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Stay in Beppu or Oita? 2014/7/24 13:47
Hello all,

We want to spend 2 nights in Kyushu this Nov: exploring the Kunisaki Peninsula, Beppu, Yufuin onsen town and the samurai district/Buddha stone statues in Usuki.

We will be using JR Pass/trains, but not sure if we should base ourselves in Beppu or Oita, as it seems the JR train to Yufuin and Usuki are closer from Oita.

What would you choose?
by Ronald (guest)  

Re: Stay in Beppu or Oita? 2014/7/24 21:13
We want to spend 2 nights in Kyushu this Nov: exploring the Kunisaki Peninsula, Beppu, Yufuin onsen town and the samurai district/Buddha stone statues in Usuki..

Your listed places and Oita City are in Oita Prefecture.
How is the rest of your itinerary?

We will be using JR Pass

Which JR pass will you use? A nationwide Japan Rail Pass or a JR Kyushu Rail Pass (Northern Kyushu version)?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_05.html

if we should base ourselves in Beppu or Oita , as it seems the JR train to Yufuin and Usuki are closer from Oita.
What would you choose?

Well, if I were in your shoes, I would give priority to Beppu City over Oita City for accommodation, search Beppu Onsen (hot spring resort) for vacancy in a hot spring inn or hotel which sounds to me nice, and if I cannot find it I would search Oita City.

Regarding railroad transpiration by JR in your Kyushu trips, I suppose there is not difference between Beppu Station and Oita Station which is big enough to decide whether Beppu City or Oita City I should stay in.

Beppu Station and Oita Station are only about 15 minutes apart by JR. It seems Beppu Station is about 10 to 20 minutes closer to Kitsuki Station or Usa Station, which is a gateway to Kunisaki Peninsula, while Oita Station is about 20 to 30 minutes closer to Yufuin Station and Usuki Station.
So, in trips to Kunisaki Peninsula, Beppu Onsen, Yufuin Onsen and Usuki area, if I chose Oita Station I could save JR traveling time by about 10 to 70 minutes, which sounds not enough long for me to discard accommodation options in Beppu City.

Note
: JR trains are not frequently available among these stations. You had better check train times for these trips when you arrive to Beppu Station or Oita Station.
: You may need to have bus rides which are not covered by a Japan Rail Pass / a JR Kyushu Rail Pass (especially in Kunisaki Peninsula). You should check bus routes and times.

by omotenashi rate this post as useful

Re: Stay in Beppu or Oita? 2014/7/26 17:45
Thanks omotenashi,

Our itinerary in Kyushu looks like this:
- Day 1: Kitsuki samurai district, Usa shrine, Fukiji temple or Kumano Magaibutsu.
- Day 2: Yufuin onsen or Beppu onsen

So is it better to be based in Beppu, Oita or 1 night in Beppu and 1 night in Oita, do you think? Also we are not sure about renting a car to explore Kunisaki peninsula or can we rely on buses?
by Ronald (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Stay in Beppu or Oita? 2014/7/29 12:16
Also we are not sure about renting a car to explore Kunisaki peninsula or can we rely on buses?

That may depend on destinations, but rental cars are recommended by japan-guide.com.
- Kunisaki: Access and Orientation
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4721.html

Kitsuki city center and Usa Shrine sound rather better covered by public transport.
- Kunisaki: Kitsuki
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4725.html
- Kunisaki: Usa Shrine
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4722.html

Regarding Rokugo Manzan Temples, japan-guide.com says it is "very difficult" to get to them by public transport.
- Kunisaki: Rokugo Manzan Temples
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4724.html
It seems to be
about 6 kilometers by car from Nakayamaga Station (skipped by Ltd. Express trains) to Kumano Magaibutsu,
about 9.5 kilometers by car from Kumano Magaibutsu to Fukiji Temple
and about 14.5 kilometers by car from Fukiji Temple to Nakayamaga Station.

P. S.:
You might have given up Usuki, but the JR section Oita -- Usuki is covered by a Japan Rail Pass or a JR Kyushu Rail Pass All Kyushu Area version, while it is not covered by a JR Kyushu Rail Pass Northern Kyushu Area version.

by omotenashi rate this post as useful

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