at ease along with a stay in Tokachigawa Onsen.

A representative sightseeing destination in eastern Hokkaido, known for its marimo algae. The surrounding area is part of Akan-Mashu National Park, and by walking along the lakeside you can experience the mystical nature that’s unique to Hokkaido.
In spring, as the snow melt progresses, the waterside scenery gradually changes, and starting from the Lake Akan Onsen town, the enjoyment of walking around the lake area also expands.

A historic hot spring town in Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, often called Sapporo’s “inner parlor.” The hot spring town spreads within Shikotsu-Toya National Park and formed along a river, with footbaths and handbaths scattered throughout.
As the long winter nears its end, the riverside scenery gradually softens, and if you walk around town after warming up in the hot springs, you can feel the changing season close at hand.

Visited by 1.35 million people each year, “Yunokawa Onsen” is a famed hot spring ranked as one of Hokkaido’s three major hot spring areas. With a long history as a hot spring town across Hakodate, it forms a major onsen destination with a concentration of accommodations and restaurants.
It’s also close to Goryokaku, a famous cherry blossom spot, making it easy to include a stay in the hot spring town along with sightseeing in Hakodate.

A nature-rich park spreading at the foot of Mt. Asahi. Located at an elevation of around 295 m, it offers views of central Asahikawa and the surrounding mountains, and it’s also known for preserving a natural beautiful forest within the grounds.
In spring, it’s known as a cherry blossom viewing spot where around 3,500 Ezoyamazakura bloom in full glory, drawing crowds. The “Asahiyama Park Night Cherry Blossom Festival” is held to match peak bloom, letting you enjoy a different look from daytime.

A straight road lined with cherry trees stretching for around 7 km, from Shizunai Tahara to Shizunai Misono in Shin-Hidaka Town. Also called “Japan’s best cherry blossom-lined road,” it’s planted with around 2,000 cherry trees, mainly Ezoyamazakura, and has been selected as one of Japan’s “Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.”
During the “Shizunai Cherry Blossom Festival,” held to match peak bloom, the entire tree-lined road area is wrapped in a festive atmosphere, and you can enjoy cherry blossom scenery on a scale that feels uniquely Hokkaido.

A fireworks festival held at Toyako Onsen. Every year from late April for half a year, fireworks color the night lakeshore of Lake Toya.
You can watch from anywhere along the lakeshore, and if you stay at Toyako Onsen, you can also enjoy the luxury of watching large fireworks from your room or open-air bath.
In spring, which marks the beginning of the fireworks season, the Lake Toya night view becomes brilliantly decorated.

Founded in 1987, this is the first location of a popular hamburger shop that now has 17 stores mainly in Hakodate. Along with classics, it offers more than 10 types of distinctive original burgers. Because each order is made after you order, the meat patties are hot and juicy, and the vegetables are crisp and fresh.
Located in the Hakodate sightseeing area, it’s an easy stop while exploring the Bay Area.

A soup curry specialty restaurant in the Toyako Onsen town. Its soup, finished by combining multiple spices, is known for its depth of flavor—light on the palate, yet leaving a rich finish.
The interior has a calm atmosphere and is easy to use even solo. You can also look out over Lake Toya from the window, making it one of the charms to enjoy a meal with lake views.
It’s easy to stop by during a walk around the hot spring town, and you can spend mealtime with lakeside scenery.

A dining spot in Gokuraku Shopping Street in the center of the Noboribetsu Onsen town, where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes.
It opened in 1999 as a wholesaler and fish shop for local accommodations, and today many people visit as a place to enjoy fresh seafood caught in nearby waters, including Noboribetsu Fishing Port.
In addition to serving seafood—prepared after you order—in a variety of dishes, you can also taste local Noboribetsu specialties.

A cafe inside the Kurodake Ropeway base station, located in a corner of Daisetsuzan National Park, known as one of Japan’s largest national parks, within a mountainous region across central Hokkaido.
It’s easy to stop by before or after riding the ropeway, or during a walk around the Sounkyo area, and you can casually enjoy drinks centered on coffee. There are also takeout options, making it easy to use on the go.

“Taisetsu Craft Beer Hall” was designed in white like snow and brown to express the earth, so visitors can feel Hokkaido’s nature. As a hub for sharing food culture nurtured by quality ingredients from Asahikawa and water from Mt. Daisetsu, it offers original beer, craft beer, and locally made drinks.
It also has Hokkaido gourmet dishes such as seafood and mountain ingredients from within Hokkaido, and jingisukan (grilled mutton), making it a great place to enjoy them with beer.

A luxury resort hotel that served as the venue for the Toyako Summit.
Standing at an elevation of around 625 m, it offers sweeping views of Lake Toya and Toya’s great nature from the huge glass windows of the main lobby.
At the sukiya-style hot spring “Sansen,” you can enjoy bathing while looking out at the garden, and spend a relaxing time alongside spring scenery as the snow melt progresses.

A resort hotel standing on the southern lakeshore of Lake Akan, the fifth-largest freshwater lake in Hokkaido and a representative sightseeing destination in eastern Hokkaido. With a variety of bath facilities—an observation large communal bath and open-air baths overlooking Lake Akan and Mt. Oakan, plus an aerial open-air bath—you can enjoy bathing wrapped in lakeside scenery.
Inside the hotel, designs and displays incorporating Ainu culture are also arranged, making it a place where you can spend an extraordinary time along with hot springs.

A hot spring inn known for its observation baths with sweeping canyon views.
On the top floor, it features the observation large communal bath “Kurodake” and the sky open-air bath “Choyozan,” where you can admire canyon scenery through wide glass or enjoy an open-air bath with close-up views of the Choyozan ridgeline and columnar-jointed rock face.
In spring, as the snow melt progresses, you can soak at ease while watching the canyon’s expression change.