Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido is a popular hot spring resort blessed with a variety of spring qualities including sulfuric spring water and abundant hot spring water, and is easily accessible from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo City. In this issue, we will introduce four carefully selected recommended hot spring resorts in Noboribetsu Onsen that are perfect for families or couples on a sightseeing trip.

Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Noboribetsu Hell Valley), the largest source of hot spring water and a tourist attraction in Noboribetsu Onsen

Before introducing the hot spring hotels in Noboribetsu Onsen, we will first introduce the features of Noboribetsu Onsen. Following the location and access information, here is a brief basic information about each of Noboribetsu Onsen's spring qualities and sources.

A statue of a demon welcomes you as you exit the Noboribetsu Higashi Interchange on the Hokkaido Expressway. From here, it is a 10-minute drive to the hot spring resort.

Noboribetsu Onsen is a relatively convenient and easily accessible hot spring resort in Hokkaido. It takes about 1 hour by car from New Chitose Airport and about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Sapporo City via expressway. There is a direct highway bus service from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo City, and you can also take the JR line and transfer to a local bus from Noboribetsu Station. The gateway to public transportation is Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal. From this area, the Gokuraku-dori shopping street, lined with restaurants and souvenir stores, is a great place to enjoy dining and shopping to the fullest.

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel's public baths offer three types of spring water

The attraction of Noboribetsu Onsen is the abundance of hot spring water and the variety of spring qualities. Starting with sulfur springs, which are milky-white and have a distinctive smell like boiled eggs, there are nine types of springs in Noboribetsu Onsen Town alone, including chloride, iron, and bicarbonate springs, and ten types in the Noboribetsu Onsen area, including the nearby Carles Onsen. There are many famous onsen resorts throughout Japan, but it is rare to find a hot spring resort where you can soak in so many different types of hot spring water in such a small area.

The view from the walking path in Noboribetsu Jigokudani. The building in the back is the onsen ryokan "Daiichitaki Honkan".

Noboribetsu Onsen is rich in hot spring water and has a wide variety of qualities, but the largest source is Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Noboribetsu Hell Valley). Noboribetsu Jigokudani is the site of an explosion crater of about 450m in diameter and 11ha in area, created by the eruptive activity of Mt. Adjacent to the hot spring resort, it is one of Noboribetsu Onsen's representative tourist attractions. There are numerous gushes and fumaroles in the valley, with fumaroles rising at various locations and hot springs gushing out at various points. There is an observatory overlooking Noboribetsu Jigokudani, and there is also a walking trail along part of the valley, so visitors can see the power of the earth up close.

Oyunuma, where boiling water gushes out along with Noboribetsu Jigokudani, is also a must-see sightseeing spot.

The Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Spring area is centered around the valley of Noboribetsu Jigokudani, from which a wide variety of hot springs gush forth. These springs supply hot water to hotels and inns in the hot spring resort area, as well as to hot spring bathhouses for one-day bathing. Just by looking at Noboribetsu Jigokudani, where you can experience the wonders of nature, you can be sure that the hot springs at each of the facilities in the area are of high quality and high expectations. Incidentally, Noboribetsu Onsen has many statues and products with demon motifs, and it is said that they originated in Noboribetsu Jigokudani, from the association of hell = demon.

No matter which onsen hotel you stay at in Noboribetsu Onsen, which has the best location, you are sure to enjoy good hot spring water. Each facility has its own unique features, such as the number of bathtubs and the quality of the water, as well as the meals and guest rooms. While it is difficult to say which one is better than the other, we have selected four of the best hot spring hotels and ryokan to introduce to you.

Daiichitaki Honkan

Dai-Ichi-Taki Honkan is a long-established onsen ryokan that represents Noboribetsu Onsen, and was originally built in 1858 by Kinzo Takimoto, the founder of Dai-Ichi-Taki Honkan, to cure his wife's skin disease. There are five different types of hot springs with different qualities, and the spacious bathhouse has 35 different bathtubs for both men and women. Moreover, all of the baths are free-flowing hot-spring water. The scale and quality of the springs are by far the best in Hokkaido, making it a perfect example of a hot spring paradise.

There are many bathtubs in the bathhouse, with a variety of spring qualities.

The inn is also the closest accommodation to Noboribetsu Jigokudani, and there is a Gokuraku-dori shopping street lined with restaurants and souvenir stores right in front of the inn. It is conveniently located for strolling and shopping in Noboribetsu Jigokudani and the hot spring resort area.

The men's bathhouse overlooks Jigokudani through the window.

There are three types of spring water: sulfur spring, which is typical of Noboribetsu Onsen; sodium sulfate spring, which is highly acidic and said to be effective for high blood pressure; acidic greenish-brown spring, which is good for atopic dermatitis; sodium bicarbonate spring, which is said to be a beauty's spring because of its skin-smoothing effect; and salt spring, which keeps the water cool after bathing. It is rare to find such a wide variety of springs in a single facility, even in the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan. Moreover, all are free-flowing hot-spring water. Guests can use the hot spring baths from 4:00 to 25:00, so you can truly enjoy your stay in a hot spring paradise.

