Jozankei Nature Village in Winter
定山渓自然の村
5.5km
Distance
2hrs
Time
75m
Ascent
411m
Highest point
1/10
Difficulty
Jan-Mar
Best season
Jozankei Nature Village in winter can't be beaten for a relaxing winter getaway within the Sapporo City limits. Overnight accommodation prices are dirt cheap considering the facilities provided. In winter you'll have the forest behind the village to yourself to wander around and enjoy the quiet woods. Just down the road is Hoheikyo Onsen, famous for its Indian curry and huge outdoor pools. The village is accessible via public transport too (if you don't mind a 2.5km walk).
Last updated Jul 13, 2021
Need to know details
Location
Jozankei Nature Village (定山渓自然の村) is located west of Jozankei Village, about 30km southwest of central Sapporo. Here’s the location on Google Maps.
General notes
Jozankei Nature Village (定山渓自然の村) is a recreation park run by Sapporo City. It is open year round, so it is a great place to enjoy the deep-winter Hokkaido outdoors in a relatively controlled, safe environment. Tent sites are available all year round, as are the cabins and ‘tent-houses’.
Particularly in winter, the tent houses and cabins are a really good deal. The wooden log cabins sleep 5, and cost 4,700yen a night (for the whole cabin). The tent-houses sleep 7, and cost 3,900yen a night. They’re all heated with very effective kerosene heaters. Details in Japanese here.
Behind the nature village is a large wooded area that is great fun to explore on snowshoes or ‘hunter’ skis. You can bring your own equipment or rent it all at the nature village.
Route Timing
Route
Transport
Public transport:
Getting to Jozankei Nature Park is fairly straight forward by public transport. Take the Nanboku Subway Line all the way to the final station, Makomanai Subway Station. From there, catch a bus to Hoheikyo Onsen (hot springs). If you time it right, you can catch a free bus all the way to Hoheikyo Onsen. The free bus leaves Makomanai Subway Station at 10am each day, and takes 45 minutes (https://www.hoheikyo.co.jp/en/access/index_e.html). The bus leaves about 100m down the road from the station (42.990827,141.356258).
By car:
There is ample parking at the Nature Village carpark here.
Hut(s)
None
Physical maps
GSI Topo Map: Jozankei (定山渓) – map no. NK-54-14-15-1
NOTE: The GSI 1/25000 topo map(s) above can be purchased for 350yen each from Kinokuniya bookstore next to Sapporo Station or online (in Japanese).
route safety
Weather forecast
Windy.com weather forecast for Jozankei Nature Park
Onsen nearby
Hoheikyo Onsen (1,000yen per person), one of the best in Hokkaido with a massive outdoor bathing area, is only 2.5km away (here). They also have a good food court with Indian curry and soba.
Extra Resources
No extra English resources that we know of. If you know of any, please let us know in the comments.
Guide Options
If you’d like to hike this route and/or explore other areas of central Hokkaido with a local certified guide, then contact Jun Ishiguro. He’s a JMGA (Japan Mountain Guides Association) mountain guide on the board of directors of the Hokkaido Mountain Guides Association (HMGA). As a senior figure in the Hokkaido guiding scene, and with extensive experience, he can tailor trips to your needs. See a full list of English-speaking Hokkaido Mountain Guides Association (HMGA) guides on the HMGA website here.
Support us
Like this content? Buy the HokkaidoWilds.org team a coffee. 50% of tips go to the Hokkaido Wilds Foundation.
Terms of Use
As with each ski touring, cycle touring, and hiking route guide published on hokkaidowilds.org, should you choose to follow the information on this page, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road/track closures. While traveling, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow leave-no-trace procedures. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this information, associated GPS track (GPX, KML and maps), and all information was prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. hokkaidowilds.org, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following the information contained in this post.
利用条件
hokkaidowilds.orgに掲載されるすべてのスキールート、自転車ツーリングルート、ハイキングルートと同様に、本ページに掲載される情報を利用し行動する場合、必ず自己責任で利用することを条件とします。出発する前に現地の天候や状況、通行止め情報などを確認しましょう。行動中は、公有地／私有地に関係なく必ず現地の利用条件を守るようにし、適切な安全装置や、コンパスや地図などのナビゲーション道具を身に着けてください。いうまでもありませんが、自然に与える人間の影響を少なくし、ゴミの持ち帰りをはじめ環境を傷をつけない（Leave No Trace）ようなアウトドア行動にしましょう。本サイトに掲載される情報はあくまで計画を立てるための一つの情報源に過ぎなく、行為者の先んじて払ってしかるべき正当な注意義務及び努力と合わせて利用することを条件とします。本ページのGPSトラック（GPXとKMLと地図）を含む情報は提供者のできる限り正確な調べにより提供しているものの、その情報の正確性や、提供者の行動判断は、hokkaidowilds.orgは一切の責任を負いかねなく保証できません。また、本ページに掲載される情報を利用することによるいかなる怪我、器物損壊等、その他事件 ・事故等においてhokkaidowilds.orgや本サイトの関係者は一切の責任を負いかねます。
Comments | Queries | Reports
Done this Jozankei Nature Park route? Thinking of doing it? Please post any feedback or queries here. Thanks!
