Don’t fear the heavy snow and bitter cold—this airport actually has a natural hot spring bathhouse.

The New Chitose Airport Hot Spring delivers natural hot spring water directly from its source every day. Soaking in the baths during the cold season helps keep your body warm. (Image / Official website of New Chitose Airport)

To meet travelers’ needs, airports today are no longer just places for takeoffs and landings—they now offer many thoughtful amenities. Hokkaido’s “New Chitose Airport” serves as the gateway for many visitors to Japan’s northern regions. Known for being “delicious, fun, and comfortable,” one of the most popular features among travelers is the on-site natural hot spring.

This hot spring is located on the fourth floor of the domestic terminal at New Chitose Airport. The natural hot spring water is delivered directly from its source daily and is a sodium salt compound type, which contains salt. The salt left on the skin after bathing helps prevent sweat evaporation, providing excellent insulation and moisturizing effects—hence it's also called the “heating hot spring.”

Don’t assume that an airport hot spring would be modest in scale. In addition to spacious bathing pools, there are also private bath cabins, lounge areas, bedrock baths, private rooms, as well as beauty and skincare treatments and aromatherapy massages. Especially during harsh cold weather, the ability to soak in a hot spring right at the airport not only refreshes weary travelers but has also earned widespread praise.

However, the fee for using the New Chitose Airport Hot Spring is slightly higher than those outside the airport. Soaking in the hot spring at the airport does come with a small cost: the entrance fee for visitors aged middle school and above is 1,500 yen, and an additional 1,500 yen late-night surcharge applies for entry after 1:00 AM.