Mori no Yu Sanseikan is a family-run inn of 18 Japanese-style rooms in Karurusu Onsen, a small hot-spring village in a narrow valley about 8 km northwest of Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido. It opened in 1975, and its name comes from its open-air bath, Mori no Yu. Before you book, three things matter: credit cards are not accepted at the inn; the doors close at 21:00; and the free station shuttle must be booked by 18:00 the day before.
Before you go: Mori no Yu Sanseikan at a glance
| What to check | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Address | 16 Karurusu-cho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido |
| Rooms | 18, all Japanese-style, from 6 to 24 tatami mats |
| Check-in / out | 14:00 (last 18:00) / 10:00 |
| Doors close | 21:00 |
| Baths | Open-air rock bath, indoor baths, a drinking fountain of spring water |
| Meals | Dinner and breakfast in the dining area; private seating available |
| Cards at the inn | Not accepted |
| Shuttle | Free from JR Noboribetsu Station, 14:00 and 16:00, book by 18:00 the day before |
| Parking | 18 cars, free, no booking needed |
From the official site and booking page, read October 14, 2026.
Where is Karurusu Onsen, and what is it like?
Karurusu Onsen is its own spa village, not part of Noboribetsu Onsen. The inn describes it as sitting in the middle of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, with mountains on three sides, and says plainly that there are no convenience stores, restaurants or fiber internet. The village was named after Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary) in Czechia, because the water was found to be similar. Noboribetsu’s Hell Valley (Jigokudani) is about 13 minutes away by car, and Lake Kuttara about 25 minutes.
The inn is run by a family: the owner, his wife as proprietress, and their daughter, Orie Kudo, who also writes the website. Her grandfather, a carpenter, turned the family house into an inn in 1975. The building has slopes in the halls in place of stairs to the 2nd floor, carpeted corridors, and a loan wheelchair.
The baths at Mori no Yu Sanseikan
What is the open-air bath like?
The open-air bath, Mori no Yu, has no roof on purpose: the owner’s rule is that it is not an open-air bath if you cannot see the sky. It is a rock bath built from old garden stones, fed with 100 percent spring water, and is reached by a short walk from the men’s and women’s indoor baths.
What about the indoor baths and the water?
Each indoor bath has two tubs, and the inn advises easing in slowly because the source-fed one is the hottest. The spring is a simple hot spring, pH 7.2, colorless and odorless, at 52°C from the source and 1,200 liters a minute. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap and hair dryers are provided. The inn holds a health-office permit for its drinking fountains in both baths, and it lists how much to drink and when.
Can I bathe with a tattoo, and is there a private bath?
The official pages do not mention tattoos, and they do not list a private bath. Ask the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask. The FAQ also suggests asking your doctor first if you are pregnant or being treated for an injury.
Rooms and meals at Mori no Yu Sanseikan
Which room fits my group?
The 6-mat room takes 1 to 2 guests, the 8-mat room 1 to 3, the 10- and 12-mat rooms 2 to 4, and the 24-mat room 6 to 12. The 8-mat room is listed as smoking or non-smoking; the others as non-smoking. Each room has a toilet, washbasin, safe, fridge, TV and kettle; the official pages do not list a bath in the room. Wi-Fi is available in the building.
What is for dinner?
The signature dish since 1975 is jidori tataki nabe, a hot pot of minced local chicken that the owner makes himself each day. It has no ginger or other strong seasoning. Plans add a choice of Noboribetsu beef steak or hairy crab, or a seafood hot pot in smaller portions; dishes change with the season. If you booked a plan where you choose a dish, write your choice in the comments box.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The inn says it can change dishes for allergies if you tell it in advance. The official pages say nothing about vegetarian or halal meals, so ask before you book.
Getting to Mori no Yu Sanseikan
From New Chitose Airport, take the rapid train to Minami-Chitose and a limited express to JR Noboribetsu Station, about 65 minutes in all with the final drive. From Sapporo Station, the limited express to Noboribetsu takes about 75 minutes. From the station, the inn runs a free shuttle at 14:00 and 16:00, booked by 18:00 the day before; it leaves the inn at 9:00 for the return. There is no full-time driver, so tell the inn your arrival time when you book. Our free hotel shuttle guide covers how these work.
By car, it is about 15 minutes from the Noboribetsu-Higashi exit of the Hokkaido Expressway, and about an hour from New Chitose Airport. Parking is free for 18 cars.
Prices and rules at Mori no Yu Sanseikan
What do children cost?
Elementary school children pay 70 percent of the adult rate and get the same meal. Infants who need a meal and bedding pay the same as elementary school children; infants who need neither stay free, and bedding alone is 2,160 yen per futon, according to the FAQ.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official policy is 50 percent from 7 days before, 100 percent on the day, and 100 percent for a no-show without contact. Some plans and dates have their own rules, so read the policy on your plan. See our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay, and what taxes apply?
Credit cards cannot be used at the inn; check how to pay before you travel. Noboribetsu City charges a bathing tax per guest per night, with children under 12 exempt; the city’s page and the inn’s page show different amounts, so confirm it with the inn. Hokkaido’s accommodation tax, from April 2026, is 100 yen per person per night under 20,000 yen. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Mori no Yu Sanseikan
- The inn has an English website, but its English “Book now” button did not open for us; the Japanese booking page worked. You can also email the inn at info@karurusu.com.
- Bring cash or arrange payment ahead: no credit cards at the inn.
- The doors close at 21:00, and there are no shops in the village, so buy what you need first.
- Book the shuttle by 18:00 the day before, or plan a taxi from the station.
- For hikes on Mt. Kurumadake or Mt. Orofure, the inn can make rice balls, fill a flask with hot tea and keep your bags after checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay by credit card at Mori no Yu Sanseikan?
What time is check-in at Mori no Yu Sanseikan?
Is there a shuttle to Mori no Yu Sanseikan?
Can I bathe with a tattoo at Mori no Yu Sanseikan?
Is Mori no Yu Sanseikan in Noboribetsu Onsen?
Bottom line (2026): Mori no Yu Sanseikan is a small, family-run onsen inn in quiet Karurusu Onsen, with a roofless rock bath, drinkable spring water and a chicken hot pot served since 1975. Plan for no card payments, a 21:00 curfew and a shuttle booked a day ahead, and check prices on the official booking page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Mori no Yu Sanseikan’s official pages: home (Japanese), home (English), rooms, baths, meals, access, FAQ and the official booking page, plus Noboribetsu City’s bathing tax page and Hokkaido’s accommodation tax page. All were read on October 14, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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