Hokkaido, Noboribetsu, Jigokudani

Starting from Sapporo JR Station, the most convenient way is to take the Hokuto Limited Express to Noboribetsu Station, which takes about 75 minutes without any transfers. If you take the local line to Noboribetsu, you may need to transfer at Minami-Chitose Station and Tomakomai Station, and the journey takes about 2 hours. At the bus waiting area of Noboribetsu Station, you can first go to the visitor center to enjoy some milk ice cream. There are two types of buses between Noboribetsu Station and Noboribetsu Onsen. One charges based on the distance traveled, where you need to take a ticket when you board and pay according to the electronic display when you get off; the other requires payment upon boarding. Buses only accept cash and do not accept transportation IC cards. From the Noboribetsu Onsen bus stop, it takes about half an hour to walk along the slope to the entrance of Jigokudani, with many restaurants and hot spring hotels along the way. The paths within Jigokudani are well-maintained, with few stairs. However, many sections are made of wooden planks, so it can be a bit slippery on rainy days. It is recommended to bring a telephoto lens for photography, with a focal length of 200 to 300mm.