A practical English guide to Noboribetsu in Hokkaido: the onsen town, Hell Valley and access from Sapporo and New Chitose.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 08 November 2026).
Why visit
- Noboribetsu is a hot spring city in southern Hokkaido, inland from Muroran, and it is one of the best-known onsen towns on the island. The steam and sulphur of Hell Valley sit above the hotel street, and the baths below use water from the volcanic ground.
- Beyond the valley the city has forests, a coast towards the Pacific and a practical station town. It is busy with tour groups, but the trails above the valley and the evening baths are still worth the trip.
- Noboribetsu is close to New Chitose Airport and Sapporo, which makes it an easy overnight from the capital of Hokkaido.
Top places and highlights
Hell Valley
A steaming volcanic valley above the onsen town.
Onsen hotels
Public and hotel baths fed by the volcanic springs.
Forest trails
Walks above the valley and into the hills.
Station town
A practical centre around Noboribetsu station.
Food and drink
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Getting there and around
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Where to stay
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Best time to visit
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Practical tips
- Hell Valley paths can be slippery; wear proper shoes.
- Some baths are hotel guests only.
- Buses between the station and the onsen are frequent but check times.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: train from Sapporo or the airport.
- Late morning: Hell Valley walk.
- Lunch: a set meal in the onsen town.
- Afternoon: a public bath or hotel day pass.
- Late afternoon: a forest trail above the valley.
- Evening: dinner and another bath.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Sobetsu Travel Guide: Hot Springs Below an Active Volcano
- Engaru Travel Guide: A Railway Town in Eastern Hokkaido
- Furano Travel Guide: Lavender Fields and Farm Country in Hokkaido
- Toyokoro Travel Guide: The Otsu Coast of Eastern Hokkaido
- Ashoro Travel Guide: Forest and Dairy Country in Eastern Hokkaido
Browse every Hokkaido guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- city.noboribetsu.lg.jp (checked 2026-11-08)
- visit-hokkaido.jp (checked 2026-11-08)
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