Located in Hokkaido, Noboribetsu Onsen is a popular hot spring resort blessed with an abundance of high-quality water from various sources, including sulfur springs. It's easily accessible from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo City. This time, we've carefully selected and will introduce four recommended onsen inns in Noboribetsu, perfect for families and couples visiting for sightseeing.

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

Before we introduce the onsen hotels, let's first cover the key features of Noboribetsu Onsen. Here is some basic information on its location and access, followed by details about its water quality and spring sources.

An "oni" (demon) statue greets you as you exit the Noboribetsu-Higashi Interchange on the Do-O Expressway. From here, it's about a 10-minute drive to the onsen town.

Noboribetsu Onsen is relatively easy to get to, with good transportation links for a Hokkaido destination. It's about an hour's drive from New Chitose Airport and about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Sapporo City using the expressway. Direct express buses run from both New Chitose Airport and Sapporo City. Alternatively, you can take a JR train to Noboribetsu Station and transfer to a local bus. The gateway for public transport is the Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal. From this area, the "Gokuraku-dori Shopping Street," lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, begins, making it a great location to enjoy dining and shopping.

You can enjoy three types of spring water in the large public bath at Noboribetsu Grand Hotel.

The main appeal of Noboribetsu Onsen is its abundant volume of water and diverse spring qualities. It features nine different types of springs in the onsen town alone, including the milky-white sulfur spring with its distinct boiled-egg-like aroma, as well as chloride, iron, and hydrogen carbonate springs. Including the nearby Karurusu Onsen, the Noboribetsu Onsen area offers a total of ten types. While there are many famous onsen destinations throughout Japan, it's rare to find a place where you can soak in so many different types of hot springs within such a small area.

The view from the walking path inside Noboribetsu Jigokudani. The building in the distance is the onsen ryokan, Dai-ichi Takimotokan.

While Noboribetsu Onsen has multiple sources for its diverse and plentiful hot springs, the largest is "Noboribetsu Jigokudani" (Hell Valley). Jigokudani is a volcanic explosion crater, about 450 meters in diameter and covering an area of about 11 hectares, formed by the eruption of Mt. Hiyoriyama. Located adjacent to the onsen town, it is also a major tourist attraction. The valley is dotted with numerous springs and fumaroles, with steam rising from various spots and hot water gushing out in others. There is an observation deck overlooking Jigokudani, and walking paths have been set up in parts of the valley, allowing you to witness the raw power of the earth up close.

Along with Jigokudani, Oyunuma, a pond of boiling water, is another must-see tourist spot.

The entire Noboribetsu Onsen area, centered around the Jigokudani valley, has a wide variety of hot springs gushing forth. These sources supply hot water to the hotels, ryokans, and day-use public baths in the onsen town. Just seeing Jigokudani, where you can feel the wonders of nature, will convince you that the hot springs at the local establishments are of high quality and worth looking forward to. By the way, Noboribetsu Onsen has many statues and products featuring "oni" (demons). This is said to originate from Jigokudani, with the association of hell = demons.

With its prime location, you're guaranteed to enjoy excellent hot springs no matter where you stay in Noboribetsu Onsen. However, each facility has its own unique characteristics, such as the number of spring types and baths, as well as distinct dining and room options. While it's hard to choose, here we've picked out and will introduce four recommended onsen hotels and ryokans.

Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Dai-ichi Takimotokan is a historic onsen ryokan that represents Noboribetsu Onsen. Its origins trace back to 1858, when founder Kinzo Takimoto created a therapeutic bathhouse to treat his wife's skin condition. The ryokan boasts five different spring sources, and its vast bathing area, spanning about 1,500 tsubo (approx. 5,000 sqm), features a total of 35 different baths for men and women combined. What's more, all of them are fed directly from the source (gensen kakenagashi). The scale and quality of the springs are overwhelmingly the best in Hokkaido, truly deserving of the name "Onsen Heaven."

The bathing area has numerous tubs with various water qualities.

It is also the closest accommodation to Noboribetsu Jigokudani, and the Gokuraku-dori Shopping Street, lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, is right in front of the inn. Its location is convenient for strolling through Jigokudani and the onsen town, as well as for shopping.

The men's bathing area offers a panoramic view of Jigokudani through the windows.

The spring types include Noboribetsu's signature sulfur spring; a Glauber's salt spring (boshosen), which is highly acidic and said to be effective for high blood pressure; an acidic vitriol spring, considered good for conditions like atopic dermatitis; a bicarbonate spring (jusosen), known as the "beauty spring" for its skin-smoothing properties; and a salt spring (shokuensen), which helps prevent post-bath chills. It's rare to find a single facility, even among Japan's most famous onsen resorts, where you can bathe in so many different types of springs. And all of them are free-flowing from the source. Guests can use the baths from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day, allowing for a stay truly immersed in onsen bliss.

The open-air baths also feature tubs with multiple spring types, including sulfur.

