Japan Onsen Atlas温泉アトラス
Grey crater floor of Jigokudani with rising steam
Photo information
Calistemon CC BY-SA 4.0 View original page

Hokkaido · Onsen area

Noboribetsu Onsen

のぼりべつおんせん · 登別温泉

Hokkaido · 登別市

Open100 Onsen to Know Japan — No. 1
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Official classification

Spring type (therapeutic classes)

Sulfur springChloride springSulfate springIron springAcidic springBicarbonate springRadioactive (radon) spring

Official spring-type name (as recorded)Nine spring types: sulfur, sodium-chloride, alum, sulfate, melanterite (iron-aluminium sulfate), iron, acidic iron, bicarbonate and radium. The tourism association counts ten by including the simple spring of nearby Karurusu.

Source temperature
45–90°C
pH
Unconfirmed
Flow rate
1 L/min
Radon
Present

Appearance & feel

Water colour · Feel

Milky whiteClearBrown

Colour and feel are listed only where a source states them. They vary by day and by bath.

What makes it special

Ten thousand tonnes of water a day and nine kinds of spring, all boiling out of a single valley called Hell.
Why?

Nine distinct spring types (sulfur, chloride, alum, sulfate, melanterite, iron, acidic iron, bicarbonate and radium) rise here, with a natural flow of about 10,000 tonnes a day (3,000 litres a minute). The sources are in Jigokudani and Oyunuma.[1][2]

Facilities in this area

Facilities come from the register (Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, official sites). Those marked "natural spring unconfirmed" are listed on the basis of their name only.

Ryokan (inn) · Open

Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Day-use bathing
Yes
Fee
¥2,500checked 2026-10-09
Hours
9:00–21:00checked 2026-10-09
Official site
Baths2
TypeGenderSourceBath temperatureFree-flowingAdded waterHeatedRecirculatedDisinfected
Indoor bathSeparateSulfur, sodium-chloride, acidic melanterite, bicarbonate and sulfate springsUnconfirmedYes[6]Unconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]
Open-air bathSeparateUnconfirmedUnconfirmedUnconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]Unconfirmed[6]
Public bathhouse · Open

Yumoto Sagiri-yu (public bathhouse)

Day-use bathing
Yes
Fee
¥550checked 2026-10-09
Hours
9:00–21:00checked 2026-10-09
Official site
Baths1
TypeGenderSourceBath temperatureFree-flowingAdded waterHeatedRecirculatedDisinfected
Indoor bathSeparateSulfur and alum springsUnconfirmedYes[7]No[7]Unconfirmed[7]Unconfirmed[7]Unconfirmed[7]
Foot bath · Seasonal

Oyunuma River natural footbath

Day-use bathing
Yes
Fee
Unconfirmedno check date
Hours
Unconfirmedchecked 2026-10-09
Baths1
TypeGenderSourceBath temperatureFree-flowingAdded waterHeatedRecirculatedDisinfected
Foot bathMixedOutflow from Oyunuma PondUnconfirmedYes[1]Unconfirmed[1]Unconfirmed[1]Unconfirmed[1]Unconfirmed[1]

Getting there

Reachable by public transport

From JR Noboribetsu Station (Muroran Line) take a Donan Bus about 8 km to Noboribetsu Onsen bus terminal. Reserved express buses also run from New Chitose Airport (about 1 h) and Sapporo (about 1 h 20 min).

Getting there
Noboribetsu Station ·
Through the year
The Oyunuma River trail is sometimes closed for works or volcanic activity (a closure was announced for 28 Sep 2026)
Checked
2026-10-09
Show on mapOpen in Google MapsOfficial site

About the water

There is no single 'Noboribetsu water'. The sulfur spring is milky white and smells of boiled eggs; the sodium-chloride spring is clear and salty; the iron and melanterite springs turn brown as they meet the air. Large inns pipe these into separate tubs, so each bath feels and looks different. At Dai-ichi Takimotokan the sulfur bath is pH 2.4 and the sulfate bath pH 2.2, both strongly acidic. The tourism association lists indications for each type, but effects vary from person to person.

Indications (as posted on the analysis)

As posted by the tourism association: sulfur spring for chronic bronchitis, arteriosclerosis and chronic skin conditions; sodium-chloride spring for neuralgia, back pain and poor circulation; bicarbonate spring for cuts, burns and chronic skin conditions, among others (varies by spring type)

Indications are an official statement based on the water analysis, not a guarantee of treatment. They are kept separate from opinions.

SourceSource temperaturepHRadonChecked
Jigokudani and Oyunuma spring groupUnconfirmedUnconfirmedUnconfirmedno check date

Three things not to miss

Grey crater floor of Jigokudani with rising steam
Photo information
Calistemon CC BY-SA 4.0 View original page
01

Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

North end of the town, about 10 min on foot from the bus terminal An explosion crater left by the Hiyoriyama volcano, filled with steam vents and hot streams. The boardwalk loop takes 10–15 minutes. Most of the town's water comes from here and from Oyunuma.

You see where the bath water comes from before you get into it.[1]

People soaking their feet in a steaming stream beside a boardwalk
Photo information
Choi2451 CC BY-SA 3.0 View original page
02

Oyunuma Pond and the Oyunuma River natural footbath

20–30 min walk from Jigokudani along the trail A sulfurous pond 1 km around and 22 m deep, about 40–50°C at the surface and 130°C at the bottom. The stream flowing out of it serves as a natural footbath in the forest.

