Noboribetsu Station — Attraction in Noboribetsu

The station has a long history, having been established in 1892. The current station building was constructed in 1934. Since it is the closest station to Noboribetsu Onsen, limited express trains stop at Noboribetsu Station, not at Horobetsu where the city hall is located. There are two platforms and tracks. There are no escalators or elevators. Tourists with large luggage will have a hard time getting off the uphill train and need to climb the stairs to get to the ticket gates. Depending on the season, members of the local chamber of commerce and industry serve as porters to carry tourists' luggage.

If you are heading to Sapporo or the airport, we recommend using the "Nupur" facility next door instead of the station to kill some time, as it has wi-fi and clean restrooms.

There is no denying that the nearest convenience stores are either Seico Mart on Route 36 or 7-11 in the direction of the hot springs, which is quite inconvenient. The ticket gates are analog, so traffic cards cannot be used. If you purchase tickets at Eki-net, you must find them at the station. Since a mixed exchange center was recently built in front of the station, it is possible to buy drinks from vending machines there. The bus stop is right in front of the station. Buses bound for Onsen (hot springs) are available here. To go to Muroran, you need to go along Route 36.

There are several restaurants on the street in front of the station, but they are all very crowded on weekends, so you need to be prepared to wait in line.

No escalators or elevators No stores No transportation cards are accepted. Buses to Onsen Onsen depart from in front of the station. There is...

This is the station to alight if you're bound for Noboribetsu Onsen, the largest hot spring in Japan.

The station is small and exhibits an old-fashioned appearance, yet it is sufficiently maintained to cater to tourists heading to Noboribetsu Onsen.

Navigating bulky luggage through the snowy paths and steep stairs at Noboribetsu Station proves difficult, given the absence of lifts or escalators connecting platforms. During my visit from January 9-11, 2024, the snow-covered station had no porters available, only 2-3 staff directing passengers. Boarding the platform is restricted to 7-5 minutes before the train schedule due to limited space and outdated facilities, emphasizing the need for safety measures, especially during winter.

Upon entering the station, proceed directly to the bus ticketing machine for fares to Noboribetsu Onsen. The bus terminal is visible from the window of the machine; present your ticket to the driver when you disembark. You can opt for a one-way ticket at 350 yen or a two-way ticket at a more economical 640 yen. Additionally, there is a locker, and the larger one is available for as low as 600 yen. A restroom, a vending machine with bottled drinks, a very limited sets were present. There is no accessible open convenience stores...

A fairly normal train station, a little quirk is the doors to the platform are locked until the train is soon to arrive. But what I wanted to mention was the vending machine for buying bus tickets to Noboribetsu Onsen, which I didn’t spot until returning. You can buy tickets on the bus, but this would have made life easier as there are no IC card readers on this route. If paying on the bus, grab a ticket stub upon boarding (also needed for prepaid tickets) and once you reach Noboribetsu Onsen, put the ticket in the slot next to the driver with the exact fare (this is the same spot the prepaid ticket goes). If you need change (which seems duplicitous to me), put your ¥1000 note/coin in the front section of the same machine, grab the change and then put the money into the slot (after the ticket). Bus driver will help...