Visiting Hokkaido this autumn? Why not book a hotel with beautiful foliage views?

As a Hokkaido travel expert, I’ve helped many international travelers plan their autumn trips to Hokkaido, including finding the best hotels with views.

So, here are my top 5 recommendations for you! These hotels here offer:

• Foliage views from the hotel

• Natural onsen (hot spring)

• Private onsen options

Let’s dive in!

This post contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission to enjoy a cup of coffee on my trip☕

1. Zaborin, Niseko

Zaborin is a luxury retreat hotel in the heart of Niseko, surrounded by mountains and beautiful nature. All 15 guest rooms are individual buildings with a private onsen terrace. You can enjoy the vibrant autumn colors while soaking in the onsen in your room. The private dining is prepared by a local chef from Hokkaido and features lots of fresh, local ingredients.

Zaborin is about a 2-hour drive from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. A free shuttle bus is available from JR Kutchan Station upon reservation.

🍁Foliage peak in Niseko: mid-October

2. Chalet Ivy Jozankei

Jozankei, a popular day-trip destination from Sapporo, is an onsen town in a valley and known for its stunning autumn colors. Chalet Ivy Jozankei sits along the scenic Toyohira River, offering beautiful foliage views from all 25 rooms with a private onsen. If you are tired of the crowds in Sapporo, it’s an easy escape from the big city.

🍁Foliage peak in Jozankei: early October

3. Otaru KoUrakuen

Kourakuen is a historic onsen ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) in Otaru with a 26,000-square-meters garden. The trees there have been welcoming guests for over 100 years. Make sure to book rooms on the garden side to enjoy the beautiful foliage views. Some rooms are equipped with private onsen as well.

Otaru is just a 40-min drive from Sapporo and offers many tourist attractions, such as Otaru Canal, historic warehouses, local artisanal shops and Mount Tengu.

🍁Foliage peak in Otaru: early October

4. Takinoya, Noboribetsu

If you are looking for an authentic ryokan experience, Takinoya in Noboribetsu is a great destination. This is a long-established onsen ryokan that embraces vibrant autumn colors in its Japanese garden. They offer four kinds of natural hot springs, from one of which you can view the beautiful garden. Also enjoy Kaiseki dinner using seasonal local ingredients.

Noboribetsu is 1.5 hours away from Sapporo by car. It is a popular onsen town among locals and tourists. Hell Valley (Jigoku Dani) is a must-visit in Noboribetsu, where you can observe geothermal activities and steam rising from the ground. It’s also a great spot for autumn colors.

🍁Foliage peak in Noboribetsu: early October

5. Hakodate Onuma Prince Hotel

Onuma Park is one of the best foliage spots in Southern Hokkaido. It’s a bit away from the Hakodate city - one hour away by car or 40 min by train - but it’s worth visiting if you are a foliage lover. Hakodate Onuma Prince Hotel is surrounded by the nature of Onuma Park and is designed to fully enjoy autumn foliage to the maximum. You can see the foliage almost everywhere in the hotel, from your room, onsen, reception, restaurants, and even from the elevators. Especially the view from onsen is something special - their outdoor onsen is infinity-style and its water edge blends into the scenery.

🍁Foliage peak in Onuma: mid-October to early November

Local’s PRO tips to plan an autumn trip to Hokkaido

1. Know the best timing for autumn foliage

It’s not easy to predict the exact peak of foliage ahead of time. So keep an eye on forecasts that usually come out in September. That being said, here’s a general timeline (non-exhaustive):

• Mid-September: High-altitude areas, like Mount Kurodake and Sounkyo.

• Late September: Mount Asahidake and Ginsendai

• Early October: Shiretoko, Lake Kussharo, and Lake Akan in Eastern Hokkaido, and Jozankei, Otaru, Lake Shikotsu, Noboribetsu and Furano in Western & Central Hokkaido- the most popular (and touristy) areas of Hokkaido.

• Mid-October: Sapporo, Obihiro and Lake Toya

• Late October: Hakodate

2. Plan your itinerary based on foliage spots

How? I have 3 ready-made autumn itineraries that you can follow along!

These e-guidebooks will save your weeks of research!

• Overview of major destinations

• Ready-made itineraries

• Things to do, hotel reccomendations

• Useful travel tips & many more

3. Book Hotels as soon as possible

Hokkaido’s foliage season is short. Once you set your travel dates, book hotels right away before they get booked out.

Again, my top pics are:

• Zaborin, Niseko

• Chalet Ivy Jozankei

• Otaru Kourakuen

• Takinoya, Noboribetsu

• Hakodate Onuma Prince Hotel

You can find more hotel options in this blog post as well.

THAT’S ALL!

Hope you enjoy your autumn trip to Hokkaido! If you’re looking for places to visit in Hokkaido, check out this ultimate destination guide.

Also join my Hokkaido Travel Newsletter to receive more tips & local news exclusive to my subscribers!

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