A chance to touch the raw spring water itself, free of charge.[1]

03

The great bath hall of Dai-ichi Takimotokan

Town centre, at the mouth of Jigokudani The inn founded in 1888 by Takimoto Kinzo, who had settled here as the spring's keeper in 1858. Its bath wing of roughly 5,000 m² holds five spring types in 35 tubs, open to day visitors.

Compare sulfur, salt, alum and other waters without leaving the building.[1][6]

The story

Takimoto Kinzo, keeper of the spring

Noboribetsu's springs were known in the Edo period; the explorer Matsuura Takeshiro stopped here in 1845. In 1858 the merchant Okada Hanbei built a bathing hut and Takimoto Kinzo moved in as its keeper. Kinzo opened the inn 'Yumoto no Takimoto' in 1888 (today's Dai-ichi Takimotokan) and added indoor baths in 1890. In 1905 Noboribetsu and nearby Karurusu were designated recuperation sites for soldiers wounded in the Russo-Japanese War, and the name spread nationwide.[1]

Railways and trams

In 1913 the Muroran businessman Kuribayashi Gosaku bought up the whole resort and in 1915 founded a horse-drawn railway between Noboribetsu Station and the baths. Steam locomotives followed in 1918 and electric trams in 1925, running until 1933. The area became part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park in 1949; today there are 14 places to stay.[1]

A source named Hell

Jigokudani is an explosion crater formed by the eruption of Mt Hiyoriyama (377 m); together with Oyunuma Pond it supplies the town. Oyunuma is 1 km around and 22 m deep, 40–50°C at the surface and 130°C at the bottom. The river draining it becomes a natural footbath in the woods. A small geyser called Taisho Jigoku lies nearby; in November 2016 it became so active that the trail was closed for a time.[1]

Going solo

Easy for solo travellersUnconfirmed
Weekend / peak restrictionsUnconfirmed
Where to eat dinnerRestaurants, ramen shops and izakaya line Gokuraku-dori, the main street
Private bathUnconfirmed

checked 2026-10-09

Through the year

Recommended months

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Months open

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

"Recommended" and "open" are recorded separately. Check the season for seasonal springs.

Feb — Noboribetsu Onsen Yu-matsuri hot-spring festival (since 1972)

Jun · Jul · Aug — Oni (demon) fireworks in Hell Valley (since 2006); the Noboribetsu Hell Festival is in August

Oct — Autumn colours around Jigokudani

Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar — Illuminations in Sengen Park; snow-viewing baths

Food, culture & experiences

Available / bookable

Geyser in Sengen Park

A geyser in the middle of town that erupts roughly every three hours[4]

About 5 min walk from the bus terminal
Available / bookable

Oni fireworks in Hell Valley

Night event in which 'demons' swing hand-held fireworks at the Jigokudani viewpoint. Ticketed (500 yen, free under 12); dates change each year[8]

About 10 min walk from town
Available / bookable

Noboribetsu primeval forest

About 186 ha of forest designated a national natural monument in 1924[1]

South of town, about 10 min by car

Editors' guide

Walk Jigokudani first to see where the water comes from, then follow the trail to the natural footbath on the Oyunuma River. On the way back, compare the sulfur and salt baths at Dai-ichi Takimotokan, or save money at the Sagiri-yu public bath (bring a towel). After dark, catch the geyser in Sengen Park and, in summer, the demon fireworks.

The "editors' guide" above is written by the editors from sources; it is not a visitor's opinion.

Photo gallery

Visitor reviews

No reviews yet. While the review platform is being prepared, we do not display fictional reviews or ratings.

Review posting is in preparation, with visit date, facility, comments on water, scenery and access, photos, language and reporting.

Overview

登別温泉（のぼりべつおんせん、英: Noboribetsu Onsen）は、北海道登別市にある温泉。江戸時代から温泉の存在が知られており、明治時代に温泉宿が設けられてからは保養地・観光地となった。「にっぽんの温泉100選・総合ランキング」では毎年上位にランクインしている日本有数の温泉地となっている。地名の語源はアイヌ語の「ヌプル・ペツ」（水色の濃い川）に由来している。

This overview is based on the lead section of the Japanese Wikipedia article "登別温泉" (CC BY-SA 4.0). View original page

Onsen areas nearby

Unconfirmed & notes

  • Dai-ichi Takimotokan's legal notice on water addition, heating, recirculation and disinfection could not be read online
  • Bus journey time and frequency from Noboribetsu Station not confirmed
  • Opening hours and winter condition of the natural footbath not confirmed

Sources

  1. 登別温泉 - Wikipedia(日本語版)Wikipedia · 2026-10-09
  2. 10の湯のものがたり(登別温泉の泉質)登別国際観光コンベンション協会 · 2026-10-09
  3. 日帰り温泉 - 登別温泉登別国際観光コンベンション協会 · 2026-10-09
  4. アクセス - 登別温泉登別国際観光コンベンション協会 · 2026-10-09
  5. 第一滝本館 日帰り入浴第一滝本館 · 2026-10-09
  6. 第一滝本館 温泉第一滝本館 · 2026-10-09
  7. 夢元さぎり湯 公式サイト夢元さぎり湯 · 2026-10-09
  8. 特別体験(鬼花火) - 登別温泉登別国際観光コンベンション協会 · 2026-10-09

Register sources

Data status

Name & locationPublishedCoordinatesPublishedSpring typePublishedPhotosPublishedFacilitiesPublishedVisiting info (dated)PublishedEditorial articlePublished

Updated 2026-10-09

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