Ultimate Oil Bath Experience in Hokkaido! Toyotomi Onsen: Food, Day Spas & Sightseeing

Please also check out this article for recommended accommodations in Toyotomi Onsen.

• Table of Contents
• What is Toyotomi Onsen?
• Recommended gourmet, sightseeing, and hot spring spots in Toyotomi Onsen
• Access to Toyotomi Onsen

What is Toyotomi Onsen?

Toyotomi Onsen was opened in 1926. It is known as an "oil bath" that contains oil and natural gas, which is rare in the world.

Toyotomi Onsen: an iodine-containing sodium chloride hot spring (weakly alkaline hypertonic hot spring) and an iodine-containing sodium chloride bicarbonate cold mineral spring (weakly alkaline hypertonic cold mineral spring). Both hot springs contain petroleum and natural gas, and you can bathe in them at hot spring facilities in Toyotomi Town.

Toyotomi Onsen's spring water is easily absorbed by the body, and the baking soda and boron contained in the hot spring water are said to be highly effective in beautifying the skin. This means that the water is said to be effective in beautifying and moisturizing the skin, as well as treating dryness and atopic dermatitis.

In 1992, it was designated as a " National Hot Springs Resort Area ," and people from all over the country came to seek out the therapeutic benefits of Toyotomi Onsen Onsen.

Additionally, Toyotomi Onsen has a catchphrase, "Touji of the Future," which recommends four points to keep in mind when undergoing toji: sleep, exercise, mental nutrition, and diet, in order to fully experience the benefits of toji. To fully enjoy toji and sightseeing at Toyotomi Onsen, it's a good idea to check out these four points.

Recommended gourmet, sightseeing, and hot spring spots in Toyotomi Onsen

Toyotomi Town with a thriving dairy industry, with the number of dairy cows exceeding the population. The town's abundant nature and laid-back atmosphere are sure to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for those who want to take their time sightseeing, as well as hot spring enthusiasts who have visited various hot spring resorts.

We will introduce the hot springs, gourmet food, and tourist spots that you can experience at Toyotomi Onsen.

"Fureai Center" where you can enjoy the bounty of the northern land

Located in the heart of Toyotomi Onsen, the Fureai Center Center is open from 10:00 to 21:00 (last admission at 20:30) and is a popular place for local residents to relax.

At the Fureai Center, you can enjoy bathing in Toyotomi Onsen. One admission pass allows you to bathe twice a day.

Once you get your stamp at the reception, you can freely enter and exit the facility, so you can take a morning bath and then stop by again after sightseeing.

The Fureai Center has two types of baths with different temperatures. One is a low-temperature hot spring called "Toji-yu," which is about 38-39 degrees Celsius.

This bath is a vestige of Toyotomi Onsen's history as a Toyotomi Onsen resort, and is perfect for those who want to take their time soaking in lukewarm water. The water is heated every morning, and hot spring oil is added to the men's bath.

In order to distribute the crude oil throughout the hot spring, it is tied with ropes and adjusted little by little. The idea is to dissolve the dark brown crude oil evenly into the hot spring water.

The soothing scent of crude oil wafts from the hot spring, and the lukewarm water gradually warms your body. Because the water is close to body temperature, it feels as if your body and the water are one.

The other hot spring is the "general bath" where you can bathe in water that is hotter than the "therapeutic bath." The general bath is larger than the toji bath and is perfect for first-time visitors. The washing area is also spacious, and with the natural light streaming in through the windows, you can bathe in an open and airy atmosphere.
The general baths contain a small amount of crude oil, so they are recommended for those who want to bathe in water with a mild flavor, or for those bathing in Toyotomi Onsen for the first time.

Day-trip admission costs 510 yen for adults and 250 yen for children, so you can enjoy Toyotomi Onsen at a reasonable price.

Once you've fully enjoyed the hot springs, don't forget to fill your stomach at the restaurant " Ajisai " inside the Fureai Center .

At Ajisai, a cafeteria-style restaurant where you purchase meal tickets, you can enjoy freshly made soba noodles, ramen, pork bowls, and more.

One of the most popular dishes is the hearty Jingisukan. You can order portions for just one person, and enjoy grilling your meat and vegetables at your own pace.

The Jingisukan, piled high on the plate, has no unpleasant odor or sinew, making it extremely easy to eat! When eaten with the special sauce that enhances the flavor of the meat, you'll find yourself eating so much that you won't have enough rice.

This is a special stopover spot where you can enjoy the blessings of the northern land through hot springs and food.

Official website:

Municipal Day-use Hot Spring Facility “Fureai Center”

hot spring, Teshio Toyotomi Town District, Hokkaido, 098-4132

A bathing facility operated by Toyotomi Town. One bathing fee allows you to take two baths in one day.

