Noboribetsu

Though not of the scale and the variety of scapes as the the other volcanic geyser-parks, Hell Valley shares the same geologic landscape. Get the feel of the incessant activity that goes on in the bowels of the earth. Activity that has not stopped in the hundreds of thousands of years. See the origins of the hot water that the onsens that populated the Noboribetsu Spa Valley. Understand the wonders of Mother Earth as it unfolds. Understand the geologic activity that impacts the human environment. See how natural wonders create the attractions that make tourists come and businesses to flourish.

Noboribetsu Onsen is Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort. A large amount of Noboribetsu's many types of hot spring water surfaces in the spectacular Jigokudani or "Hell Valley" just above the resort town. Noboribetsu is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

The most impressive scene at the hot spring is the Jigoku Valley (hell valley), where yellowy gray volcanic gas seeps from the surface of the rocks. This makes the whole place smell strongly of sulfur, and gives it an image like that of hell. The valley is a 450-meter-diameter mouth of a volcano, which produces 3,000 liters of hot water per minute. Jigokudani or "Hell Valley" is a spectacular, appropriately named valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen, which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity. It is a main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters. From the valley, there are attractive walking trails through the wooded hills above Noboribetsu. If you follow them for about 20 to 30 minutes, you will get to Oyunuma, a sulfurous pond with a surface temperature of 50 degrees Celsius and a smaller, even hotter, mud pond nearby. Flowing out of Oyunuma is a river called Oyunumagawa. Still hot, the river flows through the forest, making for an out-of-this-world sight. It is possible to follow the river for several hundred meters and enjoy a natural foot bath (ashiyu) along the way.

River Oyunuma Natural

Footbath Onsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0551

A relaxing short hike with a wonderful difference - "Onsen" for tired feet.

At the end of the hike there is geyser that boils with volcanic mud that changes colours as the different minerals predominate the mud. It can be orange, turquoise, grey or even black. It is an wondrous sight. There is also the risk of an occasional gush that is more than its usual volume.

Mid-course down (or up) the river, there is a platform at which you can relax seated and your feet dipping in the hot (40-45C) water. You can even wade in the river and feel the hot stones and pebbles under your feet. A pebble massage while you feet get the "onsen" treatment.

The River Oyunuma is really a refreshing river originating from a hot spring. The river is steaming down its course. Steaming as in hot steam rising above the waters as it cascades down the hill slope along a walkway spotted with bridges across streams, small gaps and gullys. The trek can be from various other places such as Hell's Valley and other geysers and hot springs.

Visitors to this footbath should bring along a towel to wipe your wet feet, slipper to change into your walking shoes, gloves for climbing and or walking stick for support to the climb and lastly travel light and wear something that allows you to roll up to knee level to be able to walk in the footbath provided it is not a cold weather Bring a shopping plastic bag where you can place your personal effects in it without dirtying it as most visitors are inconsiderate and tend not to dry their feet before they walk away from the footbath thus making the path wet and muddy.