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 26,000 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.
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How to travel between Noboribetsu and Sapporo
By complimentary shuttle bus
Some ryokan in Noboribetsu offer their staying guests a free bus ride from Sapporo to Noboribetsu and back. Advance reservations are required.
A special round trip discount ticket is available that covers the base fare between Sapporo and Noboribetsu for only 3390 yen (instead of 4320 yen). Furthermore, the discount ticket can be combined with an optional ticket to ride the Suzuran limited express for only 360 yen one way between Sapporo and Noboribetsu, but note that this ticket cannot be used on the more frequent Super Hokuto limited express trains.
From Noboribetsu Station, Noboribetsu Onsen is reached in a 15 minute bus ride (340 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 2000 to 2500 yen.
By bus
Donan Bus operate one round trip per day directly between Sapporo Station and Noboribetsu Onsen. The one way trip takes 100 minutes and costs 1950 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 3650 yen.
Alternatively, you can reach Noboribetsu by highway buses bound for Muroran, which stop near Noboribetsu Station along the way (100 minutes, 1850 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 (340 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 take considerably longer.
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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 1590 yen. The trip 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 (340 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 two round trips per day between New Chitose Airport and Noboribetsu Onsen. The one way trip takes about one hour and costs 1370 yen.
Alternatively, you can take a more frequently departing highway bus bound for Muroran and get off at Noboribetsu bus stop along the expressway, from where a shuttle bus brings you to the onsen town center. The one way fare is also 1370 yen.
By car
It takes about one hour and costs 1750 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.
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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 and costs 6370 yen by non-reserved seat or around 6900 yen by reserved seat. It 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 (340 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 2000 to 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 4300 yen one way. Taking toll free roads instead increases travel time by approximately an hour.
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How to travel between Noboribetsu and Lake Toya
By train:
The one way trip by limited express train between Toya and Noboribetsu Stations takes 40 minutes and costs 2200 yen by non-reserved seat and around 2700 yen by reserved seat. By local trains, the trip takes about twice as long but costs only 1070 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 330 yen one way, while buses between Noboribetsu Station and Noboribetsu Onsen operate once or twice per hour and cost 340 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.
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 26,000 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.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
JR Noboribetsu Station is located in the city's urban center close to the coast, while the hot spring town and Jigokudani are a 15 minute car, taxi or bus ride from the station inland into the hills. A taxi ride costs around 2000-2500 yen, while a bus ride costs 340 yen one way. There are about one to two buses per hour.
