Jozankei Shuttle vs. Kappaliner (2026): Booking & Prices

On the way from Sapporo to Jozankei Onsen Ryokan,

the Kurayasuisan shuttle bus is free!

But this bus,

getting a seat can be tougher than you'd think!😥

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In summer, my preferred time slots were fully booked,

so I had to take the 5 PM bus and missed the welcome drink,

and in winter, there were no seats available at all...

If you can't snag a spot on the free shuttle,

how do you get there?

Luckily, there's a great alternative: the Jozankei Kappa Liner!

In this post, based on my firsthand experience,

I'll lay out everything you need to know about booking the Kurayasuisan shuttle bus and its timetable,

plus Kappa Liner fares and handy boarding tips,

all in one place~

1. Kurayasuisan

Shuttle Bus vs. Kappa Liner: A Quick Comparison

Among the ways to get from Sapporo to Jozankei,

I've compared the free shuttle bus and the Kappa Liner.

① The Free Shuttle Bus is the Most Convenient

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The Kurayasuisan shuttle bus is

a complimentary bus available for hotel guests.

It helps you save on transportation costs

and get to the ryokan comfortably.

However, because it's on a first-come, first-served reservation basis,

your desired time slots can fill up quickly.

Just so you know, the return bus

doesn't depart directly from Kurayasuisan,

but from a nearby sister hotel.

For the exact pick-up and drop-off locations,

please check your reservation details.

② Jozankei Kappa Liner if the Shuttle is Full

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The Kappa Liner has a fare

and you'll need to walk from the bus stop to the ryokan.

On the bright side, it runs more frequently.

If you're headed to Kurayasuisan,

you can alight at Stop 5, 'In front of Daiichi Hotel'.

It's the first alternative to consider

if you can't secure a spot on the shuttle.

2. Kurayasuisan Shuttle Bus

Timetable and How to Book

① Shuttle Bus Timetable and Boarding Location

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The Kurayasuisan shuttle bus is

a complimentary shuttle exclusively for guests, serving multiple affiliated accommodations.

From Sapporo to Jozankei,

it takes approximately 1 hour.

The timetable above is for the shared shuttle bus.

Since it visits several accommodations in sequence,

the arrival time at Kurayasuisan may vary.

I personally took

the 5 PM bus in the summer.

I boarded near Odori Park,

specifically in front of the Odori Nishi 5-chome Showa Building.

② Essential Tips Before You Book

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Just because you've booked your hotel, it doesn't mean the shuttle bus is

automatically booked too.

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You MUST book your hotel and your shuttle bus

separately!!!

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Don't forget, you absolutely need to book them separately!!!

③ How to Book the Kuriya Suizan Shuttle Bus

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Back in the day, you could only book by phone.

Both the Japanese staff member and I, trying to communicate with gestures and broken English,

were practically in tears...

S-s-sumimasen...😂

But now,

you can use an online booking form!

▼ Shuttle Bus Booking Form ▼

Daiichi Hotel / Free Shuttle Businquiry.talkappi.com

Just go into the booking form and

select Kuriya Suizan.

Enter the necessary information, such as your desired date and time,

to make your reservation.

Be sure to confirm your reservation status and meeting instructions.

④ Booking Wasn't Easy, Even in Summer and Winter!

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☀️ Summer | My Preferred Time Was Fully Booked

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I booked the hotel about two weeks in advance,

but it turned out my desired shuttle bus times were already gone.

So, I had no choice but to take the 5 PM bus...

Sorry, my friends!

We arrived late,

couldn't even enjoy the welcome drink,

and went straight to dinner...

It was a real shame!

On the way back, there were no seats available either,

so I booked the 1 PM bus.

Thanks to that (?), we explored Jozankei in the morning

before heading back to Sapporo.

As I mentioned earlier, the return bus

departed from a nearby sister hotel.

We also dragged our suitcases

and walked to the departure point.

❄️ Winter | I Couldn't Get a Shuttle Bus AT ALL!

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I only booked the hotel and

completely forgot to book the shuttle bus.

When I checked a month later,

all the seats were completely booked up.

