Throughout Noboribetsu Onsen and the surrounding area, you can really feel the atmosphere of a hot spring town. First, you'll see a rustic wooden sign that reads “Hokkaido Heritage: Noboribetsu Onsen Jigokudani.” With the surrounding woods accented by fall foliage, it has a distinctive local character.
Next, you'll pass the solemn Yuzawa Shrine, where a red torii gate, stone lanterns, and steps are surrounded by yellowing leaves. Walking along the path is quiet and peaceful. Along the way, you can also see a huge red demon statue holding a metal club and standing wide-eyed beside the woods. It is very striking and eye-catching.
The entire Noboribetsu Onsen area perfectly combines natural scenery, shrine culture, and fun demon-themed elements. Exploring it on foot is not only enjoyable, but also completely free of the pressure of rushing from place to place, making for a very relaxing stroll through the hot spring town.
Noboribetsu Onsen | Review by Jk
Other Reviews by Jk
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ICHIRAN Souhonten -Headshop & Office-
Located within the headquarters of Ichiran, this is the main store of the renowned ramen chain which is not only present all over Japan, but also overseas, in places like New York, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Among the many famous tonkotsu ramen shops in Fukuoka, Ichiran is particularly popular.
Next to the canal in Nakasu, Hakata, Fukuoka, you can spot this incredible landmark covered in large red lanterns from far away. This is the sacred destination for countless ramen lovers across Japan—ICHIRAN's Main Shop! The entire dedicated building has an impressive presence. At night, rows of large red lanterns light up, reflecting against the canal streetscape and creating a bold and festive sight. As ICHIRAN's global headquarters, it has the signature "Flavor Concentration Booths" everyone knows, where you can focus entirely on savoring the ultimate combination of rich tonkotsu broth, smooth noodles, and secret spicy sauce. The first floor also features the extremely rare "ICHIRAN Yatai" space, where the lively, cheerful izakaya atmosphere lets you slurp noodles while gulping down ice-cold drinks—the satisfaction level is maxed out!
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Hakodate Station
Hakodate Station's commercial zone was renovated in 2016 with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. On the first floor is the "Hokkaido Shikisaikan JR Hakodate Store" offering a variety of local specialties and products, while the second floor features restaurants and an observation deck called the "Rotunda Deck" where visitors can take pictures of trains arriving and departing on the platforms.
This major station, the gateway to southern Hokkaido, has a sleek, modern exterior. The spacious, bright lobby gets plenty of natural light, and the layout is incredibly clean and efficient. Whether you've just arrived by limited express train and are ready to begin your adventure, or you're planning to take the streetcar to the slopes of Motomachi and then Mount Hakodate for the night view, this is the perfect starting point for the entire trip, making you feel both at ease and excited.
The wide, flat, curved plaza in front of the station has an incredibly expansive view. On clear days, you can look up and see blue skies, white clouds, and distant mountains. There's even a faint hint of the fresh, salty sea air unique to this port city, and just taking a deep breath feels refreshing!
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Momijidani Park
This park is Miyajima's flagship spot for autumn foliage. Every year, around mid to late November, approximately 700 maple trees in the park gloriously change their colors. Of the tree varieties, the Iroha Maple, which turns a brilliant red, is the most predominant with about 560 trees. This is followed by the OoMomiji (Big Maple) with its large leaves, numbering around 100 trees, and then the Urihadakaede and YamaMomiji with about 40 trees combined.
Follow the path behind Itsukushima Shrine toward the mountain and step into Momijidani Park, and it instantly feels like you’ve plunged into a secluded paradise surrounded by lush greenery and red maple leaves! The park sits at the foot of the primeval forest on Mount Misen, Miyajima’s highest peak, with nearly 700 maple trees of all kinds planted along both sides of the Momijidani River. In summer, the mountains are covered in bright, fresh greenery, while the air is filled with the refreshing scent of the forest and the cool mist from the murmuring stream. In fall, it becomes truly spectacular, with the entire valley layered in shades of yellow, orange, and deep red, as breathtakingly beautiful as if nature had spilled its palette! As you walk along the stone path covered in fallen leaves, you may also spot wild deer gracefully strolling and foraging beneath the trees. The scene is so soothing that you won’t want to blink.
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