Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa MORI NO UTA 定山渓鶴雅リゾートスパ森の謌 定山溪溫泉度假村鶴雅森之歌飯店

Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa Mori no Uta is a 54-room hot spring resort located in Jozankei Onsen, Sapporo’s well-known retreat area. The resort embraces a “forest” concept throughout its design, combining atmospheric interiors with the natural warmth of wood. It is located at 3-192 Jozankei Onsen Higashi, Minami-ku, Sapporo. Access takes about 40 minutes by car from central Sapporo and roughly 85–90 minutes from New Chitose Airport via expressway. Shuttle services from Sapporo Station or Makomanai Subway Station may also be combined with local buses.

As its name suggests, the entire resort is themed around the stories and imagery of the forest. The main lounge, known as the “Forest Lounge,” features a tree-inspired hearth-style installation, along with wide sofas and bookshelves for relaxing. Facing the garden is the “Forest Terrace,” and in the evening the same space transforms into the “Forest Bar.” Additional facilities include the Mori no Uta Art Gallery, Cigar Room, Pillow Gallery, Forest Market (gift shop), Pâtissier Lab, banquet hall “Forest Party,” and dedicated workation rooms—providing all the amenities of a full spa resort.

Guest rooms include twins, Japanese-Western rooms, deluxe twins, deluxe Japanese-Western rooms, and cottage-style accommodations in a separate building. The cottages are designed to feel seamlessly connected to the surrounding forest and feature a maisonette layout with a living area on the first floor and a bedroom upstairs. Each cottage has a private open-air hot spring bath on its terrace. Deluxe Japanese-Western rooms in the main building (approx. 52 m²) include a Ryukyu-tatami sitting area, sofa, and massage chair, making them suitable for families and groups.

Some guest rooms are pet-friendly, allowing stays with dogs, and others are designed with reduced steps for improved accessibility. All rooms are non-smoking, with a designated smoking area on the ground floor. Standard amenities include TV, refrigerator, air conditioning, bidet toilets, and Wi-Fi. Guests may also choose from a variety of pillows at the on-site Pillow Gallery.

The hot spring facilities include gender-separated indoor and open-air baths that use Jozankei’s sodium-chloride hot spring water. The spring type is a neutral, mildly saline sodium-chloride spring, known for its warming effect and benefits for cold sensitivity, neuralgia, joint pain, chronic gynecological conditions, and fatigue recovery. The water is clear with a gentle mineral saltiness, and its moisture-retaining properties help keep the body warm after bathing. The open-air areas and large windows were designed to maximize views of the surrounding forest.

Dining is centered around the signature “Forest Buffet,” offered for both breakfast and dinner. Styled like a whimsical forest-themed restaurant, the buffet presents a wide selection of creative Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. The resort is particularly praised for its vegetable-forward menu—colorful salads, creative appetizers, and warm vegetable dishes are emphasized. Dinner also features a live kitchen and a dessert corner, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.

Breakfast is also served buffet-style, offering a mix of Japanese and Western classics alongside locally sourced ingredients. Some plans include all-you-can-drink options at dinner, and the resort also offers lunch buffet and day-use hot spring plans, allowing non-overnight guests to enjoy the buffet and baths.

The resort includes a full range of facilities, such as a restaurant, lounges, spa, esthetic salon, gift shop, and workation rooms. The spa offers oil treatments and facials that pair well with the hot spring experience, making it easy to create a relaxing itinerary of onsen, meals, and treatments. The lobby lounge occasionally offers complimentary drinks or small sweets depending on the time of day.

For access, it is approximately 85 minutes from New Chitose Airport via expressway and about 40 minutes from central Sapporo. Public transportation options include a 70-minute bus ride from JR Sapporo Station or a 30-minute shuttle ride from Makomanai Subway Station. The resort provides free on-site parking for around 70 cars, with no reservation required.

Overall, Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa Mori no Uta blends a rich forest-inspired atmosphere with buffet dining and natural hot springs. While not a large megaresort, it offers a versatile range of room types—from open-air bath cottages to deluxe Japanese-Western rooms and pet-friendly options—along with workation facilities. It suits a wide variety of travelers, including couples, families, groups of friends, and women’s trips, all looking for a relaxing stay surrounded by nature.