Noboribetsu: Getting there and around

How to travel between Noboribetsu and Tokyo

By air

The fastest way to access Noboribetsu from Tokyo is by plane via Sapporo's Shin-Chitose Airport:
1) How to get from Tokyo to Shin-Chitose Airport
2) How to get from Shin-Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu

By train

Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Noboribetsu Station (2.5 hours). The entire one way trip costs around 26,500 yen and takes around seven hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass. Note that seat reservations are mandatory on Hayabusa trains between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.

How to travel between Noboribetsu and Sapporo

By complimentary shuttle bus

Some ryokan in Noboribetsu offer their staying guests a free or inexpensive bus ride from Sapporo to Noboribetsu and back. Advance reservations are required.

By train

By limited express train, the one way journey between Sapporo and Noboribetsu takes roughly one hour and costs around 4500 yen. By local trains, the one way trip takes about twice as long, but costs only 2420 yen. All trains between Sapporo and Noboribetsu are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass and the Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Rail Pass.

A special round trip discount ticket is available that covers the base fare between Sapporo and Noboribetsu for only 3790 yen (instead of 4840 yen). Furthermore, the discount ticket can be combined with an optional ticket to ride the Suzuran limited express for only 370 yen one way between Sapporo and Noboribetsu, but note that this ticket cannot be used on the more frequent Hokuto limited express trains.

From Noboribetsu Station, Noboribetsu Onsen is reached in a 15 minute bus ride (350 yen, one or two buses per hour). The buses are operated by Donan Bus and are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Alternatively, a taxi ride costs about 2500 yen.

By bus

Donan Bus operate two direct buses per day between Sapporo Station and Noboribetsu Onsen. The one way trip takes 100-140 minutes and costs 2200 yen.

Alternatively, you can reach Noboribetsu by highway buses bound for Muroran, which stop near Noboribetsu Station along the way (100 minutes, 2070 yen one way, one bus per hour). At Noboribetsu Station you need to transfer to a local bus for an additional 15 minute ride to the onsen town center (350 yen).

By car

It takes about 90 minutes and costs around 3000 yen in tolls to reach Noboribetsu from Sapporo along the Doo Expressway. Get off at Noboribetsu-Higashi Interchange. By toll-free roads, the trip is likely to take more than an hour longer.

How to travel between Noboribetsu and Shin-Chitose Airport

By train

Take a JR train from New Chitose Airport to Minami-Chitose Station (3 minutes) and transfer to a JR limited express train bound for Hakodate. Get off at Noboribetsu Station about 40 minutes later. The one way trip costs around 3000 yen. If you take local trains instead, travel time increases by about half an hour, but the one way fare is only 1700 yen. The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass and Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Rail Pass.

From Noboribetsu Station, Noboribetsu Onsen is reached in a 15 minute bus ride (350 yen, one or two buses per hour). The buses are operated by Donan Bus and are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Alternatively, a taxi ride costs about 2500 yen.

By bus

Donan Bus operates a few buses between New Chitose Airport and Noboribetsu Onsen. The one way trip takes about 60-80 minutes and costs 1540 yen.

There are also a few highway buses from the airport bound for Muroran that stop at the Noboribetsu bus stop along the expressway along the way, from where a shuttle bus brings you to the onsen town center. The one way fare is also 1540 yen.

By car

It takes about one hour and costs 1790 yen in tolls to reach Noboribetsu from Shin-Chitose Airport along the Doo Expressway. Get off at Noboribetsu-Higashi Interchange. By toll free roads, the journey is likely to take about 30 minutes longer.

How to travel between Noboribetsu and Hakodate

By train

All limited express trains between Hakodate and Sapporo stop at Noboribetsu Station along the way. The one way trip from Hakodate takes roughly 2.5 hours, costs around 7000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass.

From Noboribetsu Station, Noboribetsu Onsen is reached in a 15 minute bus ride (350 yen, one or two buses per hour). The buses are operated by Donan Bus and are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Alternatively, a taxi ride costs about 2500 yen.

By car

It takes about 3.5 hours to reach Noboribetsu from Hakodate along National Route 5 and the Doo Expressway (to Noboribetsu-Higashi Interchange). Expressway tolls amount to around 4400 yen one way. Taking toll free roads instead increases travel time by approximately an hour.

How to travel between Noboribetsu and Lake Toya

By bus

Donan Bus operates two highway buses per day directly between Toyako Onsen and Noboribetsu Onsen. The one way trip takes just over an hour and costs 1900 yen. Seat reservations are not possible.

By train

The one way trip by limited express train between Toya and Noboribetsu Stations takes 40 minutes and costs 2440 yen for a non-reserved seat or 2970 yen for a reserved seat. By local trains, the trip takes about twice as long but costs only 1290 yen. Trains between Toya and Noboribetsu are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Both Lake Toya and Noboribetsu Onsen are located a 15 minute bus ride from the railway stations. Buses between Toya Station and Toyako Onsen operate about once per hour and cost 340 yen one way, while buses between Noboribetsu Station and Noboribetsu Onsen operate once or twice per hour and cost 350 yen one way. Both routes are run by Donan Bus and are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

By car

Lake Toya and Noboribetsu Onsen are connected by an attractive mountain road via Orofure Pass. Driving between Toyako Onsen and Noboribetsu Onsen takes about one hour. Note that the road gets closed during winter. The alternative route between the two towns leads via the coastal roads.