Noboribetsu, a short drive away from Sapporo in the Iburi Subprefecture of Hokkaido; is a famous onsen town in the southern part of the island.

On our trip, our first port of call was a visit to the stunning river town of Otaru, north of Sapporo. This is well worth a day trip to explore, take in some of the local sights and meet the friendly locals.

From there, it was on to Noboribetsu. This city is well worth a visit during the winter months, so that you can appreciate and enjoy the beautiful onsen on offer. A drive to Noboribetsu will take you through many little villages with markets, great food restaurants and places to stop off to explore.