Plan on close to an hour. That’s about what Audrey and I spent at Jigokudani, mostly on the boardwalk with our cameras out, and it’s what I’d suggest to anyone who wants Hell Valley to actually reward them. If you’re squeezed for time, though, take heart: even ten or fifteen minutes here is worth it, because the best view of the whole place is the one you get almost the moment you arrive.
You’ll often see half an hour quoted as the time needed. That’s not wrong, but I’d treat it as the minimum rather than the target. Hell Valley is a compact volcanic crater roughly 450 metres across, so you’re never really asking how long it takes to see everything. The better question is what each extra block of time gets you, and in Jigokudani the answer is detail.
What a Quick Look Gets You
Every visit starts at the Park Service Center, about a ten-minute walk uphill from the bus terminal in Noboribetsu Onsen. Right beside it is the main observation deck, looking out over the entire crater: orange and rust-coloured ground that looks like it’s on fire, bleached white rock, and steam pouring out of vents in every direction. A ramp with a maximum gradient of 8 per cent leads from the Park Service Center up to the deck, so you can get that view without setting foot on a trail.
I honestly think that first view from a distance is the most impressive one in Hell Valley. Because the crater is so compact, it all reads from one spot, and you get a sense of scale that disappears once you’re down among the steam. If you’re on a coach tour that only gives you about half an hour here, or you’re squeezing Jigokudani in between buses, ten to fifteen minutes at the deck still gets you the image you came for. Counting the walk up from the bus terminal, that quick version takes roughly half an hour door to door, and I wouldn’t feel short-changed doing it.
If you’re visiting from Sapporo and don’t want a tour that rushes you off after a single look, it’s worth knowing that not every option works that way. One guided day trip from Sapporo pairs Hell Valley with the forest walk out to the natural footbath and finishes with a soak at Dai-ichi Takimotokan, with transport arranged. Audrey and I haven’t taken it, so check how much time the guided Hell Valley and footbath trip allows at each stop before you book it.
The trade-off is the detail, which you simply can’t see from the deck. That’s what the rest of your hour pays for.
Why Close to an Hour Is the Real Answer
The main boardwalk runs about 568 metres from the observation deck into the valley. Walk it without stopping and you’d be done in roughly ten minutes. That’s the giveaway: the time you spend in Hell Valley goes to standing still, staring at something steaming, rather than to walking. On our visit it felt like we were coming across a new painting at every turn.
Walking as much of the boardwalk as you can brings you right up to the details the deck flattens out: bubbling pools, mineral-crusted edges, vents hissing close beside the walkway. The boardwalk leads out to Tessen Pond, roughly in the middle of the valley. It’s an intermittent hot spring of about 80°C and the only one in Jigokudani you can see this closely, with the boardwalk running right beside it. Partway along, a side staircase drops down to the small Yakushi Nyorai hall if you fancy a short detour. The walkway is mostly wooden, but some sections can be gravelly or muddy, which is one more reason not to rush.
An hour also buys you room away from the crowds. We arrived mid-morning in late September, and it was already starting to get busy, though nowhere near unbearable. My best tip is to walk the boardwalk all the way out. Plenty of visitors take a quick look and head back, so the crowds thin out the further along you go. When you find a spot you like, stay put. Tour groups come and go, and if you linger, they pass through and leave you with the view.
Factor in the heat as well. The forecast that day was only 22 to 24°C, yet between the steaming vents, the hot springs and the ground itself, the valley felt warm and noticeably humid. It’s a place that makes you slow down whether you planned to or not.
When to Give It More
Bring a camera and you’ll hit the hour without trying. We certainly did, because when a place is this striking, Audrey and I get completely absorbed in filming and photographing it. After years of doing this, though, we’ve learned when to put the cameras down and just take it in with our own eyes. Build a few minutes of that into your visit, whatever you’re shooting with.
My one regret is that we mostly stuck to the boardwalk, and I wish we’d done more. It helps to know what “more” means here, though, because once you continue past Tessen Pond you’ve stopped visiting Hell Valley and started a different walk. The Oyunuma promenade climbs more steeply from there and takes about another 20 minutes to reach Oku-no-yu and the steaming crater lake of Oyunuma. Carry on to the natural footbath and the full walk takes about two hours. That’s an excellent outing, but it deserves its own slot in your day rather than being tacked onto the end of this one.
Season and time of day change the picture too. In winter, snow closes every trail except the main Jigokudani boardwalk, so your choices shrink to the deck and the boardwalk. After dark, the boardwalk from the entrance to Tessen Pond is lit every evening from sunset until 21:30, which makes a short night visit a separate experience worth considering if you’re staying in town. If that appeals, compare hotels within walking distance of Hell Valley so the evening stroll is only a few minutes from your room.
| Time | What you’ll see | Best for | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–15 minutes | The observation deck and the full view across the crater | Coach tours, tight connections | Close-up detail |
| About 30 minutes | The deck plus a walk out along the boardwalk and back | Most first-time visitors | Time to linger |
| Close to an hour | The full boardwalk to Tessen Pond, with stops and photos | Photographers, anyone trying to escape crowds | Time elsewhere in town |
| Two hours or more | Hell Valley, then on to Oyunuma and the natural footbath | Keen walkers | It becomes a different outing |
If I went back tomorrow, I’d give the boardwalk its full hour again, take one last look from the deck on the way out, and then keep walking toward Oyunuma instead of heading straight back into town. That last part is the bit I’d do differently, and it’s the reason I’d now budget my morning around Hell Valley rather than squeezing Hell Valley into my morning.
Sleeping in the onsen town is what makes that kind of unhurried morning easy. We stayed at Park Hotel Miyabitei, a big resort-style hotel within walking distance of the trails, and could stroll up to Hell Valley without thinking about bus times. If you’d like the same head start, see current rooms at Park Hotel Miyabitei and check what your plan includes rather than assuming it matches ours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time do you need at Hell Valley?
Plan on close to an hour if you want to walk the full boardwalk, linger and take photos. About half an hour covers the observation deck and a walk out and back, and even 10 to 15 minutes at the deck gets you the best overall view.
Is a quick 10 to 15 minute visit to Hell Valley worth it?
Yes. I think the distant view from the observation deck is the most impressive one in Hell Valley, because the compact crater reads from one spot. What you miss is the close-up detail along the boardwalk.
How long is the Hell Valley boardwalk?
The main boardwalk runs about 568 metres from the observation deck into the valley, roughly ten minutes if you never stopped. It leads out to Tessen Pond, an intermittent hot spring of about 80°C.
How do you avoid the crowds at Hell Valley?
Walk the boardwalk all the way out. Plenty of visitors take a quick look and turn back, so the crowds thin further along, and if you linger at a spot you like, tour groups pass through. We arrived mid-morning in late September, when it was getting busy but still manageable.
How much longer does it take to continue to Oyunuma?
From Tessen Pond, the Oyunuma promenade climbs more steeply and takes about another 20 minutes to reach Oku-no-yu and Oyunuma. Continuing to the natural footbath makes the full walk about two hours, so I’d budget it as a separate outing.
Can you visit Hell Valley in winter or at night?
In winter, snow closes every trail except the main Jigokudani boardwalk, so you’re limited to the deck and the boardwalk. After dark, the boardwalk from the entrance to Tessen Pond is lit every evening from sunset until 21:30.
This guide is also available in Spanish. [Leé la versión en castellano: ¿Cuánto tiempo se necesita en Hell Valley?]
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