Hokkaido rewards careful booking; the difference between a memorable day and a wasted one is usually the operator. These are the 13 Noboribetsu tours we consider worth your time, strongest first.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $19.55Our top pick
Use your pass to explore Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura, a recreated Edo-period village with samurai homes, ninja performances, oiran courtesans, theater, games, shops, and old-style dining.
“Went there for a day trip after visiting Noboribetsu's hot springs. Well constructed village that let you experience the culture during Japan's Edo period! Big praise to their theatre shows. Definitely worth a visit if you're near the area!”
★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $156.37Highest rated
Join Aidan or another English or Japanese-speaking guide for a six-hour outing from Noboribetsu. Hike Mt. Usu to its crater rim, visit the Toya-Usu Geopark Center, and stop at a prime Lake Toya viewpoint.
“This was a great day out. Aidan is very friendly and easy to get along with. He put us at ease and made us feel comfortable. The hike was easy enough that my friend who doesnt hike was happy to come along and enjoyed it but alsRead more”
Join Aidan of Nobo Tours for a five-hour, small-group snowshoe hike from Noboribetsu to Orofure Pass. Walk through powder snow and snow-covered trees, reach views of Mt. Orofure, Mt. Yotei, and Lake Toya, then warm up with a drink and snack.
“We had an awesome time with Aidan! It was our first time snowshoeing and he made sure we felt comfortable and prepared. He was very communicative leading up to the tour so we knew what to expect. Hope to come back for more!”
Join guide Aidan or a Japanese-speaking guide for a 6.5-hour small-group hike on active Mt. Usu. Walk through forest to the crater path, enjoy Lake Toya views, then visit an eruption exhibition.
“Excellent trip with incredible views and great history provided by Aidan”
Join guide Aidan for a six-hour, small-group snowshoe trek from Noboribetsu to a rare bamboo ice cave. Walk 7 km through snowy woods, cross snow bridges, eat lunch beneath trees, and see ice formations up to 4 meters high.
“An absolutely wonderful day in nature, made unforgettable thanks to our guide, Aidan. Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. Being in a small group is a real plus and allows you to fully enjoy the experience at a relaxed pace. We were completely alone in the middle of nature, which made the hike incredibly peaceful and refreshing. All the equipment is provided, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Aidan’s explanations were very clear and full of interesting anecdotes, you can truly feel his passion and deep knowledge. He is extremely dedicated to making sure everyone has a great time, helps throughout the hike, offers to take…”
Join Aidan of Nobo Tours for a three-and-a-half-hour snowshoe hike from Karurusu Onsen to frozen Lake Tachibana. The 4-kilometre route climbs a wooded ridgeline, then drops to the lake for hot drinks and striking ice formations.
“Aidan was an excellent guide. Very friendly, smiling, knowledgeable and informative. It was a very beautiful and peaceful walk to the lake - we had the trail and woods all to ourselves. The equipment was very good and Aidan treated us with a hot drink and crackers at the lake. All perfect. We can definitely recommend Aidan as a guide!!”
Walk 4 km through Hokkaido’s broadleaf forest from Karurusu Onsen to Lake Tachibana. Your English or Japanese guide leads the ridge hike, explains local wildlife, and serves tea, coffee, or hot chocolate beside the lake.
Join Yamamoto-san for a six-hour, 8-kilometer snowshoe hike from Noboribetsu to a seasonal ice cave. Expect gentle forest climbs, poles and snowshoes, and a small English-speaking group capped at four.
Follow a guide such as Yamamoto-san on an 8-kilometer snowshoe hike through Noboribetsu forest to seasonal ice caves with three-meter formations, a light meal, and a hot drink.
“Wow!!!! An amazing experience! My partner and I took the trek together, just us and Yamamoto-san. We are casual hikers and have hiked a couple of 14-ers, and I would say the hike itself was a good workout. No trouble getting up there (YamaRead more”
★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 0 reviews · 10 hours · from $1,290
You get a private 10-hour charter for up to four people, with a Chinese- or Japanese-speaking driver and a recommended Noboribetsu route from Sapporo. See Jigokudani, Oyunuma, Bear Ranch, and Noboribetsu Onsen Street. Attraction tickets and guide service cost extra.
Join a fluent English and Japanese speaking guide for a small-group snowshoe walk from Noboribetsu to a bamboo ice cave. Cross snow bridges, enjoy lunch and a hot drink, and travel with snowshoes, poles, and gaiters included.
Spend about four to five hours at Noboribetsu Bear Park, reached by scenic ropeway. See Ezo brown bears, visit the Brown Bear Museum, view Lake Kuttara, and explore Yukar no Sato, an Ainu village recreation.
Join an English- or Japanese-speaking guide for a four-hour, beginner-friendly hike up 543-meter Mt. Kuttarushi. Follow the Ridge Course, study Kuttara Volcano, see Mt. Hiyori’s steaming vents, and photograph Lake Kuttara and the Pacific from South Ridge.
