Noboribetsu Hot Springs, Hokkaido

Noboribetsu is a city in the southwestern part of Hokkaido. The nearest airport is New Chitose Airport, which can be reached in about an hour and 15 minutes by car. The place name “Noboribetsu” is said to be derived from the Ainu language “Nupuru petsu” and is closely related to Ainu.
Noboribetsu has a variety of natural parks, bear farms, marine parks, historical villages, and sightseeing spots where you can experience Ainu culture.
In addition, “Karurusu Onsen”, which has been selected as one of “100 famous spas in Japan”, Noboribetsu Onsen, which has been selected as one of “100 Best Views of Japan” and “100 New Japan Travel Destinations”, etc. There are many famous hot springs and it is also known as a hot spring sightseeing town.
“Jigokudani” (Hell Vallay), the largest source of Noboribetsu Onsen, is a crater when an active volcano erupted about 10,000 years ago. From the myriad fumaroles, it is full of power to spout sulfur and gas and raise white smoke. At night, the promenade is lit up, so you can enjoy a different atmosphere from the daytime.
“Noboribetsu Onsen” is one of the best hot spring towns in Hokkaido, about 15 minutes by bus from Noboribetsu Station. It is a hot spring resort that originated from Jigokudani, a volcanic scenic spot, and traditional hot spring inns and shops are lined up along the narrow road.
In addition, Aka-oni (a red ogre), Ao-oni (a blue ogre) and other demons that are symbols of Noboribetsu are placed everywhere, so you can enjoy walking around. In addition, natural footbaths can be experienced on the exploration trail along the Oyunuma River, which is popular with tourists.

A place name expressing a light blue river that the ingredient of the hot spring have flowed in

“Noboribetsu Hot Springs” is one of the best spas in Hokkaido, which has been loved by citizens since the Edo era. Besides enjoying hot spring bathing, there are also many sightseeing spots, such as “Jigokudani” (Hell Valley) where water vapor and volcanic gas spew from the ground. Since the establishment of a hot-spring resort in the Meiji era, it became one of Hokkaido’s premier recreation areas and sightseeing areas. The place name “Noboribetsu” seems to have originated from the word “Nupuru petsu” meaning “a dark river” in Ainu language. It seems to be a place name expressing a light blue river that the ingredient of the hot spring have flowed in.

Jigokudani was also selected as a Hokkaido heritage in 2004

Jigokudani located in the northeast of Noboribetsu Hot Spring Town is a explosion crater site made by explosion of Mt. Kasayama, which was nearly 10,000 years ago. There are fumaroles and spill holes, and various kinds of hot springs are discharged at 3000 liters per minute, and about three quarters of hot water of Noboribetsu Hot springs up. Once you step into Jigokudani, boiling hot water, water vapor and volcanic gas will blow out, and there is a smell of sulfur around here. Jigokudani was also selected as a Hokkaido heritage in 2004.

So many different kinds of hot springs in this single hot spring area

Natural spillage throughout the area is 10,000 tons per day, source temperature is high from 45 to 90 degrees. And nine kinds of rich sources are attractive, unusually worldwide, it is called “the department store of a hot spring”. Even now that it became a famous hot spring resort, most of the inns are sourced from the fresh hot spring water, and it is an ideal hot spring resort that keeps the goodness of the hot water. It is only here in Japan that there are so many different kinds of hot springs in this single hot spring area.

Hell that demon lives

There are demons monuments around here around Jigokudani. This comes from the fact that the boiling landscape of Jigokudani was rumored to people “hell that demon lives” long ago.

It has been useful as a chemical hot spring from ancient times

As mentioned above, it is a place name expressing the ingredients of hot springs flowing into the river. From this name, as the color of the river changes, the appearance that hot springs have rushed out abundantly since long ago is transmitted. In addition, the river which flows in the hot spring town called “Kusuri Sanpetsu” (meaning of the river of medicated hot water going through beach) is also Ainu language. In Ainu language “Kusuri” is about hot springs. People of the Ainu have been said to have been useful as a chemical hot spring from ancient times.

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