Noboribetsu(登別 ) actually comprises the nearby towns of Noboribetsu, Horobetsu and Washibetsu. However, for most visitors the main target is the hot spring village of Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉), 6 km inland from Noboribetsu itself, Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort, beautifully surrounded by forested hills. The vast majority of (Japanese) tourists are drawn to the 11 types of water found in the local hot springs. Water contains sulfur and iron. Noboribetsu is located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is located southwest of Sapporo, west of Tomakomai and northeast of Hakodate. The name, Noboribetsu, derives from an Ainu word, nupur-pet, which means dark-coloured river. Noboribetsu is part of Shikotsu-Toya National and its major attraction, besides its baths, is the Jigokudani or "Hell Valley", where you can view (and smell) sulfurous steam vents, streams and ponds - wikitravel.