Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido is a popular hot spring resort blessed with an abundant supply of hot spring water and a variety of spring qualities, including sulfur springs, and is easily accessible from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo city. Here we will introduce four carefully selected hot spring inns in Noboribetsu Onsen that are perfect for families and couples visiting during sightseeing.

Noboribetsu Jigokudani, the largest hot spring source and tourist attraction of Noboribetsu Onsen

Before introducing the hot spring hotels in Noboribetsu Onsen, we will first introduce the characteristics of Noboribetsu Onsen. Following the location and access information, we will provide basic information on the quality and source of Noboribetsu Onsen's spring water.

When you exit the Noboribetsu Higashi Interchange on the Hokkaido Expressway, you will be greeted by a demon statue. From here, it is about a 10-minute drive to the hot spring town.

Noboribetsu Onsen is a relatively easily accessible hot spring resort in Hokkaido. It takes about an hour by car from New Chitose Airport, and about an hour and 40 minutes from Sapporo city via the expressway. There are direct express buses from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo city, and you can also get there by taking the JR line and changing onto a local bus at Noboribetsu Station. The gateway to public transportation is the Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal. From this area, you can find the Gokuraku Dori Shopping Street, lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, making it a great location for enjoying both dining and shopping.

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

The appeal of Noboribetsu Onsen is undoubtedly its abundant supply of hot spring water and its diverse spring qualities. There are nine types of springs in the Noboribetsu hot spring town alone, including sulfur springs that are milky white and have a distinctive smell like boiled eggs, chloride springs, iron springs, and bicarbonate springs, and there are ten types in the Noboribetsu hot spring area, including the nearby Karurusu Onsen. There are many famous hot spring resorts throughout Japan, but it is rare to find a hot spring resort where you can soak in water of so many different qualities in such a small area.

A view from the walking path in Noboribetsu Jigokudani. The building in the background is the hot spring inn "Daiichi Takimotokan."

Noboribetsu Onsen has multiple hot spring sources with abundant water and a wide variety of spring qualities, but the largest is Noboribetsu Jigokudani. Noboribetsu Jigokudani is an explosion crater formed by the eruption of Mt. Hiyori, measuring approximately 450m in diameter and covering an area of approximately 11ha. It is adjacent to the hot spring town and is one of Noboribetsu Onsen's most famous tourist attractions. There are numerous springs and fumaroles in the valley, with smoke rising in various places and hot springs gushing out in some places. There is an observation deck overlooking Noboribetsu Jigokudani, and walking paths have been built in parts of the valley, allowing you to get a close-up look at the power of the earth.

Along with Noboribetsu Jigokudani, Oyunuma, where hot water springs forth, is also a must-see tourist spot.

The Noboribetsu Onsen area is home to a wide variety of hot springs, mainly in the valley of Noboribetsu Jigokudani. These springs supply water to the hotels and inns in the hot spring town, as well as day-trip hot spring bathhouses. Just seeing Noboribetsu Jigokudani, where you can experience the wonders of nature, will convince you that the hot springs at each facility in this area are of high quality and you can look forward to them. Incidentally, Noboribetsu Onsen has many statues and products with demon motifs, which are said to have originated from Noboribetsu Jigokudani, due to the association of hell with demons.

No matter which hot spring inn you stay at in Noboribetsu Onsen, which has a great location, you can be sure to enjoy great water. Each facility has different spring quality and number of baths, and of course each facility has its own unique features such as meals and guest rooms. It's hard to choose a favorite, but we've picked out four recommended hot spring hotels and inns to introduce.

Daiichi Takimotokan

Dai-ichi Takimotokan is a long-established hot spring inn that represents Noboribetsu Onsen. The origins of Dai-ichi Takimotokan lie in the hot springs resort that was built in 1858 by the founder, Kinzo Takimoto, to cure his wife of a skin condition. The resort has five hot springs with different qualities, and the vast bathing area of approximately 5,000m2 has 35 different baths for men and women. What's more, all of the water flows directly from the source. The scale and quality of the springs are unrivaled in Hokkaido, making it truly worthy of being called a hot spring paradise.

There are many baths in the bathhouse, and the spring water quality is varied.

It is also the closest accommodation to Noboribetsu Jigokudani, and Gokuraku-dori Shopping Street, lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, is located right in front of the inn. It is also conveniently located for strolling and shopping in Noboribetsu Jigokudani and the hot spring town.

From the men's bath, you can see Jigokudani through the windows.

The springs available include sulfur springs, which are typical of Noboribetsu Onsen; highly acidic Glauber's salt springs, which are said to be effective against high blood pressure; acidic green springs, which are said to be good for atopic dermatitis; sodium bicarbonate springs, which have the effect of smoothing the skin and are said to be beauty springs; and salt springs, which keep you warm after bathing. It is rare to find a single facility where you can bathe in so many different springs, even among Japan's famous hot spring resorts. What's more, they are all directly drawn from the source. Guests can use the baths from 4:00 to 25:00, so you can enjoy a truly onsen-filled stay.

