[Jozankei Fall Foliage in Sapporo] One of Famous Foliage Tourist Attractions in Sapporo

Jozankei Onsen

Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉) is a famous hot-spring resort in Sapporo city suburbs, and one of the 3 major hot spring resorts in Hokkaido together with Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉) and Yunokawa Onsen (湯の川温泉). Jozankei is called a back room of Sapporo (札幌の奥座敷), and 2.4 million people per year visit the Jozankei Onsen that is near the center of Sapporo for about 60 minutes. Oversea visitors increased in hot spring boom recently, too. Read More

SAPPORO

Sapporo (札幌) that about 1,960,000 people live is the largest city in Hokkaido. Although there are various theories, its origin of the name is “Dry Big River (乾いた大きな川)” in Ainu language. A population of the Sapporo is the 4th largest city after Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya in japan, and the population accounts for 36 % of Hokkaido’s population! So the Sapporo has been flourished as the center of the Hokkaido. The area of the Sapporo is 1,121.26 km2, and is about as big as Hong Kong, and is the 7th largest city in the Hokkaido. The Sapporo is also famous as a tourist city, and about 15 million people come. As for a climate, it is hot that temperature rises to nearly 25 degrees in a summer, but it is easy to live without moisture. I always feel a little cool. It is cold that temperature falls to nearly -10 degrees in a winter, and amount of snowfall sometimes has more than 1 m. Read More

Fall Foliage of Hokkaido

It is said that the Fall Foliage of the Hokkaido turns into red color at the earliest in Japan. The best time to see the fall foliage comes in Daisetsu-zan at high altitude, and it comes gradually in low areas. It comes in Mt. Asahidake (旭岳) and in Mt. Kurodake (黒岳) in mid September, and autumn leaves fall in early November. As for the highlight of the Fall Foliage of the Hokkaido, tourists are bowled over by vast nature with the fall foliage, or are bowled over by small space that goes well with the fall foliage. Except famous beauty spots for the fall foliage, there are less famous beauty spots for the fall foliage such usual mountains and rivers or gorges here and there. Read More

Around Tsukimi Bridge

Around Tsukimi Bridge (月見橋) can be said the central of Jozankei Onsen Resort, and onsen hotels, souvenir shops and cafe are built. Fall foliage along Toyohira River (豊平川) from the Tsukimi Bridge goes well with artifacts. Jozan Gensen Park (定山源泉公園) is built beside the Tsukimi Bridge, and visitors can enjoy foot bathing. Ontama-no-Yu (おんたまの湯) is provided for making onsen egg, too. In addition, Choju-to-Kenko-no-Ashitsubo Footbath (長寿と健康の足つぼ湯) is on the opposite side of the Tsukimi Bridge, too. Admission free.

Around Futami Park and Futami Tsuribashi Suspension Bridge

Futami Jozan Walking Path (二見定山の道) is built along Toyohira River (豊平川) from the central of Jozankei Onsen to upperstream. A lot of tourists enjoy fall foliage along the path, so it can be said that it is the most popular sightseeing spot in Jozankei Onsen. There are Futami Park (二見公園), Futami Tsuribashi Suspension Bridge (二見吊橋), Kappabuchi (かっぱ淵) and Shinsui Park (親水公園) along the path. A figure of Great Kappa King (かっぱ大王像) and a restroom are built at an entrance of the Futami Park. The red Futami Tsuribashi Suspension Bridge goes well with the fall foliage particularly, and a lot of the tourists take a photo. The path seems to be lit up in the evening. Admission free.

Around Jozankei-ohashi Bridge

Jozankei-ohashi Bridge (定山渓大橋) is located more downstream of Toyohira River (豊平川) than the central of Jozankei Onsen Resort, and is the largest bridge in Jozankei. It is near Jozankei View Hotel (定山渓ビューホテル) and Taro-no-Yu Footbath (足のふれあい太郎の湯). A combination of artifacts such as a building along the Toyohira River and fall foliage is beautiful from the bridge.

