Visiting Noboribetsu: The Hot-Spring Town and Hell Valley

Noboribetsu suits travellers who want a proper hot-spring soak and a volcanic landscape, not shopping or nightlife. One day from Sapporo covers it, but a night in a ryokan gives far more atmosphere, since the town quietens once the tour buses leave and the springs feel best in the evening and early morning.

Who it suits and how long to stay

It suits couples, families and older travellers who enjoy mineral water, and anyone who wants a break from big-city sightseeing. People who dislike the smell of sulphur, or feel uneasy about communal nude bathing, may like it less, though some lodgings offer private baths or foot baths as substitutes. Allow one full day from Sapporo, or a night and two days if you also want Lake Kuttara or Lake Toya.

When to go and the weather

Autumn, with colours at the Jigokudani valley usually at their best around the middle of the season, is lovely. In winter snow covers the town and steaming springs against white ground are what many people hope to see. Summer is far cooler than Thailand and good for walking, while spring is the melt season, when some paths may be wet and muddy. A summer festival with oni parades runs in some years, so confirm dates from official sources.

Getting there and getting around

From Sapporo, take a limited express on the Muroran line to Noboribetsu Station, which takes a little over an hour, and then a local bus to the hot-spring district in roughly ten to twenty minutes. From New Chitose Airport you can connect by train as well. In the hot-spring district you can walk almost everywhere, including to Jigokudani, though paths have steep sections and stairs.

Main sights

• Jigokudani, the Hell Valley: boardwalks through sulphur steam and vents
• The town's hot springs: soak at a ryokan or public bath
• Oyunuma, a hot sulphur pond with a bubbling surface
• The Oyunuma river, with a natural foot bath in the forest
• Oni statues around the hot-spring street, symbols of the town

Quieter corners

Lake Kuttara is a clear, quiet caldera lake, ideal when you want a break from the sulphur steam; reaching it is easier by rental car or taxi because buses are few. Another stop is Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura, an Edo-period themed park. The nearby town of Shiraoi is close enough to visit and has a museum of Ainu culture.

Food and souvenirs

Spicy red ramen, Hokkaido seafood and milk sweets are worth trying, and the typical souvenirs are small oni goods and onsen manju. A separate food guide covers the details.

Sample budget

The main cost is a stay at an onsen ryokan, which often includes dinner and breakfast, followed by transport from Sapporo and snacks. A day-use soak at a public bath generally costs less than a stay. Check real prices before you go.

Ver planos de eSIM para o Japão

While walking around the hot-spring district and Jigokudani, an eSIM helps you check the return bus to Noboribetsu Station, open maps and view weather updates on the spot.

A short plan and good-to-know points

1. Arrive at Noboribetsu Station mid-morning and take the bus to the hot-spring district
2. Walk Jigokudani and Oyunuma, taking roughly two hours
3. Have ramen or seafood for lunch
4. Soak in a hot spring in the afternoon before returning to Sapporo

Good to know: sulphur can tarnish silver jewellery, so remove it before bathing. In forest areas and on natural trails in Hokkaido there may be bears, so heed warning signs and avoid walking alone at dawn or after dark.