The open-air bath has a variety of springs, including sulfur springs.

Dai-ichi Takimotokan offers several types of guest rooms with a calming Japanese atmosphere. In addition to Japanese-style rooms with tatami flooring, Western-style rooms incorporating Japanese tastes, and Japanese-Western rooms, there are also a variety of rooms with open-air hot spring baths, barrier-free rooms, and dog-friendly rooms where pets are allowed. Rooms range in capacity from 2 people to a maximum of 8 people, making them convenient for families and groups. The guest rooms are located in several buildings, including the main building, east building, south building, and west building, and the building changes depending on the room type.

Premium West Wing Corner Special Room with an open-air hot spring bath. The closest room to Noboribetsu Jigokudani

You can enjoy the hot spring water straight from the source in a Shigaraki ware open-air bath.

Guests can choose to dine buffet-style, or have a Japanese-style dinner in the dining area or in their rooms. At the buffet, guests can enjoy as much as they like of a variety of dishes made with seasonal ingredients, including piping hot tempura and steaks prepared right before their eyes.

The buffet also offers a wide selection of fresh sashimi.

In the restaurant, where you can enjoy a Japanese kaiseki meal, freshly prepared dishes are served from the open kitchen. Recommended for those who want to enjoy a leisurely meal. In-room dining is also available, but only for guests staying in certain rooms in the main building.

Image of the Japanese banquet meal "Takimoto Gozen" served at the restaurant

*Photo provided by Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Adex Inn

Adex Inn is a hot spring hotel located across from Dai-ichi Takimotokan. Based on the concept of "adventure," it is a comfortable accommodation for those who want to enjoy outdoor activities and those staying for a long period of time. It features space for storing outdoor gear such as skis, a drying room, and the first bakery and cafe in Noboribetsu Onsen on the first floor. Of course, you can also enjoy the hot springs.

Adex Inn is an unfiltered sulfur spring with plenty of hot spring minerals.

Adex Inn's hot springs have one sulfur spring bath for men and one for women. However, guests staying at Adex Inn can use the hot springs at Daiichi Takimotokan, located across the street, for free during their stay. Since Adex Inn's accommodation fees are more reasonable than Daiichi Takimotokan's, this is a very welcome and good-value service.

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. This is ideal for solo travelers or couples who want to enjoy a simple trip. There are few facilities for single use in Noboribetsu Onsen, so this is a particularly valuable option.

Image of a media room

There is also a free space called the Media Room, which is available 24 hours a day to guests only. Here you can browse the library of outdoor-related books and magazines, or use the projector to display your own photos and videos on a large screen.

Image of the cafe seating on the first floor

For meals, head to the "adex BAKERY & CAFE" on the first floor of the building. You can enjoy 15 to 20 types of freshly baked bread and pastries along with coffee, including the "hot spring croissant" made with fermented butter and drinkable hot spring water. Its appeal lies in its casual location for breakfast or as a place to rest while exploring. This hotel is recommended for those who want to spend a casual time in Noboribetsu Onsen, those who enjoy outdoor sports, or those looking for a medium- to long-term stay for nomadic work.

*Photo provided by Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is an accommodation facility where you can enjoy hot springs of three different qualities straight from the source in a dome-shaped Roman bath and a garden open-air bath with a waterfall.It also has an Oni Sauna, themed after the demons of Noboribetsu, making it a hot spring hotel popular not only with hot spring fans but also with sauna lovers.

Along with the hot springs, pay attention to the Oni Sauna

There are three types of hot springs: sulfur springs, iron springs, and saline springs. Sulfur springs are the typical type of spring at Noboribetsu Onsen, and are said to have detoxifying properties and be effective against chronic skin and joint diseases. There are generally various types of iron springs, but Noboribetsu Grand Hotel uses aluminum sulfate springs, which are highly acidic and have a strong effect of tightening the skin and mucous membranes. Salt springs are said to have heat-retaining and moisturizing effects, and are recommended as a finishing touch before bathing after enjoying the sulfur or iron springs.

The garden open-air bath (left) and the demon sauna (right) at Hozuki no Yu

There are two baths, "Hozuki no Yu" and "Rindo no Yu," which are alternately used by men and women. On odd-numbered days, women use the Hozuki no Yu and men use the Rindo no Yu, and on even-numbered days, the reverse is true. The baths close every night between 2:30 and 3:30 AM, and men and women switch baths.

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

The indoor baths at both Hozuki no Yu and Gentian no Yu are large, dome-shaped Roman-style baths with an open feel. You can enjoy the saline spring in the large circular bathroom in the center, and the sulfur spring, iron spring, and saline spring in the three smaller baths around the building. Each outdoor garden open-air bath has a different atmosphere. At Hozuki no Yu's garden open-air bath, you can bathe in a sulfur spring rock bath while watching the waterfall flow. Meanwhile, at Gentian no Yu's garden open-air bath, you can enjoy the sulfur spring in the stone-themed open-air bath, as well as the saline spring in the cypress bath.

