Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Hokkaido Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Noboribetsu is a city in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is south-west of Sapporo, west of Tomakomai and north-east of Hakodate. As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population density of 230 persons per km². The total area is 212.11 km². The city office is in Horobetsu. The town of Noboribetsu is at the mouth of the Noboribetsu river and is therefore a much narrower area.

Geography The mountains dominate the west and north while the plains dominate around five km within the coastline. There are three towns along the Pacific Ocean: from north-east to south-west, Noboribetsu, Horobetsu and Washibetsu. These betsu are derived from "river" in the Ainu language. Noboribetsu is on the Noboribetsu River. Horobetsu and Washibetsu are on the Iburi-horobetsu River and the Washibetsu River respectively.

Name The name, Noboribetsu, derives from an Ainu word, nupur-pet, which means dark-colored river; the kanji 登別, meaning "climbing different", are used for their phonetic value only, and have no relation to the original meaning.

History • 1919: Horobetsu village was founded. • 1951: Horobetsu village became Horobetsu town. • 1961: Horobetsu town renamed to Noboribetsu town. • 1970: Noboribetsu town became Noboribetsu city.

Education High school • Hokkaido Noboribetsu Seiryo High School (登別市立西陵中学校); Secondary school • Hokkaido Noboribetsu Akebi Secondary School (北海道登別明日中等教育学校)

Transport • Muroran Main Line: Washibetsu – Horobetsu – Tomiura – Noboribetsu • Hokkaido Expressway: Noboribetsu-Muroran IC – Tomiura PA – Noboribetsu-Higashi IC • Route 36.

Sightseeing 6 km inland from Noboribetsu City in the river valley is the smaller town of Noboribetsu-onsen (登別温泉). The town has a range of onsen for bathing as well as other hot springs formed from different minerals for scenic viewing, and is also known for its bear park. Noboribetsu-onsen is one of many well-known resorts in Japan, with many hotels and ryokan, and is the largest "hot spring town" in Hokkaido. There is also the Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, the largest aquarium in Hokkaido.