Hot springs that even monkeys like – Yunokawa Onsen.
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Hot springs that even monkeys like – Yunokawa Onsen.
Yunokawa Hot Springs resort is one of 3 biggest, best and oldest ones in Hokkaido. Its history starts in 1650s when its waters cured the 9th lord of Matsumae. Since then, the waters of Yunokawa hot spring are well known for their healing properties and health benefits.
Located in the city and easily accessed by tram or car, this resort area has 22 hot springs and 20 resort accommodations, many restaurants, cafés, bars and free footbaths.
We definitely recommend you to come to this resort for a day or two to enjoy everything it has to offer.
Saruyama onsen is a hidden treasure of Yunokawa spa resort. It is hiding in Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden (Nettai shokubutsuen) surrounded by different spa hotels.
Although the condition of this place leaves much to be desired, you can watch about 100 or Japanese snow monkeys fooling around, asking for food with different tricks, and if you come December through May while it is still cold – you can enjoy the monkeys bathing in bath filled with hot water from the natural hot spring. If you see that once you’d definitely start believing in the Darwin’s theory of evolution as those monkeys really look like some wise gentlemen after a long week at work. See how monkeys’ faces express heavenly pleasure while they’re enjoying the hot water.
Many visitors come to the Tropical Garden only to see the monkeys. But don’t miss out on the Garden itself. Also, there is a free footbath on its territory!
We need to make a couple remarks.
First of all – don’t worry about the monkeys if they look baldish. After spending long time in hot water their fur naturally comes out. New layers of fur would soon grow back. So, the animals are not sick and not hungry, they’re taken good care of.
Second of all – If you don’t plan to enjoy the hot springs in the resort but want to come solemnly to see the monkeys – we’d recommend you to think it over. Watching monkeys won’t take you longer than 10-15 minutes. Plan your day at Yunokawa hot springs, one of the best onsen resorts in Hokkaido, and set half-an-hour for the Tropical Botanical Garden with bathing monkeys.
Access info:
from Hakodate Station
• 30 minutes by tram to the “Yunokawa Onsen” stop + 15 minutes on foot
• Or 20 minutes Hakodate Bus to Nettai Shokubutsuen-mae stop.
• Taxi / Car : Approx 15 minutes from JR Hakodate Station.
Address: 3-1-15 Yukawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 042-0932
Tel: +81-138-57-7833
