Atagami Onsen

The Atagami Onsen has been doing business in Tomakomai for more than 150 years. Situated on a bluff at the base of mount Atagami, it overlooks Tomakomai and the ocean, and possesses a wealth of natural pools and streams, as well as extensive indoor bathing and swimming facilities. Originally owned by a group of four families, it is now the sole possession of the powerful Tanaka family, which has links to the Fukui Clan. Although most of its visitors come from Hokkaido (primarily Sapporo), visitors come from as far away as Edo and Miyako to enjoy its hot springs, cooling pools, food, and entertainment. At its peak, its population nears 1,000, including hundreds of cooks, porters, and other employees. At its low season (after the first few snowfalls of winter), its population drops to a couple of hundred people, mostly maintenance workers and locals taking advantage of low rates.

Rates vary from a few mon to visit a hot spring for half a day in the winter or a cool spring in the summer, up to 150 yen a night to rent one of the private cottages (which house about 12 people) for an evening in the high season. Visitors are given tokens that denote their privileges. There is a brisk market in stolen and/or counterfeit tokens, but the Tanaka Family and its security personnel (some of whom are linked with the local Kato-kai) are ever vigilant, and violators can be fined, beaten, or turned over to the authorities.

The grounds include a stage for performance of dance, drumming, and Kabuki theater, a well-regarded restaurant, an izakaya, a tranquility garden regarded as one of the best on Hokkaido, inns and other residences, workers' cottages, a garden the size of a farm, shrines, and more.

MAP KEY

1 Atagami Terrace Teahouse

2 Welcome Stage

3 White Pine Izakaya

4 Workers' Cottages

5 Atagami House Restaurant

6 Tanaka Family Residence and Security Tower

7 Tranquility Gardens

8 The Great Inn

9 The Old Bath House

10 Prep Kitchen and Chefs' Gardens

11 Cool Springs and Modest Inns

12 Big And Little Sparrow Houses (inns and places of entertainment)

13 Private Cottages

14 Hot Springs

15 Summer Pavilion

16 Kami Shrine

17 Oyashima Shrine