3/23/2007

Noboribetsu is Hokkaido’s most famous hot spring resort. It is a city located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is located SW of Sapporo, W of Tomakomai and NNE of Hakodate.

The mountains dominate the west and north while the plains dominate around five km within the coastline. There are three towns along the Pacific Ocean: from northeast to southwest, Noboribetsu, Horobetsu and Washibetsu. These betsu are derived from river in the Ainu language. Noboribetsu is on the Noboribetsu River. Horobetsu and Washibetsu are on the Iburi-horobetsu River and the Washibetsu River respectively.

The city office is located in Horobetsu. The town of Noboribetsu is located at the mouth of the Noboribetsu river and is therefore a much narrower area.

Six km inland from this is the smaller town of Noboribetsu-onsen (Noboribetsu hot-spring). Enjoying many hot springs of varying ingredients, Noboribetsu-onsen is one of many well-known resorts in Japan and the largest “hot spring town” in Hokkaidō.

Noboribetsu Town as a municipality was born in 1961 by renaming the former Horobetsu Town. It was given city status on August 1, 1970.

So, what can you expect to find in Noboribetsu? Well, hot springs is it’s major attraction. There are two types of hot springs - one is the volcanic activity called Jigokudani or Hell Valley in English. You will find hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activities there. The name is very aptly named for the valley. I don’t think I want to be there during summer..it must be really hot up there.

Another hot spring place in Noborrbetsu that is most suitable for public use is the one at the resort. The resort’s oldest hotel is the Daiichi Takimotokan, standing next to the Jigokudani. Established in 1858, it now consists of more than half a dozen modern buildings and includes Noboribetsu’s finest baths.

Accessible to hotel guests around the clock (for free) and to everybody else between 9:00 and 17:00 (for 2000 Yen), the Takimotokan’s bathing facilities feature seven kinds of hot spring waters in numerous baths, pools, rotenburo (”outdoor baths”), waterfalls and jacuzzis.

How to get to Noboribetsu?
You can check out this SITE. And it will tell you how you can get to and around Noboribetsu.

Source: wikipedia; Japan Guide

Other traveling Hokkaido posts on 3Yen.