Noboribetsu

Hokkaido Noboribetsu |
Spectacular Scenery of Caldera Lakes and Onsen

Noboribetsu Onsen is one of Hokkaido’s most famous hot spring resorts. It has over 10 different kinds of water, containing minerals such as hydrogen sulphide, salt, and iron. The high quality of these minerals makes the spa one of the world's most exceptional hot springs. Noboribetsu is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Shikotsu-Toya National Park was named for its two famous lakes, Toya and Shikotsu. The park is located in southwestern Hokkaido. Its proximity to Sapporo makes it a popular destination for travelers with limited time in Hokkaido.The spectacular scenery includes caldera lakes, onsen towns and volcanic mountains.

The most impressive scene at the hot spring is the Jigoku Valley (hell valley), where yellowy gray volcanic gas seeps from the surface of the rocks. This makes the whole place smell strongly of sulfur, and gives it an image like that of hell. The valley is a 450-meter-diameter mouth of a volcano, which produces 3,000 liters of hot water a day. It displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity and is a main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters. From the valley, there are attractive walking trails through the wooded hills above Noboribetsu. If you follow them for about 20 to 30 minutes, you will get to Oyunuma, a sulfurous pond with a surface temperature of 50 degrees Celsius and a smaller, even hotter, mud pond nearby. The autumn color season in Noboribetsu usually reaches its peak in mid October, adding further colors to the already spectacular scenery.

Hokkaido Noboribetsu | Related Pages