Written by Aarohi
Join the annual Noboribetsu Hell Festival and experience the legendary parade of the Great Demon King Enma through the hot spring town of Noboribetsu Onsen.
What happens?
The Noboribetsu Hell Festival, also known as the Noboribetsu Jigoku Matsuri, takes place yearly at Noboribetsu Onsen, an incredible destination onsen in Hokkaidō.
According to legend, the cauldron of hell opens in Jigokudani (Hell Valley) at Noboribetsu Onsen, allowing the Great Demon King Enma, ruler of the underworld, and his demons to visit. The festival features taiko drums, a demon mikoshi (portable shrine), and energetic demon dances. The highlight of this offbeat festival is the Great Demon King Enma’s parade through Gokuraku Street in the hot spring resort.
Schedule
The festival takes place annually, usually on the last Saturday and Sunday of August.
In 2025, the festival dates are August 30 to 31.
The Great Demon King Enma float takes place on both August 30 and 31 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., but there will be plenty of other floats and festivals on both days. This includes a demon portable shrine on the first day from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a demon dance on August 31 between 3 and 3:30 p.m.
How to get there
Take the JR Tohoku–Hokkaidō Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and then change to a limited-express train for Noboribetsu Station before catching a bus for 15 minutes to the onsen area. The whole journey takes around 7 hours.
If you’re in Hokkaidō already, travel for about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Sapporo by limited express to the station.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
