Hotels in Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu: Hokkaido's Hot Spring Heartland

Noboribetsu sits in southern Hokkaido, roughly 90 km south of Sapporo, and ranks among Japan's most visited onsen resorts. The town draws its identity from Jigokudani — Hell Valley — a volcanic crater emitting sulfurous steam across rust-red rock formations. Eleven distinct spring types flow here, including sodium chloride, sulfur, and iron springs, a variety unmatched at most single-source resorts. The main Noboribetsu Onsen district concentrates ryokan, day-bath facilities, and the trailhead for the Jigokudani walking path.

Where to Stay

Hotels and ryokan line Noboribetsu Onsen-cho, the central hot-spring street. Larger properties pipe multiple spring types directly into in-house baths. The Yukimushimura area offers quieter lodgings a short walk from the valley. Visitors typically stay one or two nights, combining evening baths with a morning walk to Oyunuma pond, where surface temperatures reach around 50 °C.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Highway buses from Sapporo take approximately 90 minutes; local buses connect Noboribetsu Station to the onsen district in 15 minutes.
• Season: Open year-round; winter visits pair snow scenery with outdoor rotenburo baths.
• Footwear: Wear slip-resistant shoes on the Jigokudani boardwalks — surfaces stay damp from steam year-round.
• Day trips: Toya-ko caldera lake lies 40 km west; Shiraoi Ainu Museum (Upopoy) opened in 2020 and sits 20 km north.