Best Onsen in Niseko – The Green Leaf Niseko Village
Following my previous post on The Green Leaf Niseko Village (link here), the outdoor onsen (hot spring) in the hotel was the best and most beautiful natural rock pools that I’d ever been (previously a few at Kinosaki Onsen Town and Taiwan). I felt absolutely serene when I dipped myself in the hot spring water while heavy snow fell around me. The experience was just surreal! According to the hotel, The Green Leaf Onsen water source originates from a 100% natural mineral spring and feeds into separate indoor and outdoor onsen for males and females. The onsen water emerges from deep within the earth at 53.2 degrees and cooled to just over 40 degrees before entering the onsen. Flowing at 270 litres per minute, the water is believed to have natural healing powers derived from the mineral content. This onsen open daily from 1pm – 9pm and it is complimentary for both the guests from The Green Leaf Niseko Village and The Hilton. Well so long you could get over the part of being total naked in front of same gender strangers, the Japanese onsen is a must try! Below are some of the pictures taken with my iPhone when I was alone in the onsen (normally is not allowed to take pictures). It was steamy hot so the pictures are not as sharp…
Here are some tips for those who have not experience Japanese onsen before:
- Taking off your clothes and being totally naked is a must!
- Wash yourself carefully before you enter the water is the most important part of the ritual.
- Most Japanese baths will have small stools to sit on and a separate washing area away from the hot spring water. Always make sure you are clean before entering the hot spring water.
- Face towel is usually provided, and most people prefer to put their towel on their head while bathing, but setting it on a rock or the side of the bath is acceptable too.
- However, never rinse your face towel in the hot spring bath or let it touch the water. Slopping towels in the water or wringing them out in the hot spring water is considered very rude. So if your towel accidentally slips into the water, wring it out gently outside the hot spring bath.
- Do not swim in the bath, just quietly dip and soak with a peaceful mind.
- Never try to peek through the partitions or around walls to see the other gender’s bathing area.
- After leaving the bath, wipe off excess water with your face towel before to re-entering the locker room.
Do you know that the 1st onsen in Japan was dated back to around the year 712?! By the 12th century, bathing in onsen had become widespread due to the influence of Buddhism. In the 17th century, the health benefits were recognised. And today, onsen is one of the cores of Japanese tourism.
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| The heavenly outdoor hot spring |
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| Changing Room |
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| Bathing area before entering the hot spring |
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| Indoor Hot Spring |
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| Pardon the not so sharp pictures it was steamy hot |
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Official Website: http://www.thegreenleafhotel.com/en/
TripAdvisor Review click here.
To check hotels’ prices at Niseko, use Agoda’s link here.
Address: Japan, 〒048-1592 Hokkaido Prefecture, Abuta District, ニセコ町東山温泉
Tel: +81 136-44-3311
For my full Hokkaido trip itinerary please click here.
For my other posts on Niseko, please click here.
1 comment
Thanks for the review! I didn’t realise it was a mixed gender onsen! You’re lucky you were there alone! What time did you go? Did you have a chance to try the exclusive thermal pool as well (swimwear is a must for that one).