オススメ度
外国語対応
About Noboribetsu
Noboribetsu, located in an active volcanic area, is famous for its hot springs.
So much so that more than 3,000,000 people from Japan and around the world visit the hot spring resort yearly.
It is also known as a “department store of hot springs” for gushing out 10,000 tons of hot spring water of 9 different qualities every day.
There are few other, if at all, in the world that gather several different types of hot springs into one location like Noboribetsu does.
The onsen is ranked No. 1 to No. 3 in Hokkaido in various hot spring popularity rankings, and is also popular and well-known throughout Japan.
There are only a dozen or so lodging facilities in Noboribetsu Onsen, but most of them are large hotels and luxury ryokans.
Other than hot springs, there are many other tourist attractions in the area, including natural scenic spots such as Jigokudani — translated to “Hell’s Valley” — and “Oyunuma,” which were created by volcanic eruptions, and Noboribetsu Bear Farm, which has a collection of about 70 brown bears, is also located in Noboribetsu.
Brief History
Since ancient times, the indigenous people (the Ainu) have used Noboribetsu Onsen as a medicated bath.
The name Noboribetsu is derived from the Ainu word nupur-pet, which means “dark-colored river.”
The area opened as a hot spring resort in the 1860s, when the Japanese began to live in the area, and gradually developed into a health resort and tourist destination during the Meiji period (1868-1912), when hot spring hotels began to be built.
Later, as transportation methods such as railroads and cars were improved, the number of visitors to the hot spring resort greatly increased with better accessibility, and the area continued to develop, reaching its current state.
Nearby Excursions
Since Noboribetsu Onsen and Lake Toya are relatively close to each other, it is more efficient to visit them together.
Recommendation
Only the hot springs and vivid and powerful natural scene created by the volcanic activity can be recommended.
Furthermore, if you do not like hot springs, this is not the place for you.
Access to Noboribetsu /Data
There are many trains and buses running to JR Noboribetsu Station, and transportation is relatively convenient.
However, there is almost no direct transportation to Noboribetsu Onsen (hot springs), so it is necessary to transfer to a bus bound for Noboribetsu Onsen at JR Noboribetsu Station.
There are 1 or 2 buses every hour.
If your timing doesn’t fit the bus schedule it’s easier and faster to take a cab.
The fare is about 2,500 yen.
From Sapporo
By Train
From JR Sapporo Station, take the “Limited Express Super Hokuto” or “Limited Express Suzuran”, get off at JR Noboribetsu Station, transfer to the Donan Bus bound for Noboribetsu Onsen, and get off at Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal.
Approx travel time: 100 min
By Bus
- From “Sapporo Ekimae”, board the Highway Onsen Bus and disembark at “Noboribetsu Onsen”.
Approx travel time: 110 min
This is a direct, quick and easy service, but there is only one service per day. - From Sapporo Station, board the Express Hakucho-go or Express Muroran-go, alight at Noboribetsu Bus Stop, transfer to the Donan Bus bound for Noboribetsu Onsen, and alight at Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal.
Aprox travel time: 2 hours and 10 min. There is a bus every hour.
By Car
From JR “Sapporo Station”, it takes 90 min by expressway or 120 minutes by open road.
From Shin-Chitose Airport
By Bus
- From “New Chitose Airport”, take the Highway Noboribetsu Onsen Airport Bus and get off at Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Stop.
Approx travel time: 75 min
Direct flights are fast and easy, but there are only three flights a day. - From New Chitose Airport, take the Donan Bus Highway Hayabusa, get off at Noboribetsu Bus Stop, transfer to the Donan Bus bound for Noboribetsu Onsen, and get off at Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal.
Approx travel time: 85 min
There are 9 buses a day. *Some Highway Express Hayabusa buses can be connected to shuttle buses that conveniently transfer to Noboribetsu Onsen at “Noboribetsu Higashi Interchange-mae”.
By Car
Approx travel time: 60 min.
Noboribetsu International Tourism and Convention Association
| Address | Noboribetsu Onsen-cho 60,Noboribetsu,Hokkaido |
| TEL | 0143-84-3311 |
| URL | https://noboribetsu-spa.jp/en/ |
Sightseeing
Jigokudani(Hell Valley)
Jigokudani is the aftermath of a volcanic repution that took place 10,0000 years ago. The crater you see today has diameter of 450 meters and an area of 11,000 square meters, and is the most popular tourist attraction in Noboribetsu Onsen. Located in the northeastern part of Noboribetsu Onsen, Jigokudani or “Hell’s Valley” gets its […]
[ See details ]
| Address | Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 10 minutes walk from Noboribe[…] |
| Tel | 0143-84-3311 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Lake Oyunuma
Oyunuma is a gourd-shaped swamp (1 km in circumference) formed after a volcanic reuption created this crater and hot water accumulated at the site. Such a large scale hot spring swamp is extremely rare in the world and is highly valued academically. Sulfur spring water as hot as 130 degrees Celsius gushes out from the […]
[ See details ]
| Address | Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribeetsu, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 40 min walk from Noboribetsu […] |
| Tel | 0143-84-3311 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Activities
Onsen
The best way to enjoy Noboribetsu Onsen is to stay at a hotel or ryokan and visit the baths in the area.
However, if you do not have the time, money, or intention to do so, but still want to experience the hot springs, the below link will intorduce you to facilities where you can still bathe without all the extravagance.
From the list are 3 recommended facilities:
Daiichi Takimotokan
Noboribetsu’s oldest hot spring hotel (established in 1858) located next to Jigokudani. The hotel is rich in hot spring water and has access to wide variety of spring types. The spacious 5,000 m2 bathhouse has a variety of bathtubs of different qualities and temperatures — 35 in total: 18 for men, 17 for women — […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 55 Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribeetsu, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 8 min walk from Noboribetsu O[…] |
| Tel | 0120-940-489 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is an elegant hotel with a European atmosphere and is also called “Noboribetsu’s Guesthouse. It offers three types of baths: open-air baths, indoor baths, and private baths. Enjoy three types of hot spring water quality (sulfur spring, iron spring, and common salt spring). The open-air rock and cypress baths present you with […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 154 Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribeetsu, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 1 min walk from Noboribetsu O[…] |
| Tel | 0143-84-2101 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Yumoto Saigriyu
This is the only public bathhouse in Noboribetsu Onsen. Because you can bathe in hot spring water quality for a very low fee it is very popular. Although there is only an indoor bath, visitors can enjoy two types of spring water: alum spring (myobansen) and sulfur spring (iōsen). The facility is still new, having […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 60-60-5 Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribeetsu, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 3 min walk from Noboribetsu O[…] |
| Tel | 0143-84-2050 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
