Beppu is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan. The city is blessed by as many as eight different springs, named Beppu Onsen, Kannawa Onsen, Myoban Onsen, Kankaiji Onsen, Hamawaki Onsen, Kamegawa Onsen, Horita Onsen and Shibaseki Onsen, each featuring public baths and ryokan with bathing facilities. Together they produce more hot spring water than any other onsen resort in the country.
What sets Beppu apart from other onsen resorts is not only its abundance of thermal waters, but also the wide range of bath types that can be enjoyed there. Aside from conventional hot water baths, Beppu offers sand baths where bathers are buried in naturally heated sand, steam baths that are heated by the steam of a hot spring, and mud baths which are basically muddy hot water baths.
The tourist desk at Beppu Station provides foreign tourists with lists of public baths, while below you will find our own list of a few of the city's best. More baths can be found in nearby Yufuin.
Tanayu•••
Daytime visitor hours: 9:00 to 23:00 (entry until 22:00) Daytime Admission: 1200-1500 yen (weekdays), 1800-2000 yen (weekends) Check hotel rates at booking.com, agoda.com, japanican.com
Tanayu is the main hot spring facility of the Suginoi Hotel, a leading ryokan in town. The massive complex offers elegant outdoor pools on the building's roof with spectacular, unobstructed views over the city. Visitors can also use the mixed-gender Aqua Garden hot spring facility next door which is enjoyed in bathing suits.
Onsen Hoyo Land•
Hours: 9:00 to 20:00 Admission: 1100 yen Overnight stay: 7750 yen including two meals
This run down, yet atmospheric public bath complex is an onsen enthusiasts' favorite and offers rare mud baths and steam baths in addition to conventional hot water baths. While the indoor baths are gender separated, the outdoor zone is partly mixed.
Takegawara•
Hours: 6:30 to 22:30 (sand bath from 8:00, entry until 21:30) Closed: Third Wednesday in December (regular bath) Third Wednesday each month (sand bath) Admission: 1500 yen (sand bath) 300 yen (regular bath only)
First constructed in 1879, Takegawara Spa is Beppu's most famous bath house, offering sand and regular baths in an atmosphere of the past. Note that the building is partially surrounded by a red light district.
Hyotan Onsen•
Hours: 9:00 to 1:00am Closed: Some irregular closing days Admission: 780 yen (580 yen after 20:00)
This public bath house offers regular indoor and outdoor hot water baths, an entire row of "waterfalls" for massaging one's shoulders, steam baths and sand baths. Private baths and meals are also available.
Ebisuya Onsen•
Hours: 10:00 to 23:00 (entry until 22:00) Closed: Some irregular closures for maintenance Admission: 1200 yen
Ebisuya is a recently renovated public bath house in the rural Myoban district of Beppu. It offers multiple bath tubs of different sizes and styles, including jacuzzi and aroma baths, as well as steam boxes.
Myoban Yunosato
Hours: 10:00 to 21:00 (entry until 20:00) Admission: 600 yen
Located in the Myoban district on the slopes above the city, Yunosato offers indoor and outdoor baths with nice sulfuric waters. Despite a promising location, the outdoor baths have views mainly onto a fence. The complex also features shops and huts for the production of yunohana (sulfuric powder).
Beppu Beach Sand Bath
Hours: 8:30 to 18:00 (Mar to Nov), 9:00 to 17:00 (Dec to Feb) Entry ends one hour before closing Closed: 4th Wed of every month (or next day if Wed is a holiday) Admission: 1500 yen
The second most famous place to enjoy sand baths in Beppu after the Takegawara Spa, the Beppu Beach Sand Bath offers sand baths along the coast of Beppu Bay.
Ratings: best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
Within a 10-minute walk from Beppu Station, Yamada Bessou offers Japanese-style rooms with spacious natural hot spring baths. Free WiFi and free bicycle use are available. Surrounded by greenery, air-conditioned rooms have a seating area with large windows and garden views. They have tatami-mat flooring and Japanese futon bedding. Female guests can choose their yukata robe to wear in the room. Guests can reserve an outdoor hot spring bath for private use, or relax in the public indoor bath available 24 hours a day. Massage treatments can be arranged. The hotel offers free parking. Yamada Bessou serves a Japanese breakfast, with only fresh seasonal ingredients. Free coffee is offered at the lobby. Yamada Bessou Ryokan is a 10-minute walk from the Takegawa Onsen hot spring area, and a 45-minute drive from Oita Airport. Beppu Station offers a 25-minute bus to Kannawa Onsen hot spring area.
250 metres from Beppu Tower, BEPPU HOSTEL U&T is set in Beppu and features a garden and a terrace. The property is close to Beppu Park, B-Con Plaza and Beppu Art Museum. The property is 3.1 km from Beppu City Traditional Bamboo Crafts Center. The private bathroom is equipped with a bidet. Beppu Rakutenchi is 3.6 km from the guest house. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 39 km from BEPPU HOSTEL U&T.