Dai-ichi Takimotokan offers various types of guest rooms with a serene, traditional Japanese design. These include tatami-mat rooms, Western-style rooms with a Japanese aesthetic, and combination Japanese-Western rooms. There are also rooms with private open-air onsen baths, accessible rooms, and even "Wan-chan Rooms" for guests with pets. With room capacities ranging from two to a maximum of eight people, it's convenient for families and groups. The guest rooms are located in multiple buildings—the Main, East, South, and West Wings—and the building varies depending on the room type.

Premium West Wing Corner Special Room with Private Open-Air Onsen Bath. This is the closest guest room to Noboribetsu Jigokudani.

Enjoy the free-flowing onsen water in a Shigaraki-ware open-air bath.

For meals, you can choose between a buffet style, or a traditional Japanese kaiseki dinner served at a dining hall or in your room. At the buffet, you can savor as much as you like of various dishes made with seasonal ingredients, including piping hot tempura and steak prepared right before your eyes.

The buffet offers a generous selection of fresh sashimi.

At the dining hall where you can enjoy Japanese kaiseki meals, freshly prepared dishes are served from an open kitchen. This is recommended for those who want to enjoy a leisurely meal. In-room dining is also available exclusively for guests staying in certain rooms in the Main Wing.

Image of the "Takimoto Gozen" Japanese kaiseki dinner at the dining hall.

※Photos courtesy of Dai-ichi Takimotokan

adex inn

adex inn is an onsen hotel located across from Dai-ichi Takimotokan. With an "adventure" concept, it's a comfortable accommodation for those who want to enjoy outdoor activities or for long-term stays. Its features include a space for storing outdoor gear like skis, a drying room, and Noboribetsu Onsen's first bakery & cafe on the first floor. And of course, you can enjoy the onsen too.

adex inn's onsen is an unfiltered sulfur spring rich with natural minerals (yunohana).

adex inn has one sulfur spring bath for each gender. However, guests of adex inn can use the onsen facilities at Dai-ichi Takimotokan, located across the street, for free during their stay. Since adex inn is more reasonably priced than Dai-ichi Takimotokan, this is a very welcome and valuable service.

Image of a Twin Room.

There are two types of guest rooms: 39 twin rooms and 8 single rooms, for a total of 47 rooms. It's perfect for solo travelers or pairs who prefer a more casual trip. In particular, single-use accommodations are scarce in Noboribetsu Onsen, making it a valuable option.

Image of the Media Room.

There is also a free space called the "Media Room" for guests, where you can browse a library of outdoor-related books and magazines, or use a projector to display your own photos and videos on a large screen.

Image of the cafe seating on the lobby floor.

Meals are available at the "adex BAKERY&CAFE" on the lobby floor. You can enjoy 15-20 types of freshly baked bread and pastries, such as the "Onsen Croissant" made with fermented butter and drinkable onsen water, along with coffee. It's a charming spot that can be casually used for breakfast or as a break during your strolls. This hotel is recommended for those who want a casual stay in Noboribetsu Onsen, outdoor sports enthusiasts, or digital nomads looking for a medium to long-term stay.

※Photos courtesy of adex inn

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is an accommodation where you can enjoy three types of onsen water, all free-flowing from the source, in its dome-shaped Roman-style bath and garden open-air bath with a waterfall. It also features an "Oni Sauna" (Demon Sauna) themed after the demons of Noboribetsu, making it a popular onsen hotel not only for onsen fans but also for sauna enthusiasts.

In addition to the onsen, the Oni Sauna is a must-try.

The three types of onsen water are sulfur, iron, and salt springs. The sulfur spring is representative of Noboribetsu Onsen and is said to have detoxifying effects, effective for chronic skin diseases and joint disorders. While iron springs generally come in various types, the one at Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is a highly acidic aluminum sulfate spring, characterized by its strong astringent effect on the skin and mucous membranes. The salt spring is said to have heat-retaining and moisturizing effects, and it's recommended to take a dip in it as a final touch after enjoying the sulfur and iron springs.

The garden open-air bath (left) and Oni Sauna (right) at Hozuki-no-yu.

There are two types of bathing areas, "Hozuki-no-yu" and "Rindo-no-yu," which are rotated between men and women. On odd-numbered days, women use Hozuki-no-yu and men use Rindo-no-yu, and on even-numbered days, it's the reverse. The switch happens daily during the closing time from 2:30 AM to 3:30 AM.

The atmosphere of the garden open-air bath at Hozuki-no-yu.

Both Hozuki-no-yu and Rindo-no-yu feature a spacious, dome-shaped Roman-style grand bath for their indoor sections. You can enjoy the salt spring in the large circular bath in the center, and the sulfur, iron, and salt springs in three smaller baths around the perimeter. The outdoor garden baths have different atmospheres in each section. At Hozuki-no-yu's garden bath, you can soak in a sulfur spring rock bath while watching a waterfall. Meanwhile, at Rindo-no-yu's garden bath, you can enjoy a sulfur spring in a stone-themed open-air bath, as well as a salt spring in a cypress bath.

The dome-shaped Roman-style grand bath.

Furthermore, the hotel offers a private family onsen bath for rent. It's recommended for those who want to bathe exclusively with family or a partner, or for those who prefer privacy. The water quality here is a salt spring. It can accommodate up to four people at a time (reservations required).

