Midori no Kaze Kitanoyuzawa Review 2026: Sapporo Family Onsen Hotel

Midori-no-Kaze: Your Recommended Family Ryokan in Sapporo

Kitayuzawa Ryokan: Booking, Prices, and How to Get There

ⓒ Text, Photos by Minha Hae

One of my ultimate winter dreams for Sapporo was experiencing a ryokan while watching the snow fall.

Instead of Jozankei, I opted for a place in Kitayuzawa. And the reason? It's renowned for having the largest onsen in Hokkaido!

While there aren't any private baths, this place boasts over 20 different hot springs! I instantly thought, 'This would be absolutely perfect for a family getaway!'

I followed this route, and I can't recommend it enough!

Sapporo City Exploration → Ryokan Transfer → Airport after Checkout

From how to book the accommodation and shuttle bus, to my firsthand reviews of the onsen, dinner, and breakfast—I paid for everything myself, so if you're planning a Sapporo family trip, definitely check it out!

(Plus, I've got my personal recommendation for anyone weighing Jozankei as an option!! 😉)

Midori-no-Kaze Standard Room

I visited as a couple and didn't feel the need for an overly large room, so I booked a standard room.

However, there are also larger rooms available that can accommodate up to 6 adults, making it perfect for group travel too!

What's amazing is that if you book without meals, it's a fantastic value at around ~$150 for 2 people for 1 night... truly great value among ryokans!

Check Current Prices Here!

And despite that incredible value, the room size is this spacious... the smallest room is a remarkable 38m2, which is more than double the size of typical city hotels!

This means if you're traveling as a group of four, you can lay out futons in this room and comfortably stay together.

Inside your room, you'll find a yukata, perfect for fully immersing yourself in the ryokan atmosphere! Wearing it for photos is an absolute must.

You won't even need to pack pajamas.

While a yukata is lovely, venturing out in winter solely in one might be a bit chilly, but they also provide a thicker outer jacket. Wearing that made moving around incredibly comfortable and cozy! ✨

They even provide slippers to wear around your room!

The reason the beds were so spacious, even in a twin room? It's because they're small double beds—feeling like a size somewhere between a super single and a regular double.

The bedding was incredibly clean and plush, keeping me perfectly warm.

While the room itself might not scream 'ultra-modern,' it's a resort that's incredibly well-maintained and spotless!

You'll find two bottles of complimentary water in your room, along with cups and coffee/tea bags, perfect for leisurely enjoying the snowy mountain views right from your window.

The bathroom was also quite spacious, but honestly, beyond brushing my teeth and washing my face, I barely used it because I was practically living in the hot springs! That's how incredibly, overwhelmingly good the onsen experience was!!

Hokkaido's Largest Onsen: A Sprawling 150 Pyeong (approx. 496m²) Wonderland!

Honestly, this is a place you could visit just for the onsen experience alone!

The men's and women's baths actually switch daily, so you get to enjoy a variety of different scenic views.

And get this: there are over 20 baths, each with its own unique charm!

At the onsen entrance, there's a spot to grab some simple snacks,

and afterward, you even get free ice cream! 😉

Just looking at the map, isn't the scale just incredible?! Seriously, it's huge!

The massive outdoor rock bath could probably fit a hundred people and still have room! It's that spacious,

and there are so many different baths, each with unique benefits,

you could find a spot all to yourself no matter where you go.

I actually thought a ryokan experience on a snowy day might be too cold,

but it was perfectly fine after soaking in the warm water!

And just so you know, I'm super sensitive to cold!!

Another big plus is the onsen's extensive operating hours.

Except for 1:30 AM to 4:00 AM,

and 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM,

the onsen is continuously open.

So, apart from sleeping hours and check-out time,

you can enjoy the ryokan's warm waters anytime!

Even just looking at Trip.com reviews, it scores over 9 points, which is fantastic,

but honestly, I thought the buffet might be a hit or miss for some.

I'll tell you more about that below!

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>> Want to see more reviews? Check them out here!

Buffet Breakfast & Dinner

While you might expect Kaiseki (traditional multi-course dinner) at a ryokan,

given the sheer size of this place, it was a buffet style.

