On the last Saturday and Sunday of each August, Noboribetsu Onsen Town’s striking volcanic landscape comes alive with local legend.
Held since 1964, Noboribetsu Hell Festival celebrates the legend of the King of Hell (Enma Daio) and his demons emerging from Hell Valley (Jigokudani), a wide, colorful valley that houses the steam vents and sulfurous streams that feed Noboribetsu Onsen’s hot spring waters.
On festival night, expect plenty of singing and dancing, along with some more unexpected activities. You might find yourself arm-wrestling, competing in an eating contest, or joining a team for the “big ball race” (oodama korogashi), where teams work to push a massive inflatable ball down a track and hand it off to the next group.
Other highlights include a six-meter-tall mechanical float of Enma Daio, a portable demon shrine carried through the streets by dancing participants wearing demon masks, and a nighttime fireworks display.
GETTING THERE
To experience this unique Hokkaido tradition first-hand, take a 70-to-80-minute limited express train from Sapporo to JR Noboribetsu Station, then catch a local bus for about 15 minutes to the Noboribetsu Onsen bus terminal. The free festival begins around 12:00 each day and continues until about 22:00.
