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Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Oku no Yu (奥の湯), Oyunuma (大湯沼), Oyunumagawa Natural Foot Bath (大湯沼川天然足湯)etc | Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu, part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, is one of the popular onsen (hot spring) towns in Japan.
Today I'll show you a natural hot spring river and so on!!

In my previous post,  I showed you a shorter version of the typical walking trail in Noboribetsu onsen area, but if you have more than two hours for walking, I recommend you to walk to hot spring ponds and river.
(If you are interested in the shorter version of walking trail (30-minute to one-hour walk), please refer to my previous post→click!

Near the photo spot/ observatory of Hell Valley,

there is a sign to Oyunuma & Oku no Yu↓ It takes 20-30 minutes from here to the two hot spring sources on foot!

Enjoy the forest bathing for a while!

On the way to the two hot spring ponds, there is a small observatory and you can enjoy Hell Valley from the different angle↓

Keep on walking for another 10 minutes, and

you will arrive at "Oku no Yu"↓ This is one of the hot spring sources in Noboribetsu area and

look at the pond! It's boiling!!! Hot! Hot! Hot!!!

Next to "Oku no Yu",  there is another hot spring pond named "Oyunuma". Beautiful, isn't it??

Hot springs from the Mt. Hiyori crater well up in the two ponds; "Oyunuma" and "Oku no Yu".

My tour guests and (I) were so impressed with this scenic beauty!
(*If you want to cheat, it takes 5-10 minutes from Hell Valley area to these ponds by car. There are parking lots near the ponds.)

After enjoying the hot spring sources, let's go to Oyunuma River, where hot water flows from "Oyunuma". It takes 10 minutes from the ponds to this sign on foot↓

On the way to the natural foot bath site,
 There is another hot spring source named "Taisho pond"↓

The color of the water is originally transparent, but it changes to blue, pink, grey, and black on several natural conditions.

Let's go along Oyunuma River!

Voila!!!!
This is "Oyunumagawa Natural Foot Bath" site↓ Can you image the river is filled with natural hot spring??? Wonderful!!!

Let's enjoy soaking your feet into the river! I guess the water that day was around 43 C and perfect temperature for us!!!

Look at the steam from the river!!! We enjoyed the mystical sight very much!

The water flows from "Oyunuma" and depending on the weather and seasons, the temperature of water changes.

There are several benches and you can relax!

Would you like to enjoy soaking our feet into the natural hot river, chatting with each other?
(Yes!)

The water was a little bit hot that day and the foot (of Mr. J) turned red like this↓

When you come to Noboribetsu in the fall (usually the end of September to October), you will enjoy the colorful leaves and "Oyunuma" all together!

Beautiful, isn't it?
It takes about 20 minutes from the hot spring river to the onsen area on foot.

(*If you have only 30 minutes to one hour for walking, please refer to my previous post and enjoy the shorter version of walking trail→click! Or drive to the ponds and walk to the natural foot bath site!)

■Where is "Oyunuma (大湯沼)"?

View Larger Map


■Tour guide information■
Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?
I'll guide you! Plz click here!