Boasting luxurious guest rooms with open-air hot spring bath overlooking the ocean, AMANE resort SEIKAI is a 7-minute walk from JR Beppu Daigaku Station. It features spacious public hot spring baths and a spa salon. Free Wi-Fi is provided in the public area, and parking is available at no charge. Fitted with dark wooden flooring and chic furnishings, each spacious room offers great ocean views. Guests can unwind on comfortable sofas or tatami (woven-straw) mats, and watch Blu-ray movies on a flat-screen TV. The Seikai provides large public baths and hot tubs on the ground floor and top floor. Spa Sheer Pearl offers ultimate relaxation with delicate massages and treatments. A gift shop and drink vending machines are available on site, and luggage can be stored at the 24-hour front desk for free. JR Beppu Station is a 15-minute drive and Oita Airport is a 40-minute drive from the property. Beppu Jigoku-meguri hot springs are within a 15-minute drive. Umitamago Aquarium is a 30-minute drive away. Gen serves traditional Japanese cuisine using seasonal and local ingredients. Eitaro restaurant offers various fresh seafood meals, while Japanese-Western fusion dishes can be enjoyed at Ban-ya.
Situated in Beppu, 24 km from Oita Bank Dome, AMANE resort GAHAMA features accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar. With free WiFi, this 5-star ryokan offers luggage storage space. The ryokan has family rooms. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with a bidet. AMANE resort GAHAMA offers some units with sea views, and the rooms come with a balcony. An Asian breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation. AMANE resort GAHAMA offers 5-star accommodation with a hot spring bath. Yufuin Motorcycle Museum is 24 km from the ryokan, while Beppu Station is 4.4 km from the property. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 33 km from AMANE resort GAHAMA.
Featuring 2-star accommodation, Beppu Kannawa Onsen HIROMIYA is located in Beppu, 22 km from Yufuin Motorcycle Museum and 26 km from Oita Bank Dome. With a shared lounge, the 2-star ryokan has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. At the ryokan every room has bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near Beppu Kannawa Onsen HIROMIYA include Oita Fragrance Museum, Yukemori Observatory and Yama Jigoku. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 35 km from the accommodation.
Set in Beppu, 18 km from Yufuin Motorcycle Museum, GALLERIA MIDOBARU offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers room service and free shuttle service. All rooms have a balcony with views of the city. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with a bidet. At GALLERIA MIDOBARU all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy an American breakfast. GALLERIA MIDOBARU offers 4-star accommodation with a hot spring bath. Guests at the hotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Beppu, like cycling. Oita Bank Dome is 25 km from GALLERIA MIDOBARU, while Beppu Station is 5.2 km away. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 40 km from the accommodation.
Located in Beppu, 24 km from Yufuin Motorcycle Museum, Beppu Nagomitsuki provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a restaurant. This 3-star ryokan offers room service, a concierge service and free WiFi. The property is allergy-free and is set 24 km from Oita Bank Dome. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. All units include a wardrobe. An Asian breakfast is available daily at Beppu Nagomitsuki. The accommodation offers 3-star accommodation with a hot spring bath. Beppu Station is 4.8 km from Beppu Nagomitsuki, while Oita Station is 16 km away. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 33 km from the ryokan.
Kannawaen is an entirely non-smoking accommodation that features a garden, terrace and bar in Beppu. 100 metres from Hells of Beppu, the property is also 500 metres away from Jigokumushikobo Kannawa. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service for guests. There is an designated smoking area on site. All guest rooms in the ryokan are fitted with a flat-screen TV. The rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with free toiletries, while certain rooms will provide you with mountain views. All units will provide guests with a desk and a kettle. A continental breakfast can be enjoyed at the property. There is an on-site restaurant, which serves a variety of Asian dishes. The property has a hot spring bath. Popular points of interest near Kannawaen include Hyotan Onsen, Yukemori Observatory and Oita Fragrance Museum. Oita Airport is 31 km away.
Boasting various natural hot spring baths and delicately prepared lavish Japanese meals, Ryotei Matsubaya offers chic guestrooms with Japanese aesthetic and a relaxing ambience. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas. The ryokan offers both Western-style rooms with wood-flooring and Japanese-style rooms fitted with traditional futon bedding. Each air-conditioned room comes with a flat-screen TV and a fridge. Some rooms feature an en suite bathroom. Matsubaya Ryotei offers free luggage storage and safety deposit boxes. Some hot spring baths are available for private use. Massages can be arranged at an additional charge, and guests can request a car rental to explore the local area. A gift shop and drinks vending machines are available on site. JR Beppu Station is a 7-minute drive or taxi ride away, and Beppu Ropeway Station is a 15-minute drive from the property. Jigoku-meguri Hot Springs can be reached within a 15-minute drive, while Umitamago Aquarium is a 20-minute drive away. Featuring seasonal ingredients, Japanese multi-course meals are served at the spacious dining room.
Set in Beppu and within 21 km of Oita Bank Dome, REX HOTEL Beppu features a spa and wellness centre, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi. The property is situated 23 km from Yufuin Motorcycle Museum, 13 km from Oita Station and 23 km from Kinrinko Lake. There is a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine, and free private parking is available. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the hotel. At REX HOTEL Beppu guests are welcome to take advantage of a hot spring bath. Speaking Japanese, Korean and Chinese at the reception, staff will be happy to provide guests with practical information on the area. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Beppu Station, Beppu Tower and Beppu Art Museum. The nearest airport is Oita Airport, 36 km from REX HOTEL Beppu.
best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding
