Toyako and Noboribetsu Hot Spring and Scenery Course

This two day course tours the Toyako and Noboribetsu area, with its dynamic volcanic scenery and fine hot springs. From a sweeping panorama seen from a ropeway, to an observatory overlooking the lake, to the steaming hells, and to soothing baths, it is a journey that lets you feel the powerful nature of Hokkaido. Driving a rental car is recommended.

Course Route

10:00 Up to the summit by the Mount Usu Ropeway Ride the ropeway for about six minutes to the summit overlooking volcano and lake. The round trip fare is about 1,800 yen for adults. Below lies the reddish brown Showa Shinzan, and beyond it the blue of Lake Toyako spreads out for a powerful view.

11:30 Close look at Showa Shinzan Look up from the base at the red mountain born of volcanic activity. Still venting steam, it makes you feel that the earth is alive. It sits right beside the ropeway base station, so you can view them together.

12:30 Lunch by Lake Toyako Have lunch with local ingredients while gazing at the lake. You can spend a relaxed time in front of the calm water.

14:00 Lake panorama at Silo Observatory Head to the observatory on the west side of Lake Toyako. Admission is free, and it is a superb viewpoint where you can take in the lake, Nakajima island, Mount Usu, and Showa Shinzan all at once.

15:30 Stay at Toyako Onsen Take lodging by the lake and rest in the hot springs. In summer, fireworks are launched over the lake at night, and you can watch them from your room or the lakeside.

9:00 Travel to Noboribetsu Onsen On the second day, drive to Noboribetsu Onsen. From Toyako Onsen to Noboribetsu Onsen is about fifty minutes by car, and the scenery along the way is beautiful, making the drive itself enjoyable.

10:00 Stroll the hells Visit Jigokudani, the source of the Noboribetsu hot springs. Steam rises from the remains of an explosion crater, spreading out into a uniquely rugged landscape. Admission is free, and you can walk the paths freely.

11:30 Finish in the famous baths of Noboribetsu Round off the trip with a soak in Noboribetsu Onsen, known for its variety of spring waters. Many facilities offer day use bathing.

Highlights

• The grand panorama of volcano and lake from the summit of the Mount Usu Ropeway
• The powerful sight of Showa Shinzan still venting steam
• The calm scenery of Lake Toyako seen from Silo Observatory
• The rugged landscape of the steaming Noboribetsu hells

Access and Tips

• The area is wide, so driving a rental car is convenient
• The route from Lake Toyako to Noboribetsu has fine scenery and makes the travel enjoyable
• In summer, book lodging to match the Lake Toyako fireworks and enjoy them over the water
• The hells have a maintained walking path, so comfortable shoes are reassuring

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time of day: The views from Mount Usu and the Silo Observatory are best on clear days with fresh, far reaching air. Fireworks are launched over Lake Toyako in summer, so if you stay in summer, plan to spend that time in your room or by the lakeside. Jigokudani is especially dreamlike in the morning when the steam rises.
• Avoiding crowds: Noboribetsu Jigokudani tends to fill with tour buses during the day, so first thing in the morning or later in the evening lets you stroll in peace. The hot springs are relatively quiet just after check in rather than after dinner.
• Time estimates: Toyako Onsen to Noboribetsu Onsen is about fifty minutes by car, and the Mount Usu ropeway ride is about six minutes each way. The Silo Observatory and Jigokudani each take only a short visit, so the itinerary stays comfortable.
• Budget sense: The Mount Usu ropeway is about 1,800 yen round trip, while the Silo Observatory and Noboribetsu Jigokudani are both free to enter. The main costs are lodging, the rental car, and the bathing fee at Noboribetsu.
• Nearby stops: Around Noboribetsu Onsen are Oyunuma, a pond that continues on from Jigokudani, and sights themed on ogres. With time to spare, a sightseeing boat across Lake Toyako to Nakajima island is also popular.

A Quick Tip

Since the route tours two hot spring towns, staying one night to give yourself time is recommended. The views from Mount Usu and Silo Observatory are best on clear days, so aiming for fine weather makes it even more enjoyable. Parts of the Jigokudani path carry volcanic gases, so stroll within your comfort and condition.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• About this route: Two days and one night, staying one night at Toyako Onsen. The area is large and public transport is limited, so the route assumes driving a rental car. Toyako Onsen to Noboribetsu Onsen takes about 50 minutes by car.
• Opening hours / closing days of each facility: The Usuzan Ropeway's operating hours change with the season; in summer, 8:15 (first ascent) to 17:45 (last descent) is a good guide. In winter they are shortened to around 9:00-16:00, and in some years there is a suspension period for maintenance. Cars depart every 15 minutes, at 00, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour; the one-way ride takes about 6 minutes and each car holds up to 96 people.
• Guide to fees: The round-trip fare for the Usuzan Ropeway is 2,000 yen for adults (junior high school students and older) and 1,000 yen for children (elementary school students). Groups of 15 or more pay 1,800 yen for adults and 900 yen for children, and the disability discount fare is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children (presentation of a certificate or the Mirairo ID is required). The Silo Observatory, Noboribetsu Jigokudani and Oyunuma are all free of charge to visit.
• Access: To Toyako Onsen it is about 2 hours by car from Sapporo, about 1 hour 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport and about 2 hours 15 minutes from Hakodate.
• Parking: Noboribetsu Jigokudani has the Jigokudani parking lot, a 1-minute walk from the site. The fee is 500 yen once a day for a passenger car, and the ticket is also valid at the Oyunuma parking lot (except in winter). The Oyunuma parking lot is closed in winter.
• What needs to be reserved: No reservation is needed for the ropeway or the observatories, but during the Lake Toya Long-Run Fireworks Festival the lakeside inns are busy, so book your accommodation early.
• Points to note: The Lake Toya Long-Run Fireworks Festival takes place every evening from 20:45 for about 20 minutes, and it is held in the rain, though it may be canceled if the wind direction and speed are unstable. Noboribetsu Jigokudani is the remains of an explosion crater about 450 meters across and about 11 hectares in area, formed by the eruptive activity of Mt. Hiyoriyama; there are sections where volcanic gas drifts, so pace your walk according to how you feel. In winter there are icy roads and blizzards, so a rental car requires winter tires and careful driving.

Note: At Noboribetsu Jigokudani, a wheelchair ramp (maximum gradient 8%) is installed from the Park Service Center to the Jigokudani observation deck. You can also enjoy Oyunuma, which lies beyond Jigokudani, and the natural footbath on the Oyunuma River.

(Sources: Usuzan Ropeway official website, Toyako Onsen Tourism Association official website, Noboribetsu International Tourism and Convention Association official website. As of July 2026)