Dome-shaped Roman-style large bath

Another attractive feature is the private hot spring family bath. It is recommended for families or couples who want to bathe alone, or for those who do not want others to see their bodies. The spring water here is saline spring water. Up to four people can use it at a time (reservation required).

At Oni Sauna, you can enjoy alternating hot and cold baths in the red and blue pots.

The Oni Sauna, popular among sauna enthusiasts, is located in Kito no Yu. It is an Autorch-style sauna with an insanely high temperature of 110 degrees, and there is a cypress bath using stream water at about 16 degrees. There is also a hot kettle bath called "Akanohanakama" with water at 43-44 degrees, and a cold water bath called "Aonohanakama", so you can enjoy alternating between hot and cold baths. You're sure to feel like a demon in the moment.

Japanese-style room with 10 tatami mats. There are multiple sizes and types available, including 16 tatami mats.

There are several types of Japanese-style and Western-style rooms with different sizes and capacities, as well as rooms with open-air baths, special rooms, VIP rooms, etc. You can choose a room to suit your needs and preferences, whether you're traveling for two, with family, or in a group.

A Western-style suite with a panoramic bath, a premium type

Meals are served in a Japanese-Western fusion style, making extensive use of Hokkaido ingredients and local ingredients. Dinner is typically served buffet-style, with the chef preparing and serving the food right in front of you. You can enjoy as much as you like of about 70 Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. Breakfast is also buffet-style.

You can enjoy freshly cooked food

I definitely want to try the food that the chef prepares right in front of me!

Seasonal ingredients lined up

The buffet venue also features a 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 your accommodation plan, you can choose to have dinner in the dining area instead of buffet style. We recommend options such as the "Crab Meal" featuring everything crab, or the "Celebration Meal" for special occasions, for those who want to enjoy a leisurely meal.

*Photo provided by Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Noboribetsu Manseikaku

Noboribetsu Manseikaku is located right in front of the Noboribetsu Onsen Bus Terminal, making it an extremely convenient hot spring accommodation facility when visiting Noboribetsu Onsen by public transportation. In addition to hot spring bathing, you can also enjoy the sauna, and another major feature is that the cold bath uses hot spring water.

Open-air bath at the women's bathhouse "Hoshi no Yu"

The hot spring is a sulfur spring, officially described as an "acidic, sulfur-containing, iron-based, simple hot spring (hydrogen sulfide type)." Although the spring water flows directly from the source into the bathtub, the temperature of the spring is left to nature, so if the temperature is too high, water is added to adjust it to an appropriate temperature. The bath area has both indoor and outdoor baths for both men and women, allowing you to relax and enjoy Noboribetsu's famous hot springs. There is also a shampoo bar for those who prefer particular shampoos and conditioners.

Only the women's bath, "Hoshi no Yu," has a tatami-mat washing area for children.

The bath area also has a loyly sauna maintained at 80-90 degrees, a spring water bath maintained at 17-19 degrees, and a cold water bath using groundwater at 15-17 degrees. The spring water bath is a water bath that uses the water directly from the source of Noboribetsu Onsen, cooled down. There aren't many facilities where you can soak in a milky white water bath to cool down. There are also outdoor bathing benches, so you're sure to feel comfortable and at ease.

The sauna is made from domestic cypress and birch, and the scent of wood fills the air, creating a comfortable environment.

The guest rooms are mainly Japanese-style, and special rooms with hot springs and saunas are scheduled to be reopened after renovation. The rooms are suitable for everyone from solo travelers to family and group trips of 4-5 people. All rooms except for the Western-style single and double rooms have separate bathrooms and toilets, which is a great point for families and other large groups.

The most common room is the Japanese-style room with 10 tatami mats, which has a separate entrance and veranda and can accommodate up to 5 people.

Meals are served buffet-style, with around 90 different dishes on offer, including Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine, as well as local and international dishes inspired by Ainu cuisine. There is a live kitchen, where you can enjoy freshly made sushi and other piping hot dishes. There is also a kids' buffet corner and a baby room in one corner of the restaurant, making it a dining venue that is easy for families with children to enjoy. There are also carts for carrying food around, making it popular with seniors and others. Noboribetsu Manseikaku is especially recommended for hot spring lovers, sauna enthusiasts, and families.

You can enjoy a variety of dishes

You can also enjoy fresh sashimi and sushi.

*Photo provided by Noboribetsu Manseikaku

Noboribetsu Onsen is a hot spring resort blessed with the best quality of spring water, not only in Hokkaido but across the country. Noboribetsu Onsen has a strong image of hell or demons, but rather than hell it is one of Japan's leading hot spring paradises. There are many accommodations where you can enjoy hot springs directly from the source, and each facility has its own unique charm. Easy access from New Chitose Airport and other locations, as well as a location where you can enjoy strolling, shopping, and dining, are also attractive points as a travel destination. Why not spend a hot spring-filled holiday to your heart's content at your favorite hot spring inn in Noboribetsu Onsen?

*All information listed is current as of September 2024. *Each event may be subject to change or cancellation, so please check the official website before participating.

Check it out too!