Discover Noboribetsu's Scenic Landscapes and Unique Culture

See the spectacular views of Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu is synonymous with hot springs, thanks to its onsen town with therapeutic waters. But it is also known for its spectacular scenery — particularly through its geothermal sites that provide a setting for steaming vents, hot springs, and bubbling mud pools.

Jigokudani — a ruggedly beautiful volcanic landscape

Near Noboribetsu Onsen is a famous volcanic caldera known as Jigokudani or Hell Valley. Jigokudani is the main source of Noboribetsu’s hot spring waters. The site features an 11-hectare crater with a 450-meter diameter formed by the eruptions of Mt. Hiyori.

It has some of the most otherworldly views, featuring a landscape of rusty orange and white rocky terrain surrounding the valley. All around the area, and as far as the eye can see, you’ll find bubbling pools, geysers, and fumaroles constantly emitting clouds of steam. The volcanic activity has created high-quality natural hot springs. Tons of water flow daily to inns and hotels in the Noboribetsu Onsen district. Contrasting the pale surface of the valley is a lush forest that makes the area’s volcanic activity even more striking.

The name “Jigokudani” comes from the area’s bubbly, boiling, hot water, which gives the impression of a hell. “Oni no sumu jigoku” (where the demons live), it is said. It’s no surprise, then, that demons are a theme throughout Noboribetsu, especially in Jigokudani.

You can get a bit closer to Jigokudani’s geothermal terrain through the safe walking platforms that allow visitors to walk around. Be prepared, however, for the sulfurous odor. You’ll also find attractive walking trails through the wooded hills above Noboribetsu. Some lead to Lake Oyunuma and a smaller, hotter mud pond.

The scenery is stunning in the fall when the surrounding mountains and valleys turn red. In winter, Jigokudani is covered in a blanket of white while steam constantly rises from the snowy valley. Note that some of the boardwalks may be closed due to snow during the winter. You can also enjoy some never-seen-before views during the day and at night.

Address: Noboribetsu Onsen, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0551, Japan

Opening hours: The lights of Jigokudani Observatory remain on until 11:00 PM.

How to get to Jigokudani: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From Noboribetsu Station, it’s a 15-minute ride via the Donan Bus to Noboribetsu Onsen stop. Walk a few minutes to get to Jigokudani.

Lake Oyunuma — a lake that erupts sulfur

Near Noboribetsu Onsen and Jigokudani is a gourd-shaped pond called Lake Oyunuma. It is one of the most popular scenic spots of the region, along with the volcanic calderas of Jigokudani.

Oyunuma Lake was formed from the eruption of Mt. Hiyori and has a circumference of about one kilometer. The area smells of sulfur, and steam constantly rises from the lake, making it look like a cauldron.

While the view is breathtaking and picturesque, don’t be fooled by the lake’s beautiful blue-green color. At the surface, the pond’s temperature ranges between 40-50° Celsius. When sulfur springs erupt from the depths, their temperature is about 130° Celsius. The erupting sulfur springs from the bottom of the lake may also turn the waters into grayish-black for a while.

Flowing out of Lake Oyunuma is a river called Oyunumagawa. It retains heat as it flows through the forest. Visitors can follow the river for some hundred meters and even enjoy a natural foot bath (called ashiyu) along the way.

Address: Noboribetsu Onsen, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0551, Japan

How to get to Lake Oyunuma: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From Noboribetsu Station, it’s a 15-minute ride via the Donan Bus to Noboribetsu Onsen stop. Walk a few minutes to get to Lake Oyunuma.

Lake Kuttara — home to some of the best water quality in Japan

Just east of Noboribetsu Onsen is a nearly circular caldera lake called Kuttara. It is located in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, Japan, and is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Lake Kuttara is known for having some of the best water quality in Japan. Its transparency reaches up to 19 meters, and it ranks second only to Lake Mashu in Japan.

Lake Kuttara Hokkaido sits within a volcano's caldera. It is approximately 2.4 kilometers wide and 2.4 kilometers long and has an eight-kilometer shoreline. The lake has a delicate ecosystem and is home to species like Ezo salamanders and freshwater crayfish. Because of the crystal-clear waters, you can easily see them.

Visitors can enjoy various outdoor activities, such as canoeing across the lake to enjoy the clear waters. Hiking around the lake is another popular activity, with several opportunities to spot wildlife, such as local Hokkaido foxes, squirrels, and deer. You may also be able to spot some birds, like thrushes during the day and nightjars and owls during the night. It’s a must-visit for bird watchers.

Lake Kuttara’s nearly perfectly round shape makes it unique and popular. It is often used when filming TV commercials and DVDs.  The lake also boasts spectacular scenes year-round, as the colors of the surrounding trees and landscape change with the seasons. If you love autumn in particular, visiting in mid-October will grant you the breathtaking sight of Lake Kuttara against a beautiful array of fall colors. While large buses aren’t allowed inside to preserve the environment, you can easily hike it on foot.

