Noboribetsu's famous Jigokudani (Hell Valley) is dramatic year-round, but autumn adds a spectacular layer when the surrounding maple, oak, and Japanese white birch forest ignites in reds and yellows. The Okuyama nature trail loop leads hikers from the valley's boiling mud pools uphill through pristine deciduous forest to Oyunuma Pond — a 45-metre-wide natural cauldron — and back through mixed woodland rich with autumn colour. The unusual pairing of volcanic geothermal activity and fiery foliage creates a genuinely otherworldly atmosphere. The trailhead is within walking distance of Noboribetsu Onsen's main street and its many ryokan.
- Type
- Experience
- Category
- Autumn Leaves
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Mid-October to Early November
- Region
- Hokkaido
- Prefecture
- Hokkaido
- City
- Noboribetsu
Highlights
- ◆Jigokudani Hell Valley steam vents framed by vivid autumn foliage
- ◆Oyunuma boiling sulphur pond surrounded by colourful woodland
- ◆Well-maintained loop trail suitable for most fitness levels
- ◆Foliage combines perfectly with a Noboribetsu Onsen ryokan stay
- ◆Accessible by direct highway bus from Sapporo in approximately 90 minutes