The Jozan-kei-onsen Hot Spring is located
to the southwest of Sapporo in a ravine
situated upstream along the Toyohira-gawa
River. Called "Sapporo's back parlor," the
spa is surrounded by mountains. It was
discovered by a monk called Jozan, and was
named after him for the efforts he made to
develop it. The spa is known for its
plentiful waters, some 200,000 liters of
which flow every hour. The waters contain
a large variety of minerals, including
boric acid, sulfur and salt.
The symbol of Jozan Valley is the water
sprite known as a 'kappa.' A kappa is an
imaginary Japanese creature that lives
both on land and in water. It is a funny-
shaped hobgoblin, with a plate on its
head, webbed hands and feet, and a pointed
mouth. It became the guardian spirit of
this place as the result of a legend about
a young boy who is supposed to have been
taken off to the land of the kappa, where
he lived happily. Over 20 kappa statues
stand in various poses around the spa
town, including the "Great Kappa King."
There is also a Kappa Pool, which becomes
very lively during the Kappa Festival that
takes place in early August.
There are plenty of facilities for
visitors nearby, such as the nature
walkway alongside the ravine and the
Sapporo International Ski Resort. Jozan
Valley is also a hub for tourists going
over the Nakayama-toge Pass to Lake Toya-
ko, and the town is lively throughout the
year.
