Sapporo's Secret Onsen Sanctuary Marukoma Onsen Ryokan 湖畔の宿 支笏湖 丸駒温泉旅館 丸駒溫泉旅館

Lakefront Marukoma Onsen Ryokan is a solitary hot-spring inn resting quietly on the shores of Lake Shikotsu within the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Located on the northwestern edge of the lake, surrounded by untouched forest, the inn stands entirely on its own with virtually no other buildings nearby. Despite its secluded feel, it is only about an hour’s drive from both New Chitose Airport and central Sapporo. Once you arrive, however, the silence and the dramatic setting of lake and mountains make the word “hidden hot spring” feel entirely fitting. Founded in 1915 when its first owner, Hatsutaro Sasaki, discovered the spring and built a simple thatched hut, it remains a long-established member of the “Association to Preserve Japan’s Hidden Hot Springs.”

The inn’s signature feature is its “natural open-air bath,” whose water level rises naturally from the spring at the bottom of the tub and sits almost exactly level with the surface of Lake Shikotsu. This rare “bottom-up spring” style, where the hot water wells directly through the ground beneath the bath, is extremely uncommon in Japan. A simple stretch of lakeside rocks is all that separates the bath from the lake, and as the lake’s water level changes with the seasons, so does the depth of the bath. Soaking in a tub that appears nearly flush with the lake creates a unique floating sensation found only at Marukoma Onsen.

In addition to this natural bath, the ryokan offers an open-air bath with panoramic views of Lake Shikotsu and Mount Tarumae, as well as a large indoor bath with oversized windows. The spring water—sodium/calcium chloride, bicarbonate, and sulfate—emerges at around 47–53°C and is used generously in a free-flowing “kakenagashi” style. The slightly yellowish, gently cloudy water retains heat well, leaving you warm long after you step out. Sauna facilities, a cold-water bath sourced from the lake, and a private open-air bath made of Kiso cypress (“Koma no Yu”) are also available, making it easy to enjoy the hot springs in many styles, including day-use visits.

Guestrooms face either the lake or the mountains and come in a wide variety of styles—traditional Japanese rooms, Japanese-Western hybrids, Western rooms, modern suites, and rooms with private open-air baths. Lake-view rooms offer sweeping views of the water and surrounding mountains, with sunrise and sunset often painting the sky in dramatic colors. Renovations throughout the 2020s updated rooms, the lobby, and dining areas, blending the ryokan’s long history with modern comforts such as new beds, sofas, and lighting. Japanese-Western rooms with both tatami and beds work especially well for multigenerational travel and groups.

Meals center on Japanese kaiseki cuisine featuring ingredients from Lake Shikotsu and across Hokkaido. The standard dinner course includes Hokkaido beef or branded pork, seasonal seafood, vegetables, sashimi, hot pots, and grilled dishes. A recently added irori (hearth) dining room offers a memorable experience where fish and meats are slowly grilled over open coals. Rather than rustic mountain fare, the style is refined kaiseki with the warmth and atmosphere of an irori hearth. Breakfast is an easygoing Japanese-Western buffet with rice, miso soup, grilled fish, egg dishes, salads, and breads—varied enough to enjoy even on longer stays.

The public spaces reflect both the inn’s long history and thoughtful updates. The lobby features large windows and comfortable seating for enjoying the ever-changing scenery of Lake Shikotsu. A small shop sells local products and original items. For sauna enthusiasts, an outdoor cold bath fed by the lake’s pure water offers a refreshing plunge with a view. These additions complement rather than overshadow the ryokan’s traditional, unpretentious charm.

The surrounding environment is one of the inn’s greatest assets. With only forest and lake nearby, nights are exceptionally dark and quiet, allowing for stunning starry skies and moonlight reflections when conditions are right. Mornings are especially beautiful, with the rising sun illuminating the lake in soft gradients. The inn even sets designated photography times in the bathing areas to help guests capture the scenery. Each season reveals a completely different landscape—fresh greens in spring, deep blues and greens in summer, vivid autumn colors, and serene snow scenes in winter.

Access is straightforward: about one hour by car from New Chitose Airport or Sapporo. For guests using public transportation, buses from JR Chitose Station or the airport run to the Shikotsuko terminal, where a reservation-only shuttle will pick you up. While private cars can reach the inn, winter conditions can change rapidly, making winter tires and driving experience essential. The location also works well as a base for exploring central Hokkaido, with easy routes to Furano, Biei, Otaru, and Niseko.

Overall, Lakefront Marukoma Onsen Ryokan is ideal for travelers who want an immersive hot-spring experience closely connected to the natural environment of Lake Shikotsu. Its rare bottom-up natural open-air bath, panoramic lake views, historic yet refreshed rooms, and hearth-style dining create a stay filled with unique touches found nowhere else. Whether you want a quiet lakeside retreat, a “hidden hot spring” adventure, or a hot-spring-centered journey through Hokkaido, this ryokan stands out as an exceptional choice.