The open-air baths also have bathtubs with multiple spring qualities, including sulfur spring water.

Dai-Ichi-Taki Honkan offers several types of guest rooms in a relaxing "Japanese" setting. In addition to Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats and Western-style rooms with a Japanese taste, there are also a variety of rooms with an open-air hot spring bath, barrier-free rooms, and dog rooms where you can bring your pets. Rooms for two to a maximum of eight people are also available, making them convenient for families and groups. There are several buildings with guest rooms, including the main building, east wing, south wing, and west wing, and the building also changes depending on the room type.

Premium West Wing Corner Special Room with Onsen (hot spring) open-air bath. Closest room to Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

Enjoy the hot spring water from the source in the Shigaraki-ware open-air bath.

You can choose between buffet style meals or Japanese kaiseki set meals in the dining room or in your room. At the buffet, you can enjoy as many different dishes as you like, including hot tempura and steaks prepared right in front of you, as well as a variety of dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients.

The buffet also offers plenty of fresh sashimi!

In the dining room, where you can enjoy Japanese kaiseki set meals, freshly prepared dishes are served from the open kitchen. Recommended for those who want to enjoy their meals in a relaxed atmosphere. Only those staying in some guest rooms in the main building can enjoy meals in their rooms.

Image of "Takimoto Gozen," a Japanese-style kaiseki meal served in the dining room

Photo courtesy of Daiichitaki Honkan

adex inn

adex inn is a hot spring hotel located across the street from Dai-ichi Takimotokan. With the concept of "adventure," it is a comfortable place to stay for those who want to enjoy outdoor activities or stay for a long period of time. It features a space to store and dry outdoor gear such as ski boards, and Noboribetsu Onsen's first bakery and café on the first floor. Of course, you can also enjoy the hot spring.

adex inn is an unfiltered sulfur spring full of hot spring water!

The hot spring at adex inn has one sulfur spring tub for men and one for women. However, guests of adex inn can use the hot spring at Dai-ichi Takimotokan, located across the street, for free during their stay. adex inn is more reasonably priced than Dai-ichi Takimotokan, so this is a very welcome bargain.

Image of a twin room

There are two types of guest rooms: 39 twin rooms and 8 single rooms. There are 47 rooms in total. Best for solo travelers or couples who want to enjoy an unpretentious trip. They are especially valuable in Noboribetsu Onsen because there are few single use facilities in Noboribetsu Onsen.

Image of media room

There is also a "Media Room," a free space available 24 hours a day for guests only, where you can browse a library of outdoor-related books and magazines, or show your own photos and videos on a large screen using a projector.

Image of the cafe seating on the first floor

Meals are served at "adex BAKERY&CAFE" on the first floor of the building. You can enjoy 15 to 20 kinds of freshly baked breads and pastries, including "onsen croissants" made with fermented butter and drinkable onsen water, along with coffee. It is a great place to have breakfast or take a break during a stroll. This hotel is recommended for those who want to casually spend time in Noboribetsu Onsen, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and those who want to stay for mid- to long-term stays for nomadic work.

Photo courtesy of Dai-ichi Takimotokuhonkan

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is an accommodation facility where visitors can enjoy three types of hot spring water in a domed Roman bath and an open-air garden bath with a waterfall. It also has an "Oni Sauna" themed on the demons of Noboribetsu, making it a popular hot spring hotel not only for onsen fans but also for sauners.

Along with the hot springs, the demon sauna is a must-see!

The three types of onsen are sulfur spring, iron spring, and salt spring. Sulfur springs are typical of Noboribetsu Onsen and are effective for detoxification, chronic skin diseases, and joint diseases. Iron springs are generally of various types, but in the case of Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, they are aluminum sulfate hot springs, which are highly acidic and have a strong skin-tightening effect on the skin's mucous membranes. The salt spring is said to have a warming and moisturizing effect, and we recommend taking a bath in this type of spring as a finishing touch before finishing the bath after enjoying the sulfur and iron springs.

Garden open-air bath (left) and demon sauna (right) in Onikan-no-yu

There are two types of bathhouses, "Hozuki-no-yu" and "Rindo-no-yu," and men and women can use them interchangeably. On odd-numbered days, the hot spring is for those who live by the lanterns and the hot spring is for those who live by the fireflies, and vice versa on even-numbered days. The baths close between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. every day and the men and women switch.

Atmosphere of the garden open-air bath at Onichino-no-yu

Both Onichino-yu and Ryuuno-yu have large domed Roman-style baths with a sense of openness in the indoor baths. You can enjoy the salt spring in the large circular bath in the center, and the sulfur spring, iron spring, and salt spring in the three smaller baths around the building. Each of the outdoor garden open-air baths has a different atmosphere. The garden open-air baths at Onitano-no-yu allow visitors to bathe in the sulfur spring rock baths while enjoying the view of a cascading waterfall. On the other hand, in the garden open-air bath of Ryuuno-yu, you can enjoy sulfur spring water in the stone-based open-air bath and salt spring water in the hinoki bath.

