Sapporo – Norboribetsu
Travel Advice for Seniors: Sapporo – Norboribetsu
We began our three-week tour of Japan in Tokyo and went south to Nagasaki. Now at the end of our small group tour we were ready to explore the northern part of Japan. The flight from Nagasaki to Sapporo took most of a day, but with a delightful ending…the Sapporo Beer Garden in the Sapporo Brewery!
The Sapporo Brewery had a mini museum of beer which was a quick visit. That was followed by a delicious dinner of grilled meats that you grill yourself at the table. It was a welcome change from the usual seafood sashimi.
Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido, which is the northernmost island of Japan. It is also the site of the first Winter Olympics in Asia and is a major center for winter sports.
Our day in Sapporo included a visit to the Old Hokkaido Government Building which included a small museum with some historical information. The building was the seat of government in Hokkaido for about 80 years and is a symbol of the city.
We also visited the Clock Tower which is the oldest in Japan. The clock tower is on one of the few surviving Western-style buildings in Sapporo. Interestingly, the city was developed in the late 1800’s with US assistance. We had a short walk around Sapporo and then we were off to our next stop. There are also some nice botanical gardens and the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples, but we didn’t have enough time to see them as we were headed to the Hell Valley geothermal area!
Noboribetsu Onson and Jigokudani (Hell Valley) Geothermal area was our next stop.
Noboribetsu is Hokkaido’s most famous hot spring resort, offering eleven different kinds of thermal waters. We checked in for a thoroughly enjoyable soak.
A word about onsens…truly a wonderful and not-to-be-missed Japanese experience! However, you have to put your modesty aside at an onsen. Check in, get your key and put ALL of your clothes in the locker. Leave your jewelry at home as it may change color with some of the mineral content of the thermal pools. Then take a real shower with soap. Following that, grab a small washcloth and head into the women’s-only spa to enjoy the many different types of thermal waters. You may get a few looks as you are a tourist, but for the most part, no one cares what you look like at all without clothes as they are busy enjoying the waters. Do not be shy, this is a part of everyday life in Japan and many other countries. Do not miss out!
Following a lovely morning soak, we headed over to check out Jigokudani Geothermal area, also known as Hell Valley. It is adjacent to the Onsen and is a bit of an uphill/downhill walk but worthwhile to check out the many steam vents, sulfurous streams, and other volcanic wonders in action. It is the primary source of hot springs in the city.
Our next stop…Hakodate.
Where we stayed: Nakamuraya Ryokan. Meals included. Authentic experience lodging.
How we got there: Fly from Nagasaki to Sapporo.This was part of a three-week small group tour through Japan, starting in Toyko, traveling south to Hiroshima and then back to the north island and ending in a loop back in Tokyo.
General Accessibility Information: Japan is pretty accessible. Major attractions have accessibility features and most new buildings and hotels are accessible. Much transportation is also accessible. See Accessible Japan for specifics. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements.See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