A Large-scale Grassland Ranch where you can relax and watch the daily lives of cows

Located about 30 minutes by car from Wakkanai Airport, this is a Large-scale Grassland Ranch with a total area of ​​1,500 hectares, making it one of the largest in Japan.

More than 1,000 cows are grazing on a grassland the size of 320 Tokyo Domes, and anyone can freely observe and photograph the cows.

The endless rolling hills are a magnificent location that will lift your spirits just by looking at them. The sight of the cows relaxing in the midst of them gives you a sense of pastoral pleasure.

You can drive around as you please and enjoy the heartwarming sight of the cows from the car window. If it's a nice early morning or during the day when it's easy to walk, you can park your car at the farm's management building and take a walk.

Large-scale grassland ranch

Toyohoro, Teshio Toyotomi Town District, Hokkaido, 098-4134

This is a large grassland where dairy cows graze from May to October. If you're lucky, you might be able to observe the cows grazing nearby or even watch them from the car window.

Sarobetsu Wetland Center: Enjoy a stroll surrounded by seasonal flowers

Located about a 15-minute drive from the center of Toyotomi Onsen is the Sarobetsu Wetland Center. It is an information facility at the gateway to the Sarobetsu Plain, which is said to cover an area of ​​20,000 to 24,000 hectares.

The facility also has a museum where you can learn about the geological history of how the marsh was formed, as well as the ecology of wild animals, and is full of ideas to keep both adults and children entertained.

From the Sarobetsu Wetland Center, there is a boardwalk with a circumference of 800m to 1km, and anyone can freely explore the marsh for free.

The boardwalk runs through the vast marshland, and if you look down you can see sphagnum moss and many floating water lily flowers.

The best time to visit is from late June to early July, when the Ezo Daylily, the flower of Toyotomi Town, is in full bloom. The bright yellow flowers that spread across the marshland, along with the blue sky, are a spectacular sight you'll want to burn into your memory.

If the weather is good, you might even be able to enjoy the view with Mt. Rishiri across the sea.

Eating, drinking, smoking, and bringing pets are prohibited on the boardwalk, but you can spend your time however you like, such as taking photos or relaxing on a bench.

Additionally, at Rest House Sarobetsu , located next to the Sarobetsu Wetland Center , you can purchase souvenirs from Toyotomi Town and enjoy freshly made hot snacks, making it the perfect place to take a break.

The popular deep-fried sweet potatoes are a great snack when you're feeling a bit hungry, or a great accompaniment for a drive. Why not visit when you want to relax your body and mind, surrounded by the magnificent scenery and seasonal flowers of this magnificent land?

Official website:

Sarobetsu Wetland Center

8662 Kami-Sarobetsu, Teshio Toyotomi Town District, Hokkaido, 098-4100

This information center is located at the gateway to the Sarobetsu Genya, which is said to cover an area of around 20,000 to 24,000 hectares. There is a boardwalk that stretches 800m to 1km in circumference, and anyone can walk freely for free. The best time to see the scenery is from late June to mid-July, when the yellow Ezo Day Lilies are in full bloom.

Access to Toyotomi Onsen

There are two ways to get to Toyotomi Onsen: by rental car or by public transportation.

Accessibility varies depending on the season, purpose of sightseeing, and number of people, so we will introduce it in detail.

Rental car use

If you are planning to rent a car, it is best to first go to Wakkanai Airport. There are several rental car shops near Wakkanai Airport, so make sure to reserve a car at your preferred shop.

It takes about 40 minutes by car from Wakkanai Airport to Toyotomi Onsen. However, there is snowfall from November to April every year, so those who are not used to driving on snowy roads should be careful.

Renting a car is recommended for those who want to sightsee freely without time constraints, or for those traveling in large groups.

Traveling by public transport

If you are using public transportation, you can access the area from either Wakkanai Airport or New Chitose.

If you are departing from Wakkanai Airport, take the airport bus to JR Wakkanai Station, which takes about 30 minutes.

From there, take the JR line to Toyotomi Station, which takes about 45 minutes. Finally, take the Engan Bus from JR Toyotomi Station, which takes 10 minutes, to Toyotomi Onsen. The journey takes about an hour and a half, depending on connections.

If you are coming from New Chitose, take the JR line to Sapporo Station. From Sapporo, take the direct Engan Bus Express Haboro, which will take you there in about five hours.

Alternatively, you can take the JR Soya Main Line to JR Toyotomi Station and transfer to a Engan Bus to get to Toyotomi Onsen.

Using public transportation is a recommended means of transportation for those planning to stay at Toyotomi Onsen spring therapy.