Hot springs in Noboribetsu

The volcanic crater valley at the heart of Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido. Jigokudani means Hell Valley. The 11-hectare crater discharges about 10,000 tonnes of spring water daily. The landscape of fumaroles, boiling pools, and mineral-stained cliffs is raw and dramatic. A 20-minute walking path through the valley is free to all visitors and is one of the most extraordinary landscapes you can walk through in Japan.

One of Hokkaido's most celebrated bathhouses. Dai-ichi Takimotokan channels water from seven distinct mineral springs into 35 pools spread across multiple floors. Indoor halls open onto outdoor rotenburo overlooking the steam-filled valley below. Day visitors are welcome without an overnight stay.

Hokkaido's most famous onsen town, built around a dramatic volcanic crater called Jigokudani, which means Hell Valley. Nine distinct spring types bubble up from beneath the valley floor. The sulfurous steam rising from the crater creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Japan. This is where you go when you want to feel the earth still working.