In the Oni Sauna, you can enjoy alternating between hot and cold baths with the "Red Demon's Cauldron" and "Blue Demon's Cauldron."

The popular Oni Sauna is located in Hozuki-no-yu. It's an auto-löyly style sauna heated to a devilishly high 110°C. There's a cypress cold water bath using mountain stream water at about 16°C, as well as a hot water cauldron bath "Aka-oni no Kama" (Red Demon's Cauldron) at 43-44°C and a cold water cauldron bath "Ao-oni no Kama" (Blue Demon's Cauldron), allowing you to enjoy alternating hot and cold bathing. You're sure to reach a state of bliss, demon-style.

A 10-tatami-mat Japanese-style room. Various sizes and types are available, such as 16-mat rooms.

Guest rooms include several types of Japanese and Western-style rooms of different sizes and capacities, as well as rooms with private open-air baths, special rooms, and VIP rooms. You can choose a room that suits your travel style and preferences, whether it's a trip for two, a family vacation, or a group outing.

A higher-grade Western-style room: the Suite Room with a scenic bath.

Meals are served in a Japanese-Western fusion style, featuring plenty of Hokkaido and local ingredients. The standard dinner is a buffet where chefs cook right in front of you. You can enjoy as much as you like from about 70 dishes, including Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine. Breakfast is also a buffet.

Enjoy freshly made dishes.

You'll definitely want to try the dishes finished by the chef right before your eyes!

A spread of seasonal ingredients.

A unique feature of the buffet venue is its sweets workshop. The moist and fluffy Baumkuchen baked in the workshop is exquisite! It's a must-try item.

Baumkuchen from the sweets workshop.

Depending on the accommodation plan, you can also choose to have a set meal at a dining hall instead of the buffet for dinner. Options like the crab-filled "Kani Gozen" or the "Oiwai no Zen" for special occasions are recommended for those who want a quiet and relaxed dining experience.

※Photos courtesy of Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Manseikaku

Noboribetsu Manseikaku is located right in front of the Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal, making it an incredibly convenient onsen accommodation for those visiting by public transport. In addition to enjoying the onsen baths, you can also use the sauna, which features a cold water bath that uses onsen water—a major highlight.

The open-air bath at the women's bathing area, "Hoshi-no-yu."

The onsen's water quality is a sulfur spring, officially classified as an "Acidic, Sulfur- and Iron-containing Simple Hot Spring (Hydrogen Sulfide type)." While the water flows directly from the source into the tubs, its temperature is left to nature, so if it's too hot, cool water is added to adjust it to a suitable temperature. Both the men's and women's bathing areas have indoor and open-air baths, allowing you to relax and enjoy Noboribetsu's famous waters. For those particular about their hair care, there's also a shampoo bar.

Only in the women's bathing area, "Hoshi-no-yu," is there a washing area with tatami mats for children.

The bathing area also features a löyly sauna kept at 80°C to 90°C, along with a source water cold bath maintained at 17°C to 19°C and a groundwater cold bath at 15°C to 17°C. The source water cold bath is made by cooling the Noboribetsu onsen water as is. There are very few facilities where you can soak in a milky-white cold bath to cool down. With outdoor air bathing benches also available, you're guaranteed to have a pleasant sauna experience.

The sauna, built with domestic cypress and birch, offers a pleasant environment with the scent of wood.

The guest rooms range from Japanese-style and modern Japanese rooms to special rooms with private onsen or saunas, catering to everything from solo trips to family and group travel. With the exception of the Western-style single and double rooms, all rooms have separate baths and toilets, a welcome feature for families and larger groups.

The most numerous room type, the 10-tatami-mat Japanese room, is spacious with a separate entrance area and veranda, accommodating up to five people.

Meals are buffet-style, offering about 90 different dishes, including a customizable seafood donburi, Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine, as well as local dishes inspired by Ainu cuisine and multinational fare. At the live kitchen, you can enjoy freshly made, hot dishes. The free-drink system, with all-you-can-drink beer, wine, sake, and soft drinks, is another attraction. The dining venue is also very family-friendly, with a kids' buffet corner and a baby room in one corner of the restaurant. Furthermore, carts are available for carrying food, which is popular among elderly guests. Noboribetsu Manseikaku is especially recommended for onsen lovers, sauna enthusiasts, and families.

Enjoy a wide variety of dishes.

Create your own original seafood donburi.

Enjoy all-you-can-drink with about 40 types of beverages at dinner.

※Photos courtesy of Noboribetsu Manseikaku

Noboribetsu Onsen is a hot spring resort blessed with exceptional water quality, not just in Hokkaido but across all of Japan. While it has a strong association with hell and demons, it's more of a hot spring paradise, one of the best in the country. There are numerous accommodations where you can enjoy free-flowing onsen water from the source, each with its own unique charm. Its easy access from places like New Chitose Airport and its location, perfect for strolling, shopping, and dining, make it an attractive travel destination. Why not spend a holiday indulging in a blissful onsen experience at your favorite inn in Noboribetsu Onsen?

※All information is current as of November 2025.
※Events may be subject to change or cancellation. Please check official websites for the latest information before attending.