Noboribetsu City is known as a hot spring resort.

Noboribetsu Onsen and Karurusu Onsen, located in the eastern part of the city, are part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, offering an area where you can enjoy abundant nature close to the city.

So, this time, I'd like to introduce the charms of Noboribetsu City, a place you should definitely visit when traveling to Hokkaido.

This guide is packed with helpful information for your trip, including Noboribetsu's popular tourist spot, the Noboribetsu Bear Park, recommended winter events, and details about Noboribetsu Onsen (hot springs) and how to get there.

<Table of Contents>
1. What is Noboribetsu Bear Park?
2. Enjoy both the Brown Bear Museum and Yukar no Sato together.
3. Nearby tourist attractions
4. Winter events in Noboribetsu
5. Stay at Noboribetsu Onsen.
6. How to get to Noboribetsu
7. Conclusion

1. What is Noboribetsu Bear Park?

Photo by Wikipedia: Noboribetsu Bear Park. Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido. / Kinden K
Noboribetsu Bear Park is, as its name suggests, a theme park that primarily features bear exhibits.

For the people of Hokkaido, Noboribetsu is a well-known tourist spot thanks to its catchy jingle, "When you think of Noboribetsu, you think of the bear farm!" It's so famous that Noboribetsu tourism is practically synonymous with the bear farm.

The bear on display is an Ezo brown bear.
Male bears can grow to be very large, reaching over 2 meters in length and weighing up to 250 kilograms.

There are three pastures where the bears live, and the first pasture is home to large male bears.

Here you'll find a facility called "Human Cage" with glass walls, where you can enjoy seeing large bears up close.

The second enclosure is home to female bears, and you can see them begging for treats by standing on their hind legs or lying on their backs.

You don't often see bears, with their large bodies, skillfully striking poses like that.

In the third pasture, you can find baby bears born that year, sleeping in straw beds and climbing trees, their cuteness reminiscent of teddy bears, which is very soothing.

2. Enjoy the Brown Bear Museum and Yukar no Sato together.

Photo by Wikipedia: Brown Bear Museum. Noboribetsu Bear Park. Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido. /jiashiang
Noboribetsu Bear Park houses a museum dedicated to brown bears, which is rare in the world.

Here, you can not only learn about the ecology and habits of brown bears by viewing the exhibits, but you can also receive lectures about brown bears directly from the zookeepers.

Sometimes you might even get a chance to hear some behind-the-scenes stories from the bear farm.

The Brown Bear Museum also has an observation deck on its rooftop where you can overlook the adjacent Lake Kuttara, so be sure to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

In addition to the brown bear museum, there is also Yukar no Sato, where you can learn about Ainu traditions and culture.

This facility allows visitors to experience the wisdom and skills of the Ainu people through its exhibits.

The way the Ainu people live, in harmony with nature, is very instructive.

The shop also offers rentals of Ainu-patterned costumes, so why not try them on and take some commemorative photos?

3. Nearby tourist attractions

Noboribetsu Marine Park NIX

Photo by Wikipedia: Nix Castle located within Noboribetsu Marine Park Nix / User: Keyaki
One must-see spot when sightseeing in Noboribetsu City is Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE.

The castle-like building is used as an aquarium, displaying a large number of fish and other marine creatures.

The square in front of the castle is a spot where you can watch the penguins taking their stroll.

There are many other attractions, including dolphin shows and a land-based aquarium.

Noboribetsu Hell Valley

Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) is a "crater site" formed by volcanic activity.

The valley, spanning approximately 11 hectares, presents a hellish landscape with numerous hot springs, fumaroles, and bubbling pools.

4. Winter events in Noboribetsu

"Galaxy Aquarium Winter Version"

Noboribetsu Marine Park NIX has a Galaxy Tank where approximately 10000 sardines swim.

The sight of sardines, illuminated like snowflakes, dancing in the tank is truly breathtaking.

"New Year's Day Auspicious Mochi Making"

The "New Year's Day Lucky Rice Cake Making" event held in Noboribetsu Onsen on New Year's Day is centered around the "Childbearing Rice Cake Making Dance," in which people dance while pounding rice cakes.

The mochi (rice cakes) used in this dance are apparently given to the spectators.

The Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Spring Festival is held in the Noboribetsu Onsen area at the beginning of February, so visiting Noboribetsu during this time is also recommended.

5. Stay in Noboribetsu Onsen.

Photo by Wikipedia: Noboribetsu Onsen Town / User: Keyaki
Noboribetsu Onsen is a place where you can enjoy the hot springs that flow from the Jigokudani (Hell Valley) that I mentioned earlier.

The hot springs, which are said to have a daily flow of 10,000 tons, have nine different types of water, allowing you to enjoy hot springs with unique characteristics depending on the inn and the bath.

Please enjoy the Noboribetsu hot springs, which the Ainu people have used as medicinal baths since ancient times.

6. How to get to Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu City is located southwest of Sapporo City.

It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get from JR Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu Station by express train.

If you're traveling by plane, it's about a 1-hour drive from New Chitose Airport via the Hokkaido Expressway.

To travel from New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu by train, you will need to transfer at Minami-Chitose Station.

Final thoughts

We've introduced you to Noboribetsu City, including popular tourist spots, events, and hot springs. What did you think?

While much of what we've shared here is useful for winter travel, Noboribetsu offers plenty to enjoy in other seasons as well, such as summer activities and the autumn foliage of Jigokudani (Hell Valley).

I hope you'll use this information as a reference and consider visiting Noboribetsu.

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