Noboribetsu: Coast, Onsen and Hell Valley

Noboribetsu combines a town centre close to the coast with a hot spring area farther inland. It also offers Hell Valley, a primeval forest you can explore on foot, and cultural and leisure experiences in the municipality. Which holiday apartment location suits you depends in part on which of these sides of Noboribetsu you’d like to include in your trip.

Between the Coast and the Hot Springs

Noboribetsu’s town centre is close to the coast; the hot spring area and Hell Valley are farther inland. A short 15-minute bus ride will take you there. A bus runs from Noboribetsu Station to the Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal. From there, it’s a five-minute walk to the boardwalks in Hell Valley. This gives you a specific guide for your journey and the walk to the boardwalks; check the latest bus timetable before setting off.

Hell Valley can be reached by bus or car within the municipality of Noboribetsu. Its landscape is marked by bleached rocks, steaming pools and the smell of sulphur. For anyone interested in hot springs, it offers a striking contrast to the town centre near the coast. The hot spring town’s water supply also shows the role water plays there: more than 10,000 tonnes of water containing natural minerals are supplied to the town’s hotels and inns.

Hot Spring Water and Walks

Many hotels in Noboribetsu Onsen offer day guests bathing sessions with a choice of baths. This is an offering provided by the hotels, not unrestricted access to any bath. If a particular bath is important to your plans, check availability in advance.

Noboribetsu’s primeval forest offers another way to experience nature: you can explore it on foot, and warm, flowing streams are ideal for warming tired feet. This lets you choose between an outing in the forest landscape and a stay in the hot spring area. Local access conditions for the forest may vary.

Festival and Stories from Noboribetsu

The Noboribetsu Hell Festival takes place in the hot spring area toward the end of August; it is celebrated every year on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month. The exact event dates may change. During the festival, lanterns and food stalls line the main street, while costumed processions and festival floats wind through town. According to legend, the lid of the hell cauldron opens in Jigokudani, and Enma-Daiō comes to Noboribetsu Onsen with demons. The festival thus brings a local story together with a celebration in the hot spring area.

You can also explore the municipality’s history through specific sites. The Noboribetsu City Museum of History displays historical everyday objects and materials about the Katakura family and their retainers. They moved to Noboribetsu from the Sendai Domain in 1869. The historical theme park Noboribetsu Date-Jidaimura, meanwhile, focuses on the culture of the Edo period (1603–1867). The park includes around 100 buildings and offers traditional dances and performances featuring ninja and samurai.

More Experiences in the Municipality

At Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, the eight-metre-high Crystal Tower tank makes its own impression: it is home mainly to Napoleon fish. Visitors can experience a walk on the seabed in the Aqua Tunnel. The marine park also offers a penguin parade as well as dolphin and sea lion shows; showtimes may vary. Together with forest walks, Hell Valley and the historical theme park, this gives you a range of very different outings, without all of them having the same focus.

Choosing the Right Location for Your Holiday Apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment in Noboribetsu, it helps to start by thinking about the outings you’d most like to take: the town centre is near the coast, while the hot spring area and Hell Valley are farther inland. The bus connection to Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal and the short walk from there to the Hell Valley boardwalks provide a useful guide. If you’re planning to visit the festival, baths or Hell Valley, check the bus timetables for your travel dates and, where relevant, the festival dates. This will help you choose accommodation based on the experiences that matter most to you.

For the broader travel overview: Niseko.