Marukoma Onsen Ryokan — soaking in a hot spring at the surface of Japan's clearest lake
Picture this: you're lying back in an open-air hot spring, the water is at eye level, and just beyond the bath's edge stretches the emerald-green surface of Lake Shikotsu — close enough to almost reach out and touch. That is the experience Marukoma Onsen Ryokan has been offering since 1915, on the northwestern shore of Lake Shikotsu — confirmed Japan's clearest lake for 11 consecutive years. Add a full Hokkaido kaiseki dinner, crisp mountain air, and winter landscapes that feel like they belong in a dream, and you start to understand why guests keep coming back.
Marukoma Onsen Ryokan is located at Shikotsuko Poropinai 7 in Chitose, Hokkaido — just 52 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport (CTS). That makes it a compelling post-arrival onsen retreat that many travellers plan before they even board the plane, or a memorable final night before flying home. After a long-haul flight, few things restore the body and mind as effectively as a soak in genuine Hokkaido hot-spring water with a mountain lake for a view.
"Everyone who goes says the same thing: the open-air bath at lake-water level is an experience that simply doesn't exist anywhere else in Japan — especially in the early morning when mist drifts across the surface."
What sets Marukoma apart from any other onsen ryokan is its rotenburo (open-air bath) built flush with the surface of Lake Shikotsu. When you soak here, you feel as though you're floating in the middle of the lake itself. In winter, snow blankets Mount Eniwa on the far shore, completing a scene that countless travellers describe as the quintessential Hokkaido winter onsen dream — rare and genuinely unforgettable.
The kaiseki dinner included in the plan is anything but ordinary — the menu centres on seasonal Hokkaido seafood: Hokkaido crab, local Wagyu beef, and fresh cold-water salmon, alongside a traditional Japanese breakfast served the following morning. Both meals are folded into a single plan price, which means there's no need to worry about finding somewhere to eat in the surrounding national park — because there is nowhere else to eat nearby.
The ryokan sits inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park, giving the surrounding environment a profound quietness. No city lights, no background noise — at night, the skies above the lake are clear enough to stargaze properly. The score of 8.9 reflects genuine satisfaction from guests; when people do leave critical comments, they almost always point to the logistics of getting here, not the quality of the onsen or the food.
It's worth being honest about the main constraint: getting here requires a car or taxi. There is no direct public transport to Lake Shikotsu — you'll need to rent a car from CTS or Sapporo, or arrange a taxi in advance. And ¥20,000+ per person per night is a premium compared with standard hotels in Chitose town. But factor in a 110-year-old onsen, two full Hokkaido meals, and a lakeview no other property can match, and many guests say the value makes perfect sense.
Who is this for? Couples escaping the city, travellers with a Hokkaido onsen experience on the itinerary, or anyone who wants one genuinely special night after landing at CTS. If your primary goal is saving money or staying close to the airport for a very early flight, the hotels in Chitose town are the more practical choice — but if you're after something you'll remember for years, Marukoma delivers.
The truth is, Marukoma Onsen Ryokan is an experience that no standard hotel can replicate — Japan's clearest lake, a 110-year-old onsen tradition, and authentic Hokkaido kaiseki all in one place. For anyone travelling Hokkaido who wants a memory that stands apart from the rest of the trip, a night at Marukoma is one chapter worth adding to the itinerary.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Open-air bath at lake-water level — uniquely special in Japan
- ✓ Historic onsen in operation since 1915
- ✓ Full Hokkaido kaiseki plan with dinner and breakfast
- ✓ Set inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park — genuinely peaceful
- ! No public transport — car or taxi required
- ! ¥20,000+/person is premium pricing compared with Chitose hotels
- ! Dinner must be booked in advance — no alternative restaurants nearby
- ✓ Lake Shikotsu has been confirmed Japan's clearest lake for 11 consecutive years
- ✓ Winter snow on Mount Eniwa creates a Hokkaido winter onsen scene like no other
- ✓ Traditional Japanese breakfast included in the plan
- ✓ Score 8.9 — outstanding for a lakeside national park ryokan
- ! 52-minute drive from CTS — not ideal for very early morning flights
- ! Open-air bath has set opening and closing hours
- ! Very remote — no shops or convenience stores around the lake
- 💡If you don't have a car or haven't planned to hire one — Lake Shikotsu has no direct public transport → you'll need to arrange a taxi from Chitose Station or organise transfers with the ryokan in advance before booking.
- 💡If budget is the top priority or you need to stay close to CTS — at ¥20,000/person/night this is premium pricing → consider hotels in Chitose town (JR Inn, AreaOne) which are less expensive and closer to the airport.
- 💡If you want dinner options beyond the plan — there are no other restaurants near Lake Shikotsu → book the Kaiseki plan at the time of reservation, otherwise there is no evening meal available.