Address: Kojohama, Shiraoi-cho, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0641, Japan

Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

How to get to Lake Kuttara: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From Noboribetsu Station, it’s a 15-minute ride via the Donan Bus to Noboribetsu Onsen stop. It’s best to take a taxi or rent a car from there as the drive from Noboribetsu Onsen will only take about 15 minutes.

Learn more about Japanese culture

Noboribetsu is also home to rich cultural experiences unique to the area. You can catch a glimpse of the Edo Period — a time of ninjas and samurai — and learn more about the demon festival that Noboribetsu celebrates yearly.

Ninja Village “Date Jidaimura” — a historical theme park from the Edo Period

One of the must-see places when you visit Noboribetsu is the Noboribetsu Date Jidai Village, a historical theme park that recreates a town from the Edo Period (1603-1867), particularly when the Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan and ninjas and samurai were active — hence its nickname “Ninja Village.” The Daishinto Corporation built it in 1992 as a chain of theme parks, like the Nikko Edomura.

Once you enter the village, you are transported back to yesteryears — with merchant streets featuring restaurants, sweet stalls, souvenir shops, samurai residences, ninja houses, and more.

Date Jidaimura features reconstructed buildings from the Edo Period, allowing visitors to experience the lifestyle during the time. Aside from enjoying a tour around the town, looking at the unique façade, and taking lots of photos, you can also enjoy live shows, such as ninja battles outside a house and Oiran (courtesan) performances. These shows recreate the types of entertainment the wealthier people must have enjoyed during the Edo Period. Some performances are seasonal — such as outdoor action shows and Nyanmage comedy in the summer, and samurai shows in the winter. Nyanmage comedy is a performance featuring a samurai cat mascot character.

Visitors can rent costumes and roam around the village, taking photos and making fun memories. There are also ninja costumes available for children. You can explore a Ninja maze and even try your hand at shuriken throwing. A shuriken is a concealed Japanese weapon used by samurai or ninja.

The park also includes a fire watchtower, a shrine, a Matsugaike pond, and the Katakura Kojuro House — a restored mansion that recreates the residence of Katakura Kojuro, a military strategist for Date Masamune’s army. The house gives visitors a glimpse into the life of a samurai commander during the Sengoku period. Inside the Katakura Residence, you can observe the skills of katana craftsmen and learn how the swords were made. There is also a ninja museum featuring the history and code of the secretive ninja. Outside, you’ll see an elegant Japanese garden.

Date Jidaimura also houses the Onyanko Temple and the Yokai Bikkuri Hut. Onyanko Temple is a unique attraction with a cat theme. It invites you to explore a world of cats that you’ve never seen before. But despite its cute and welcoming exterior, it’s actually a ghost temple that can be a little scary.

The Yokai Bikkuri Hut is a spooky house filled with traditional Japanese yokai (a class of monsters unique to Japanese folklore) and other creatures. Inside the house, you’ll see featured dolls and other intricately crafted pieces. You’ll also find maps that show where yokai have been spotted in the surrounding landscape.

In the merchant quarter, you can also sample various delicacies, such as Mitsukuni Ramen and Daidango. Before you leave, stop by Shichimangoku and Fukutoku-ya for some limited-edition souvenirs to take home as memorabilia for your trip.

Address: 53-1 Nakanoboribetsu-cho, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0463, Japan

Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the summer, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the winter

How to get to Date Jidaimura: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From there, it’s a 6-minute bus ride on the Donan Bus to get to the village.

The Shrine of King Enma — King of hell and overlord of ogres and demons

The Shrine of King Enma, also known as Enmado, is located in Noboribetsu Onsen, near Jigokudani (Hell Valley). In Japanese Buddhist lore, King Enma is the overlord of ogres and the King of Hell. He judges souls based on their karma to determine whether they are sent to heaven or hell. The shrine was constructed in 1993 to mark the 30th Noboribetsu Hell Festival.

The statue of King Enma, which is housed in the shrine, is a mechanical parade float brought out during the Hell Festival in August. The Hell Festival happens over two days on the last weekend of August when the town commemorates the opening of hell’s gates. If you visit in August for the festival, you’ll see the statue of King Enma being brought out of the temple and paraded around town with his army of demons.

On regular days, you can see the statue at the shrine. At certain times during the day, the statue comes to life with its eyes lighting up as he performs a hell sentence. These performances typically occur at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 9:00 PM.

Aside from King Enma, you can see other demons in Noboribetsu who are considered benevolent guardians. Some are believed to listen to prayer for academic blessings, business prosperity, and love. One such demon is the Yukake Demon, who grants health-related wishes.

