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Noboribetsu

Steaming hell valley and nine spring types

Noboribetsu is a hot spring town in southwestern Hokkaido built around Jigokudani, known as Hell Valley. Boardwalks go through its steaming crater past vents and bubbling pools. A longer trail leads to Oyunuma pond and a free natural footbath. Nine types of spring water, including sulphur, salt and iron, feed the baths of the inns. Demon figures are all over town and a Hell Festival in late August brings floats and fireworks. Limited express trains from Sapporo take roughly 75 to 90 minutes, so a night or two is easy to fit in.

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Town in Japan

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$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
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Safety: 8.2

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	9

Read details

2/5

English is spoken at major hotels, tourist centres and some restaurants, but less so in small shops or local bathhouses. Most signage at attractions is bilingual. A translation app is useful for deeper exploration or rural areas.

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Last update: 20 Oct 2026

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Noboribetsu Summary

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Outstanding for hot springs and volcanic landscapes. Relax in famous onsen baths, walk through steaming geothermal valleys and enjoy hiking in surrounding forests.

Place score

8.5

Best at:

Geothermal

Hot springs

Spotless

Natural sites

Volcanoes

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

👩 7

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Japan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A Type A: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections.

New Year (January)	One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead.
Golden Week (April-May)	The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport.
Obon (August)	A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi
Other:	Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Noboribetsu, Japan

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Apr

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May

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High season:	Jan. - Feb., July - Aug., Oct.
Shoulder season:	March, May - June, Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Autumn leaves in Jigokudani and the surrounding hills usually peak mid to late October

Noboribetsu Jigokudani Oni Festival (Hell Valley Demon Festival): late August, with fire parade and demon floats

Winter: some hiking paths around Hell Valley and the crater lakes can be icy or closed

Don't miss

♨️ Soak in natural hot springs at Noboribetsu Onsen resort
🌋 Walk through the steaming volcanic valley of Jigokudani
🐻 Meet Japanese macaques at the Noboribetsu Bear Park
🍱 Experience traditional Ryokan hospitality and kaiseki dinners
😈 Visit the eerie Noboribetsu Enma Hall and demon statues

You've been here?

Why travel to Noboribetsu?

Hell Valley is a crater roughly 450 m wide where steam pours from the rock and hot water boils in colourful pools. Boardwalks cross it and a loop on foot takes about 20 minutes. A longer course of about two hours continues to Oyunuma pond, where the hot outflow forms a free natural footbath. Entry to the valley costs nothing and the paths stay open all day. The second reason is the water. Springs here come in nine types, including alum and sodium bicarbonate, so different inns offer different baths. The valley supplies roughly 10,000 tons of hot spring water a day. Large inns draw from several sources at once while smaller ones focus on one or two. Day visitors are welcome at certain baths, so you don't have to stay overnight. Demon culture adds to the visit, with oni statues around the onsen street. In late August the free Hell Festival brings a mechanical Enma float about 6 m tall, a red demon mikoshi that weighs about one ton and fireworks overhead. One night covers the valley and a couple of baths while a second leaves time for Lake Toya nearby.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura
2 Yuzawa Shrine

🎡Places for activities

1 Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe
2 The park of Sengen -the springhead of Noboribetsu Onsen-
3 Noboribetsu Bear Park
4 Hotspring Spa

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Jigokudani Hell Valley Geysir
2 Lake Kuttara

🍽️Eat & Drink

1 Onsen Ichiba
Onsen Ichiba serves live-tank seafood from nearby ports, seafood rice bowls, grilled shellfish and Noboribetsu Enma Yakisoba. It is at 50 Noboribetsu Onsencho on Gokuraku Shotengai, beside Enmado and near the Jigokudani walking route.
2 Aji no Daio Noboribetsu Onsen Branch
Aji no Daio serves spicy Hell Ramen, a local miso-and-sesame ramen variation, along with Noboribetsu Enma Yakisoba. It is in Noboribetsu Onsen’s central shopping district, within walking distance of the bus terminal and Jigokudani.
3 Enmaken
Enmaken specialises in Enma Ramen, a spicy sesame-miso noodle soup inspired by the town’s King Enma imagery. It is on the central streets of Noboribetsu Onsen, about one block south of Enmado and near Gokuraku Shotengai.
4 Isekura
Isekura combines charcoal-grilled dishes with ramen and Noboribetsu Enma Yakisoba, made from Hokkaido wheat flat noodles and a sesame-spiced sauce. It is in Noboribetsu Onsen’s compact central district, near the public footbaths and bus stop.
5 Mamayā
Mamayā is a late-opening local diner and izakaya serving Japanese comfort dishes, drinks and Noboribetsu Enma Yakisoba. It is in the onsen town centre, among the restaurants and ryokan on the walk between Enmado and Jigokudani.
6 Pizzeria Astra
Pizzeria Astra serves wood-fired pizza and Noboribetsu Enma Yakisoba in a casual setting. It is in Noboribetsu Onsen’s central visitor area, close to the shopping street and within easy walking distance of the bus terminal.
7 Nobojin
Nobojin is a local restaurant serving Japanese meals and the town’s Enma Yakisoba speciality. It is in the Noboribetsu Onsen district, near the central streets that connect the hotels, shops and Jigokudani entrance.
8 Milk-y House
Milk-y House is a café serving dairy desserts, coffee and light meals, including Hokkaido milk soft serve. It is in the Noboribetsu Onsen town centre, near Gokuraku Shotengai and the main route towards the Hell Valley.
9 Noboribetsu Beer Garden
Noboribetsu Beer Garden serves draught beer with jingisukan grilled lamb and Hokkaido-style barbecue. It is in Noboribetsu’s wider city area near the coastal highway, outside the compact onsen town but accessible by car from Noboribetsu Onsen.
10 Tacchan Shokudo
Tacchan Shokudo is a seafood diner known for fresh fish and seafood rice bowls sourced near Noboribetsu’s coast. It is in Kojohama, near Noboribetsu Fishing Port, roughly 15 minutes by car from the Noboribetsu Onsen district.