Jozankei Shrine and Fall Foliage

Jozankei Shrine (定山渓神社) was built for venerating Ohoyamakuhi-no-kami god (大己貴神), Sukunabikona-no-kami god (少彦名神), Oyamazumi-no-kami god (大山祇神), Kanayamabime-no-kami god (金山彦神) and Mitsuhame-no-kami god (罔象女神) in 1905 near Jozankei Tourist Information Center (定山渓観光案内所). Leaves of trees turn its color along an approach from a torii gate to a main shrine, and Japanese atomosphere goes well with fall foliage, so it is popular for overseas tourists. Admission free.

Shiraito Falls with Fall Foliage

Shiraito Falls (白糸の滝) is a water fall 10 m high in more downstream of Toyohira River (豊平川) than the central of Jozankei Onsen Resort, and is near Yukyu-no-Yado Shiraito (悠久の宿 白糸) and Jozankei View Hotel (定山渓ビューホテル). The water fall is discharge water from Jozankei Power Plant (定山渓発電所) built in 1909, the oldest hydroelectric power generation in Hokkaido, so the quantity of water varies depending on time. When I visited here, the quantity of water was small, and fall foliage was not in full bloom, so few tourists came. Space that about 3 vehicles park is provided in front of the Jozankei Power Plant. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

Fall Floiage around Nishiki Bridge

Nishiki Bridge (錦橋) is located more downstream of Toyohira River (豊平川) than the central of Jozankei Onsen Resort. A reservoir called “Maizuru-no-Toro (舞鶴の瀞)” that is the confluence of Shirai River (白井川) and the Toyohira River is formed by Ichinosawa Dam (一の沢ダム), and it is known for beautiful fall foliage and valley. Canoes go well with fall foliage from the Nishiki Bridge. By the way, there are the Nishiki Bridge for vehicles and the Nishiki Bridge for walking, and the Maizuru-no-Toro can be seen only from the Nishiki Bridge for walking, so Watch out for cars!

Fall Foliage in Hoheikyo

Hoheikyo (豊平峡) is located in the southwestern part of Sapporo city and is farther than Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉) from downtown. Though there is Lake Jozan in Sapporo city, it is located in Shikotsu Toya National Park (支笏洞爺国立公園) and nature is very rich. There are Hoheikyo Onsen (豊平峡温泉), Nature Village and an auto camping ground near the Lake Jozan (定山湖). Furthermore, Onsen Shokudo’s Indian curry (Onsen食堂のインドカレー) in Hoheikyo Onsen is popular. Read More

Fall Foliage around Lake Sapporo

Jozankei Dam (定山渓ダム) is a a concrete gravity dam with about 117.5m in height in Jozankei located in the southwest part of Sapporo city, and is near Jozankei Onsen. It was mainly built for the purposes of securing drinking water and electric power in 1989, and Lake Sapporo (さっぽろ湖), a man-made lake, was born. A canoe can be enjoyed on the surface of the lake, and Rainbow Trout (ニジマス), Whitespotted Char (アメマス) and Ito Fish (イトウ) are caught in a summer, and Japanese Pond Smelt (ワカサギ) is caught in a winter. Read More

Sapporo International Ski Resort with Fall Foliage

Fall foliage can be enjoyed earlier than Jozankei Onsen Resort in Sapporo International Ski Resort (札幌国際スキー場). A business season is from late September to mid October. A gondola lift is used for skiing or snowboarding, but visitors can enjoy panoramic fall foliage views from the gondola lift in an autumn. It takes about 15 minutes from the foot of a mountain to the top of the mountain at about 1100 m above sea level. There are Sancho Panorama Observation Deck (山頂パノラマ展望台) and Sancho Cafe Kakko on the top of the mountain, and the fall foliage and Ishikari Bay (石狩湾) can be looked over at there. A round ticket is JPY 1100 for adult and JPY 550 for elementary school students. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

Atmosphere of Sapporo International Ski Resort with Fall Foliage Can Be Watched on Youtube

Moive of Sapporo International Ski Resort with Fall Foliage