I saw a post on another blog saying

"you can grab an empty seat if you call,"

so I called right away, but

they told me that wasn't true...

Let's eradicate fake news...!

Naver Blog Team, please work hard!

The method the staff member told me about was

**to check for canceled seats on the website**.

They said that canceled tickets might become available,

so keep checking periodically to book.

In winter, even a month before your visit,

seats might be unavailable,

so it's a good idea to book in advance.

Couldn't snag a shuttle bus?

No worries!

We've got the Kappa Liner~

▼ Book Your Stay at Kuriya Suizan Here ▼

3. Jozankei Kappa Liner: Booking, Fares, Timetable & Riding Tips

① How to Book the Kappa Liner

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The **Jozankei Kappa Liner** is a Jotetsu bus that connects Sapporo Station with Jozankei.

Anyone can use it, even if you're not staying at a local accommodation.

📌 Seating: All seats are unreserved.

📌 Booking Period: From one month before your ride until 5 PM the day before.

▼ Kappa Liner Booking Site ▼

When booking,

you need to specify both your **boarding stop and alighting stop** separately.

Please note that you cannot board at any stop other than the one you booked.

If there are empty seats on the day of travel,

you **might be able to pay on-site and board.**

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However, there's no guarantee that seats will be available,

so we **highly recommend booking in advance.**

② Kappa Liner Fares

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Below are the one-way fares.

If you book from Sapporo Station to Jozankei with the online discount,

a one-way ticket is **1,460 JPY**.

Calculating for 4 people round trip:

**1,460 JPY × 4 people × 2 trips = 11,680 JPY**

Based on 850 KRW per 100 JPY, that's approximately **~$75**.

For one person round trip,

it's about **~$19**.

The cost of missing the free shuttle bus turned out to be quite significant...

This is what I call a **"silly mistake" cost!**

③ Kappa Liner Timetable and Boarding Locations

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When heading from Sapporo to Jozankei,

you can board at **Sapporo Station Platform 27.**

Departing from Sapporo Station,

buses run from **9:10 AM to 4:00 PM, with 11 services per day.**

For the return trip,

you can also board in front of Jozankei Garage.

From this stop,

buses run from **8:45 AM to 5:06 PM, with 11 services per day.**

You can also board at Odori Nishi 1-chome and Susukino.

However, departure times vary slightly depending on the stop.

Be sure to check the time for the stop you selected when booking.

④ Open Your E-Ticket Just Before Boarding

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When you book the Kappa Liner,

you'll receive a receipt and an **e-ticket URL** via email.

There's no need to print it out separately.

The important thing is that once you display the boarding screen,

it **remains valid for only 10 minutes.**

Don't open it beforehand;

when you board the bus, open your e-ticket

and show it to the staff.

Instead of a screenshot,

you should present the actual e-ticket screen.

⑤ Getting Off at Kuriyasuiizan: Stop #5 (In Front of Daiichi Hotel)

When you're headed to Kuriyasuiizan,

this is the most crucial disembarkation information.

📌 Kuriyasuiizan Drop-off Stop

Stop #5 'In Front of Daiichi Hotel'

Unlike a hotel shuttle,

the bus doesn't go directly in front of Kuriyasuiizan,

so after you get off, you'll need to walk to the ryokan.

When booking, select your drop-off stop

as Stop #5, In Front of Daiichi Hotel.

Inside the bus,

there will be announcements for the stop numbers,

so just check for Stop #5 and get off.

Kuriyasuiizan Shuttle Bus: The Sooner You Book, The Better!

If you're heading to Kuriyasuiizan,

make sure to book the free shuttle bus first.

You'll save on transportation costs

and get to the ryokan comfortably.

If you postpone your booking like I did,

you might miss your preferred time slot,

or there might not be any seats left at all.

But don't worry.

If you book the Kappaliner in advance,

you can still travel from Sapporo to Jozankei.

When you're going to Kuriyasuiizan,

get off at Stop #5, in front of Daiichi Hotel!

Just remember this:

whether it's the free shuttle bus or the Kappaliner,

secure your transportation immediately after booking your accommodation!

This is the most important tip.

▼ Book Your Kuriyasuiizan Stay Here ▼