苗穂駅前温泉 蔵ノ湯

Great bath house with indoor and outdoor baths. The outdoor one is super relaxing on a cold day in Sapporo! Can get a bit crowded here during busy hours.

ABSOLUTELY NOT TATTOO FRIENDLY To start, this is the nicest sento I've been to on my trip. However, my experience was sadly colored by what can only be described as utterly disgraceful behavior towards my friends. While there is a sign at the entrance stating no tattoos, its all in Japanese and we simply didnt notice. Having been to nearly a dozen different sentos up to this point with no tattoo issues, it was an honest mistake. (Also... there were several Japanese women with tattoos inside) Thereby, the behavior of an absolutely irrationally angry employee literally dragging my partner out of the baths was unnecessary, embarassing, and he should be incredibly ashamed of his actions. No malice or disrespect was leveled on our end, and the rage and disrespect acted upon on his part puts him and the establishment completely to shame. I literally never post negative reviews... but this was a ridiculous one. In summary, definitely dont attend if you have tattoos. Apologies for our lack of knowledge and awareness, but that was completely over the top, and wildly out of alignment with the kindness and respect Ive exchanged with every other Japanese person to this point.

Best onsen experience. Affordable at 500yen, and filled with locals. Follow the locals - take off your shoes, prep your 100yen coin (refundable) for the locker. Proceed to buy the 500yen adult ticket, pass to the counter staff. Enter the woman/man section. Prep another 100yen coin (refundable so you don't have to lug your body towels) and deposit your bag and clothes. Head out for a shower and into the indoor pools, outdoor pools and sauna. Nothing in English in there but just copy what the locals do. Superb experience at the outdoor open-air pool (42 degrees) with snow falling in. The outdoor cave pool was at 39 degrees. Prep another 10yen coin for the hairdryer when you're done showering. Came in the morning and it gets progressively crowded.

Excellent cheap onsen. Only 500yen entrance! I also had a lovely foot massage there for 3500 yen. A great deal. Then I ate at the on-site restaurant and had an awesome ramen for 900 yen. To top it off, I had a massive soft ice-cream. The facilities are good and I particularly enjoyed the big sauna and the bedrock open air bath which was at 41degrees C. The location is fantastic, only 25min walk form downtown Sapporo!

Amazing bathhouse just a few minutes walk away from Naebo station, which is just a few minutes train ride from Sapporo (JPY200, one stop). It is open till midnight, though 11pm is last entry and you can only purchase items from vending machines after that time as everything else closes shop. The price for adult has recently been adjusted to JPY490 (since October 2023), but it is worth every yen, excellent value for money. As you enter, take off your shoes, choose a shoe locker, put in shoes, put in a JPY100 coin, and remove the key. This JPY100 coin will be returned to you when you insert the key to open the locker later. Next, go to the ticket machine and select the tickets you need (e.g. how many adults/children), and also whether you need to rent/buy towels or other items. Pay at the machine, take ticket, bring it to the counter, and collect anything you have rented/purchased. If you brought your own towel then proceed to the changing area according to gender. Inside the changing area, you will find more lockers, repeat the same thing you did with the shoe locker, except this time it's for all your other belongings, Including all the clothes you are wearing. Undress completely, keep your things in the locker, and put in another JPY100 coin that will be returned to you later. Proceed to bathing area, shower first, and after that it's up to you how you want to experience it. During our visit, the hottest indoor pool was 43°C, followed by 41°C, and also a bubbly pool that is 39°C. There is a sauna room that is 92°C, and a cold pool right outside the sauna at 14-15°C. There are also two outdoor pools at 42°C and 41°C respectively, the slightly lower temperature one being built into a cave design. The outdoor pool is perfect for cold weather. Shampoo and shower gel are provided in the bathing area, so you don't have to bring your own, though you might notice many of the locals do. Some comments mentioned about no tattoo policy, it is displayed at the entrance, but I did notice people with tattoos in the bathhouse, so I am not exactly sure what the deal is. I have no tattoo, so the policy does not affect me. Highly recommended.