Noboribetsu Jigokudani Valley

Hell Valley is a unique experience. A day trip from Sapporo, beautiful scenery and a visit to an active volcano area. Steam rises out of the cracks and holes. You can see the water boiling! I had limited time here but well worth the experience! There’s a lot more to do and see in this area and will return for more adventures! The smell of sulfur is strong in some areas but there was a nice breeze that kept it from being too intense. Parking was not an issue as I visited off peak time. Several lots are available though for a fee.

Jigoku Dani (Hell Valley) is the place to visit to get up close to an active volcano with sulphuric acid permeating the air. The area is an easy hike across the colourful autumn forest. Our family thoroughly enjoyed this one day visit to see an active volcano!

The scenery here is quite unique—at first glance, it looks like a quarry, but it’s actually a natural mineral area. The sulfur smell is noticeable, adding to the experience. The landscape is fascinating, with steam vents and striking colors created by the minerals. There are several walking paths that let you explore and enjoy the surrounding nature at your own pace. Parking is conveniently located nearby, with a small fee. Clean restrooms. There’s a souvenir shop too. It’s a great spot for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone interested in geology or unusual landscapes. Definitely worth a visit for something different and memorable.

Such a surreal place. It really feels like stepping into another world. You can smell the sulfur in the air, but it’s not too strong or bothersome. The walk around the valley is pretty easy and not tiring at all, even for the elderly. I’d say it’s a must-see if you’re in Hokkaido, and a nice stopover to add to your trip around the area.

The scenery here is really nice and worth the visit! If you’re planning to hike, do wear proper footwear as the trail can get quite slippery. It’s a short hike but still requires some caution. For those who prefer not to hike, there’s a free bus that takes you up to enjoy the view and brings you back down – super convenient! Great spot for nature lovers and a relaxing day out.

For English Speakers. A 10 min loop hike is the most common route to take to look at the valley and the hot spring/sulfur. Not too much things posted in English but it's more for the view. 500 yen parking lot is available near by. Definitely worth to see some beauty of Japan.

8/10/25 - long drive from sapporo. Amazing natural scene. You smell sulphuric gas from the steam coming off the ground. Easy to walk. Parking available 500¥.

A fascinating and beautiful natural spot in Hokkaido. The walking trails are well-maintained and offer amazing views of steaming vents, bubbling hot springs and unique volcanic terrain. It’s a peaceful yet otherworldly experience. The paths are easy enough for most visitors. While there is a noticeable smell of sulfur in the air, it’s quite bearable and just part of the experience.

"Hell Valley" smells like sulfur due to the volcanic activity. It's a beautiful walk if you can endure the smell with lots of lookouts and beautiful trees. Bathroom is located in the beginning of the walk and many benches for resting between walks. Definitely a great stop when visiting Hokkaido.

Welcome to Hell. That's what our tour guide said as we entered the Noboribetsu area. Known for hot springs or onsen, Noboribetsu is a quaint town with lots of beautiful trees and streams flowing through it. Depending on wind direction, the smell of suphur (think rotten eggs) can be strong or mild. When visiting the lookout, you can either go up the stairs to a higher vantage point, or walk up past shops and the lavatory to a larger viewing area. Both options are recommended as you get different views and smells along the way. It looked like there are other walking trails but we were pressed for time so I didn't have much of an opportunity to explore. Definitely take the time to check out the lookout. Despite the strong sulphur smell, it's worth it.

There is a distinct smell of sulfur when you are in this area due to the volcanic activity. There are also lots of natural hot springs as a result of the volcanic activity. We walked around the area and went on a few of the trails around "Hell Valley". Definitely worth a visit when you are in Hokkaido.

Japan is such a spiritual country and this truly defines "Hell on Earth!" As the one tourist attraction in this onsen town (aside from of course, your hotel stay), Hell Valley does the area justice and I found myself engulfed in its sulfuric trance. Steam rises from the warm ground due to the volcanic activity in the area. This part helps to heat up all of the onsens in Noboribetsu so you must pay respects to these gods. Visitors can get up close and personal with the valley and it in turn is such a great experience. You can visually see the affects of the sulfur on the mountain scape and river flowing through. It's not all natural that the water is that murky, grey hue. A trip up to Noboribetsu would not be complete without a visit to this valley. Come during the day to see magnificent natural wonders, and come back at night to sense the heat on your skin. My favorite spiritual spot in the country still remains at Osorezan in Aomori, but this comes a close second. Admittedly I was put off by the swarm of tourists that flock to Noboribetsu for holiday, but if you can ignore them and smell the sulfur, you'll love your stay regardless. There's a dedicated parking lot for ¥500 but you are better off parking at your hotel and taking the short walk over to the valley.

Jigokudani means "Hell Valley." Yes it smells like hell or that aroma that is a cross between egg and durian but I've learned to appreciate that stink like how one appreciates Limburger or well, Durian. This are has many paths and is reminiscent of Yellowstone National Park where there are similar hot springs about. My favorite paths are the ones that lead to Oyunuma and the Oyunuma Brook Natural Footpath. Lots of nature but very close to town.

We stayed at Noboribetsu Karurus hot spring resort, which is a little far from this Valley of Hell. So we didn't have enough time to visit here during daytime, but a free event to promote the town called Oni Hanabi (demon's fireworks) is held on Thursday and Friday in June and July. The staff of the inn drove and picked up the guests from the accommodation to the event place free at night. Originally it was held on weekend, but it was overcrowded, as a result it has changed to Thursday and Friday. It starts at 20:30, but you should come 20 minutes or so earlier and take a more nice seat, which is next to the Japanese drum. Noboribetsu is a famous hot spring resort with an active sulfur vent. It smells sulfur, but you will be used to the smell soon (^^) Noboribetsu hot spring is a little bit different from Noboribetsu Karurus one. Probably its effect may be different. The event is as follows. Several demon-clad men dance to the accompaniment of the music performed by a Japanese drum. Then they shoot fireworks by holding them. It was so magnificent and mysterious!! Oni seems to have something to do with Shintoism, but it is irrelevant to religion. It is held just for attracting visitors. I encountered a lot of foreign tourists, especially Chinese and Korean. Unfortunatelly I've not found any Westerners. Hokkaido is the best place to visit from early to late summer. It has no rainy season. It is so cool without any air conditioner especially in the northern parts. I hope more and more Westerners will visit Hokkaido and have a fun time there.