Japan's Famous Hot Spring/ Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido (YouTube link)
Noboribetsu is a unique and fascinating destination worth considering if you enjoy:
- Natural beauty and volcanic landscapes
- Relaxing hot springs and cultural experiences
- Exploring charming towns and trying delicious local food
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| Reaching Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉) and its Bear Park: Three Options Await |
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| Suburban route bus (link) |
How to Access
Upon landing at CTS Airport (New Chitose Airport), travelers have three diverse options to journey to Noboribetsu Onsen: the scenic train ride, the convenient express bus, or the self-paced exploration by car.
From Spring 2024, JR Hokkaido enhances travel comfort and eases boarding anxieties by introducing all-reserved seating on select limited express trains. This change applies to the
Hokuto (Sapporo - Hakodate)along with an increase in the total number of reserved seats. More details can be read here.
Suzuran (Sapporo - Noboribetsu/Higashi-Muroran/Muroran)
Ozora (Sapporo - Kushiro)
Tokachi (Sapporo - Obihiro) limited express trains
For a guaranteed seat and a stress-free experience, advance reservations are highly recommended for travel to Noboribetsu Onsen by express train or express bus (reserved seat only; see link).
Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell valley): This enormous hole in the ground, left behind by a fiery Mount Kuttara eruption, is a whopping 450 meters wide and covers some 11 hectares. Every day, a mind-blowing 10,000 tons of hot spring goodness in all its forms shoots out of this place, keeping Onsen town's cozy lodgings nice and toasty. For some Japanese folks, watching all that boiling and bubbling is like looking into the bubbling pits of Hell – where, you know, the demons hang out.
Oyunuma: a gourd-shaped crater lake created by an eruption of Mount Hiyori, boasts a circumference of approximately one kilometer. Its depths conceal a boiling sulfurous hot spring, erupting at a scorching 130°C. Even the lake's surface betrays its fiery heart, with grayish-black water maintaining a constant temperature between 40°C and 50°C. Historically, a local industry thrived upon the collection of sulfur that accumulated on the lakebed.
Oyunuma Brook Natural Footbath: Along the Oyunuma Brook Scenic Trail, near Taisho Hell, a natural footbath invites weary travelers to soak in the soothing hot spring water cascading from Oyunuma. Immersed in nature, surrounded by the invigorating scent of the forest, you can melt away the fatigue of journey and exploration.
Geyser in Sengen Park: Sengen Park boasts a geyser that erupts from alongside a stream of hot spring water flowing from Hell Valley. Every three hours, visitors witness the geyser's dramatic spectacle. Sights and sounds build anticipation: pressure mounts, culminating in a powerful eruption that sends a cloud of steam skyward.
The cherry blossom avenues: In mid-May, Noboribetsu Onsen bursts into life with a vibrant welcome. Over 2,000 cherry blossom trees, lovingly nurtured by the local community, transform the roads leading to both Noboribetsu and Karurusu Onsen into enchanting flower tunnels. These blossoms offer a stunning spectacle, drawing eager visitors to experience the region's geothermal wonders amidst a breathtaking floral display.
Lake Kuttara: Its mesmerizing waters tracing a near-perfect circle some eight kilometers in circumference, hides a fiery past within its volcanic caldera. This mystical beauty possesses some of the county's clearest waters, captivating visitors with its pristine depths. Adding to its allure, Lake Kuttara stands unique in its closed-loop hydrology, with not a single river flowing in or out.
Oyunuma Brook Natural Footbath: Along the Oyunuma Brook Scenic Trail, near Taisho Hell, a natural footbath invites weary travelers to soak in the soothing hot spring water cascading from Oyunuma. Immersed in nature, surrounded by the invigorating scent of the forest, you can melt away the fatigue of journey and exploration.
The cherry blossom avenues: In mid-May, Noboribetsu Onsen bursts into life with a vibrant welcome. Over 2,000 cherry blossom trees, lovingly nurtured by the local community, transform the roads leading to both Noboribetsu and Karurusu Onsen into enchanting flower tunnels. These blossoms offer a stunning spectacle, drawing eager visitors to experience the region's geothermal wonders amidst a breathtaking floral display.
Staying at the BIGGEST Onsen Ryokan HOT SPRINGS in JAPAN (YouTube link)
References
- How to access Noboribetsu Bearpark
- Hot Spring Baths - Noboribetsu
- Donan Bus (道南バス; reservation required)
- How to get reserved seat tickets by reserved seat ticket vending machine (pdf)
- Sapporo: Getting there and around
- ski resort information
- 定山渓温泉, Jōzankei Onsen
- How to travel between Sapporo and Tokyo
- Taking a stroll around Jozankei
- Jozankei Onsen Tourist Asso
- Jozankei Kogen Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort
- Niseko (Japan-guide)
- Airbnb
- Hokkaido 8 days 7 nights Winter Itinerary
- Otaru Tourism Access Guide (pdf)
- Furano Ski
- Journeys in Japan: Niseko - Snowy Adventures
- ili translator
- Hokkaido Travel Guide: 54 Things To Do In Hokkaido (Japan)
- Biei, Hokkaido Layers of beauty in the Patchwork Hills
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