Noboribetsu Hell Valley

Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, is a volcanic crater formed some 10,000 years ago, stretching 450 meters across and 11 hectares in area. Steam vents, sulfurous pools, and fumaroles cover the landscape, and the valley supplies 10,000 tons of mineral-rich hot spring water daily to Noboribetsu's hotels and ryokans. A boardwalk takes about 20 minutes to walk end to end. The longer trail to Oyunuma Pond and its natural foot bath is a 2-hour round trip. At night, the Onibi no Michi illumination creates an eerie atmosphere, and the summer fireworks festival adds pyrotechnics to the steaming backdrop.