A charming, superstitious stop—worth a moment of your time I stopped by the Kappa Family's Wishing Hand Water (かっぱ家族の願かけ手湯) during my trip. It’s a small, quirky spot that adds a touch of local folklore to the journey. My experience: The hand water features cute kappa (mythical river creatures) statues. It’s not just for washing your hands—there’s a specific ritual involved. Based on my observation and common Japanese hand water traditions: · You pour water over the adult kappa statue to wish for good health. · You pour water over the baby kappa statue to pray for safe and easy childbirth or the healthy growth of children. Is it worth it? It’s not a large attraction—you’ll only need 5-10 minutes here. But if you enjoy small, superstitious rituals or traveling with family, it's a fun little detour. Even if you don't have a specific wish, it's a photogenic spot with a peaceful vibe. A quick, charming spot to make a silent wish. It might be small, but it has a lot of heart.

Just heading back from Lake Toya to Sapporo, at the middle of travel we passed by the Jozankei Onsen. We were attracted by the little “river monster” by its cuteness. During Spring, everywhere hanging up the “Fish-flags” which becomes the symbol of the location. But we went there in spring time, actually most restaurants closes early. But it’s still nice to have a walk through this area. There are some lovely spots for photos indeed.

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25th August 2025 Iconic scenic spot of Jozenkei onsen area to show the center of the park be careful when walking here as its at a busy corner with many traffic

I really like how there is a barcode you can scan so it will explain everything and also how to pray .

You will get boiled when you try it in summer. It’s convenient.