Large domed Roman-style bath

In addition, there are private hot spring family baths. This is recommended for families or couples who want to bathe alone and do not want others to see their bodies. Incidentally, the quality of the spring water here is salt spring water. Up to 4 people can use it at a time (reservation required).

In the demon sauna, you can enjoy alternating hot and cold baths in red and black red and black kettles!

The demon sauna, popular with sauna lovers, is located in the Black Lantern Hot Spring and is an auto-lauching sauna that is as hot as a demon at 110 degrees Celsius, and has a cypress water bath that uses stream water at about 16 degrees Celsius, as well as a red-black cauldron bath that uses warm water at 43 to 44 degrees Celsius and a blue-black cauldron water bath that allows you to alternate between hot and cold baths. You will surely be "toto" like a demon.

Japanese-style 10-mat room, available in several sizes and types, including 16-mat rooms.

Whether you are traveling for two, a family, or a group, you can choose the room that best suits your needs and preferences.

A higher grade type of Western-style room, a suite with a bath with a view

Meals are served in a Japanese-Western style, using a variety of Hokkaido and local ingredients. The basic pattern for dinner is buffet style, with the chef cooking and serving in front of you. You can taste as much as you like from a selection of about 70 Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. Breakfast is also buffet style as well.

Enjoy freshly prepared dishes!

You definitely want to try the food that the chef has prepared in front of you!

Seasonal ingredients are on display!

The buffet hall also features a sweets workshop. The moist and fluffy baumkuchen baked in the workshop are exquisite! It is a must-try.

Baumkuchen from the sweets workshop

Depending on your stay plan, you can choose to have dinner at a restaurant instead of a buffet style. We recommend the "Crab Gozen," which is full of crab, or the "Celebration Set" for special occasions, for those who want to relax and enjoy a meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

Photo courtesy of Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Bansekaku

Located right in front of the Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal, Noboribetsu Manyokaku is by far the most convenient hot spring lodging facility when visiting Noboribetsu Onsen by public transportation. In addition to bathing in hot spring water, you can also enjoy a sauna, and the water bath uses hot spring water, which is a major feature of this facility.

Open-air bath in the women's bathhouse "Hoshi-no-yu

The hot spring water is sulfur spring water, officially called "acidic-sulfur containing-sulfur-iron-simple hot spring (hydrogen sulfide type). Although the spring water is poured into the bathtubs, the temperature of the spring is left to nature, so if the temperature is too high, water is added to adjust it to the proper temperature. Both men's and women's baths have indoor and outdoor baths, where you can enjoy Noboribetsu's famous hot water in a relaxed atmosphere. There is also a shampoo bar for those who want to be particular about their shampoo and conditioner.

Only the women's bath "Hoshi-no-yu" has a wash area with tatami mats for children.

In addition, the bathhouse has a water source water bath kept at a temperature of 17 to 19 degrees Celsius and a water bath using underground water at a temperature of 15 to 17 degrees Celsius, along with a wax sauna kept at 80 to 90 degrees Celsius. The fountainhead water bath is a water bath cooled directly from the source of Noboribetsu Onsen. Not many facilities offer the opportunity to soak in a milky white water bath when cooling down. There is also an outdoor air-bath bench, which will surely help you to "get in and out" comfortably.

The sauna is made of Japanese cypress and birch and has a pleasant woody aroma.

The guest rooms are mainly Japanese-style rooms, with special rooms with hot spring baths and saunas scheduled to be renovated and reopened, making them suitable for travelers ranging from single travelers to families or groups of four to five people. Except for single and double Western-style rooms, all rooms have separate bathrooms and toilets, which is a great feature for families or groups with many members.

The Japanese-style room with the largest number of rooms (10 tatami mats) is spacious with a separate tatami room and veranda, and can accommodate up to 5 people.

The buffet-style menu offers about 90 dishes, including Japanese, Western, Chinese, local Ainu-inspired dishes, and international cuisine. There is a live kitchen where you can enjoy freshly made sushi and freshly cooked hot dishes. There is a kids' buffet corner and a baby room in one corner of the restaurant, making it a comfortable place to eat for those with children. In addition, carts are available for taking food around, which is popular with the elderly and other guests. Noboribetsu Banseikaku is especially recommended for onsen lovers, sauna lovers, and families.

Enjoy a variety of cuisines

You can enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi to your heart's content!

Photo courtesy of Noboribetsu Bansekaku

Noboribetsu Onsen is one of the best hot spring resorts in Hokkaido, as well as in all of Japan, for the quality of its springs. Noboribetsu Onsen has a strong image of hell and demons, but rather than a hell, it is one of the best hot spring destinations in Japan. There are numerous lodging facilities where visitors can enjoy hot spring water from the source, and each facility has its own unique charm. The location is easily accessible from New Chitose Airport and other places, and its location for strolling, shopping, and dining is also an attractive point as a travel destination. Why don't you spend your holiday in Noboribetsu Onsen and enjoy the hot springs to your heart's content at your favorite onsen hotel?

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