Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu, city, Hokkaido, Japan, on the Pacific coast of southwestern Hokkaido, northeast of Muroran. Since the discovery of hot springs during the late Tokugawa era (1603–1867), the city has been one of the most visited hot-spring resorts in Japan. After World War II, industries replaced agriculture as the major economic activity, influenced by the urbanization and expansion of Muroran’s suburbs in the west. Products include cement, pottery, chemicals, and processed foods. The city is a tourist base for the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. Pop. (2005) 53,135; (2010) 51,526.