Address: Noboribetsu Onsen-cho, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0551, Japan

Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (may be closed due to bad weather)

How to get to the Shrine of King Enma: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From Noboribetsu Station, it’s a 15-minute ride via the Donan Bus to Noboribetsu Onsen stop. Walk a few minutes to get to the shrine.

Activities at Noboribetsu

Aside from exploring the outdoors of Noboribetsu or visiting its cultural spots, there are several other things for people of all ages to do.

Noboribetsu Bear Park — where you can see bears in their natural environment

Located near Lake Kuttara, Noboribetsu Bear Park is a mountaintop park that you can access via a scenic gondola ride from Noboribetsu Onsen. It is home to approximately 70 Ezo brown bears. The Ainu, native to Hokkaido, once worshipped these brown bears as gods. Hokkaido is said to have approximately 2,000 brown bears, although their numbers have been decreasing.

At the Noboribetsu Bear Park, you can see the bears up close and feed them through special feeding tubes. You can also see the bears in their natural habitat as they walk across logs, hunt for food, climb trees, and even ride a swing. The bears remain in their natural environments while visitors can enter the protected viewing room to get up close and personal with the bears. From May to November, you can see adorable bear cubs.

Noboribetsu Bear Park also has a Brown Bear Museum that features exhibits about brown bears. The brown bears have been observed and studied since 1958, and the museum displays the findings of the studies through the years. You can also see some skeletal specimens.

The park has other fun activities, like a duck race where ducks with ribbons tied around their necks swim for the finish line. If you can get a duck to swim to the finish line at once, you may even get a gift from Bear Park as a prize.

Address: 224 Noboribetsu Onsen-cho, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0551, Japan

Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM from October 21 to April 20, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from April 21 to October 20

How to get to Noboribetsu Bear Park: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From Noboribetsu Station, it’s a 15-minute ride via the Donan Bus to Noboribetsu Onsen stop. Walk about five minutes to get to Noboribetsu Bear Park.

Marine Park NIXE — a gigantic aquarium featuring animal shows

Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE is a public aquarium in Noboribetsu. It is one of the largest aquariums in Hokkaido, featuring several buildings constructed around a Western-style castle.

Nixe Castle is the main building, modeled after Denmark’s Egeskov castle. It has four floors with an aquarium inside. At the entrance, you’ll see an eight-meter-high crystal tank tower and two shark tunnels. Visitors walking through the Aqua Tunnel will feel like they are walking along the seabed.

Marine Park NIXE has several animal shows for adults and children to enjoy. You can see dolphin and sea lion shows (schedules and availability depend on the time of the year). There is also a penguin parade held daily at 11:00 AM and 2:15 PM year-round. You can watch seals swim through a large ring filled with seawater and a tank with approximately 10,000 sardines. Sardine shows occur daily at 11:50 AM and 3:10 PM year-round.

Aside from its aquariums and tanks to showcase sea creatures, the park has a reptile and amphibian house, and an Amusement Park called Nixland, where you can enjoy a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides.

Address: 1-22 Noboribetsu Higashi-cho, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0492, Japan

Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

How to get to Marine Park NIXE: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. Walk a couple of minutes to get to Marine Park NIXE.

Your tasty food journey through Hokkaido starts here

Explore a world of flavors at Noboribetsu's Onsen Ichiba, with fresh seafood, local specialties, and more!

Onsen Ichiba — fresh seafood restaurant with treasures from the sea

Onsen Ichiba is a popular place to get fresh seafood and other local dishes after visiting nearby attractions like Noboribetsu’s Jigokudani. You’ll find various seafood bowls, grilled seafood, and sashimi — mainly sourced from local waters. They have live fish tanks where you can pick the seafood you want and have them prepare it for you, including crab, scallops, and whelk.

The menu also includes the “Ten Item Maehama Bowl,” which features fresh sea urchin, scallops, shrimp, and octopus and Noboribetsu enma yakisoba, made with Hokkaido wheat flour flat noodles, sesame-flavored spicy sauce, and various seafood. They also have a Western menu with pasta, curry, and seafood.

Address: 50 Noboribetsu Onsen-cho, Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture 059-0551, Japan

Opening hours: 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM (last order at 8:30 PM)

How to get to Onsen Ichiba: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport Line to Minami-Chitose Station. Transfer to the Hokuto Line and get off at Noboribetsu Station. From Noboribetsu Station, it’s a 15-minute ride via the Donan Bus to Noboribetsu Onsen stop. Walk a few minutes to get to Onsen Ichiba.

Discover Noboribetsu’s scenic beauty and unique culture

Beautiful nature spots, fascinating cultural elements, delicious cuisine — Noboribetsu has all that and more. This onsen town in Hokkaido is sure to make your visit an unforgettable one. Whether you’re looking to explore the outdoors or discover more about the place, you’ll find something for everyone. Visit Noboribetsu today and plunge into this enchanting place of natural wonders and colorful culture and history.

Grab the JAL Japan Explorer Pass and discover more about Japan.