There were various seafood options available so you could create your own Kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl),

with a great variety of fresh ingredients.

They offered a good variety of Western, Chinese, and Japanese dishes,

but I found the taste to be pretty standard.

Like a fun event, when a bell rang, desserts would suddenly appear,

and there were even dishes served directly by the chefs.

I found that quite entertaining, and the meal was decent overall!

You know Hokkaido is famous for its dairy products, right?

Make sure to try some Hokkaido milk and ice cream while you're there!

Breakfast is also buffet style, but it's a bit lighter than dinner.

Still, there were so many different dishes to choose from!

For families with children, rather than kaiseki,

a buffet-style meal like this might actually be more convenient,

which is why there were so many families staying here.

Since there isn't really anywhere else to go outside,

if you love desserts and beer, I recommend stopping by a convenience store before you arrive

and stocking up!

Winter Ryokan Bookings & Midorino Kaze Prices

As winter approaches, naturally,

accommodation prices tend to rise. So, even if it's a free cancellation booking,

it's a great idea to book in advance to save on your stay.

Personally, since dining options nearby are limited,

I highly recommend booking a plan that includes both breakfast and dinner.

However, if you opt for no meals, it does get much cheaper!

* Price for 1 night, 2 people on Jan 9th (Sat) (Standard Room)

Honestly, the difference between the breakfast-included price and the breakfast + dinner-included price

is less than ~\$8. So, if you're planning to have meals, definitely go for the option that includes both!

Agoda and Trip.com have similar prices,

so these are the prices confirmed at the time of writing.

I recommend checking them before you book :)

Sapporo Ryokan Location & Midorino Kaze Shuttle Bus

Actually, when you think of ryokans in Sapporo, Jozankei is more famous,

but even at Midorino Kaze, you'll find many grand properties.

The distance from Sapporo city center to Jozankei is about 1 hour.

The distance from Sapporo city center to Kitayuzawa is about 2 hours.

Both Jozankei and Kitayuzawa are about the same distance to the airport,

around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

(However, there might be slight delays if it snows.)

If being closer to the city center is important to you and you've decided on Jozankei,

then let me share the top 3 spots I've saved for my own trip.

I'll tell you just 3 places.

I've compared Agoda, Trip.com, and Rakuten for the same dates,

making it easy for you to check the cheapest options right now!!!!

📌 Yurakusoan (View Details)

: All rooms have private baths, plus private rental baths and large public baths available.

From about ~\$375 for 1 night on a January weekend.

Shuttle bus: Sapporo Station 2:30 PM / Hotel 10:30 AM

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📌 Daiichi Hotel Suizantei (View Details)

: Private baths, private rental baths, and large public baths available.

From about ~\$600 for 1 night on a January weekend.

Unlimited sake, wine, and whiskey at the evening lounge!

Shuttle bus: Odori 3 departures (11:30 AM/2:30 PM/5:00 PM)

Hotel 2 departures (10:30 AM/1:00 PM)

📌 Hanamomiji (View Details)

: Private rental baths and large public baths available (private baths in only a very few rooms).

From about ~\$300 for 1 night on a January weekend.

Shuttle bus: Sapporo Station 3:00 PM / Hotel 10:00 AM

The Kitayuzawa and Midorinokaze shuttle buses

depart from Sapporo Station, and you'll definitely want to book them in advance!

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Book Your Shuttle Bus Here

It's super popular, so if you've already booked your accommodation,

and you're not renting a car, booking the shuttle bus for any ryokan

is definitely the next step you should remember! 😉

I'm one of those lucky people who fulfilled the romantic dream of staying at a ryokan while it snows in Sapporo!

Midorinokaze is a spacious and grand ryokan,

and it was definitely a place where exploring the resort itself was a delight.

Plus, with 20 hot spring baths that change daily, spacious rooms,

and a buffet-style dining experience offering a wide variety of delicious food,

it seems absolutely perfect if you're searching for a family-friendly ryokan in Sapporo!

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Check Midorinokaze Availability Here