🎈Events

Noboribetsu Hell Festival (Late August)
Jigokudani Demon Fireworks
Jigokudani Backyard Tour (Seasonal)
Noboribetsu Karurusu Ice Pillar Tour (Winter)
Enmado Animatronic Shows (Year-round)
Demon Costume Parades
Demon’s Fire Footpath (summer evenings)
Sakura Cherry Blossom Viewing
Autumn Leaves Festival
Winter Snow Illuminations
Local Food Fairs
Ninja & Samurai Shows (Date Jidaimura)

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Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Go to Hell Valley early, before the tour groups arrive.
Several inn baths and a public bathhouse take day guests, so staying overnight isn't required.
Wear shoes with good grip because the paths near the valley can be icy in winter.
Most shops on the main shopping street close by about 18:00, so eat and shop before then.

How to travel to Noboribetsu

Most visitors come by train from Sapporo. Limited express trains reach JR Noboribetsu Station in roughly 75 to 90 minutes. A highway bus from Sapporo takes about 100 minutes with fewer departures. From New Chitose Airport the trip takes about an hour by train with a possible change at Minami-Chitose. From Hakodate the limited express takes about 2 hours. At Noboribetsu Station, a Donan Bus runs to the onsen district in about 15 minutes. By car the district is about 10 minutes from Noboribetsu Higashi IC on the expressway. Parking near the district can be tight at busy times, so the train and bus are the easier choice for most visitors.

Access summary

From New Chitose Airport (CTS): Direct bus or car about 1–1.5 hours.
From Sapporo: Limited express JR train or highway bus around 1.25–2 hours.
From Hakodate: JR limited express train via Muroran Line roughly 2.5–3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Noboribetsu

Nearly all lodging is in the onsen district itself, a short walk from the valley boardwalks and the shopping street. Large hotels offer many baths drawing on several spring sources, while smaller ryokan focus on quiet and kaiseki dinners. Some rooms have a private bath, so ask when booking. Staying here means you can soak in the evening and visit the valley early the next morning before the crowds. Rooms fill up around the Hell Festival in late August and in the autumn foliage season, so book ahead. Tattoo rules at baths differ by inn, so check before you book.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Noboribetsu Onsen Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Dormy Inn Higashi Muroran Natural Hot Spring

8.8

Noboribetsu Sekisuitei

7.9

Park Hotel Miyabitei

8.4

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

8.5

Noboribetsu Manseikaku

8.2

Kashoutei Hanaya Ryokan

8.9

Oyado Kiyomizuya Onsen

8.5

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How to get around Noboribetsu

The onsen district is compact and hilly, about 15 minutes by bus from JR Noboribetsu Station. Most inns, the shopping street and the Hell Valley boardwalks are within a 5 to 10 minute walk of the Noboribetsu Onsen bus terminal, so you don't need a car if you stay here.

Walking:
Streets slope toward the valley, so expect uphill walking on the way back from the baths. With luggage, the slope is easier by taxi or inn shuttle.

Buses and shuttles:
Donan Bus connects the station and the onsen district. Some larger inns run shuttles from the station, so ask when booking.

Taxis and car:
Taxis cover the hills and late evenings. Sights outside the district such as Date Jidaimura, an Edo-period theme park, need a bus, taxi or hire car.

Food in Noboribetsu

Dinner is the main event at most inns, where kaiseki meals use Hokkaido seafood and seasonal ingredients. Some larger hotels serve seafood buffets instead. Many inns offer plans that include dinner and breakfast, which is the simplest way to eat well without hunting for a table in the evening.

During the day the main shopping street sells onsen manju, steamed buns that make an easy snack, along with local dairy treats and demon-themed souvenirs. Shops there tend to close early in the evening and sit-down options are fewer afterwards, so settle on dinner plans early in the day if you aren't eating at your inn.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-41 %

Daily expenses in Noboribetsu are around 41% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-20 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£42	£134	£333
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£90	£188
🍝 Food per day	£18	£37	£117
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£7	£28

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£14
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4.30
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.25
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£20
🤧 Cold medication	£6.50
💇 Basic haircut	£13

Safety information overview

General safety

Noboribetsu is a safe town with little crime. The main risks come from the terrain, including hot water and steam near the valley vents, strong sulphur gas at times and icy paths in winter. Stay on the marked boardwalks and heed any posted closures.

Health & Medical

The onsen district has limited medical facilities, so larger hospitals are elsewhere in the region, such as Muroran. English-speaking care is limited. Very hot baths can strain older travellers and anyone with heart or blood pressure problems. Some people also find sulphur fumes irritating.

Accessibility

The onsen district is hilly and many streets slope toward the valley. Hell Valley's boardwalks include steps and slopes. Older inns may have stairs while larger hotels often have lifts. A taxi from the bus terminal helps with the hills.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink here, as across Japan, so there's no need to buy bottled water. A refillable bottle helps on the valley walks and after long baths. Vending machines and shops in the onsen district also sell drinks.